Last year I decided that I will miss Advent in Prague. and I'll go out into the heat. No frosts, no stress, just disappear for three whole weeks and not come back until Christmas Eve. I combined business with pleasure and set off for a language course in Barbados. How did I spend these three weeks?
What does a bad Friday in Barbados and an evening in Oistins look like?
The thirteenth day in Barbados was supposed to be about wilderness, but it ended up being a lesson in Caribbean patience. I planned to visit the Wildlife Reserve, but time passes a little differently here than we are used to in Europe.
When plans fall apart
It all started in the morning at the language school, where the lesson unexpectedly dragged on. Even though I had my itinerary planned out to the last second, Barbados quickly explained to me that precise timing is a rather abstract concept here.
Besides, rush hour traffic turned out to be a pain. Although I caught a connection to Speighstown from the Princess Alice terminal quite quickly, the journey dragged on for an interminable time. However, I still believed that I would make it to the Wildlife reserve on the other side of the island.
Once I arrived in Speighstown, I found a shared taxi and hoped for a quick departure. But neither After fifteen minutes the car did not move from the spot, so I just gave up and changed my plan. I got out of the car again, looked at the map to see what was near the station and headed to the beach. What else could I do, right?
What to do if the trip doesn't work out?
- No stress, plans are meant to change.
Find the nearest beach.
Enjoy the peace, sun and sea.
Have a drink.
Unplanned relaxation on the beach
Instead of watching monkeys, I ended up with my feet in the sand. The beach at Speighstown was fantastic – clear water, fine sand and almost no people, which is always a bonus for traveling around the island.
After a few hours I took the bus back to Oistins. The journey takes about an hour. I know it already, I've been there a few times. The good thing is that it's a direct connection and the bus is air-conditioned.
Legendary fish cakes and rum punch in Oistins
Fridays in Oistins are simply an experience that is an integral part of a Barbados holiday. This time I played it safe. My first trip led straight to the stand at "„Legendary Fishcakes“" – they are cheap, slightly spicy and completely addictive.
It didn't take long before I ended up at a magnet stand. They were much cheaper here than in the touristy St. Lawrence Gap, so I picked up a few as gifts.
I spent the whole evening explaining to the locals rum punch. It's sweet, fruity, but you can smell the rum in it so damn well. It's easy to drink on its own, and after a few glasses, you'll stop resenting that failed trip to the reservation.
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