The best-laid plans … several months ago, I booked an Azamara shore excursion for a photography expedition in Barbados. Having been to the island before, I was looking forward to someone who knew their aperture from their [redacted] to focus me on hidden spots of surpassing beauty. Three days ago, Azamara shuttered the excursion because of insufficient interest. (I’ll (F) stop with the camera puns now.)
I was disappointed by the cancellation, but Azamara was within its rights and I got a refund. Alas, none of the other excursions on Barbados piqued my interest, so my brother and I spent the morning walking around Bridgetown ISO of interesting sights. (OK, now I’m done.)
As the great baseball player/philosopher Yogi Berra once said, “you can observe a lot by just watching.” During our four-mile jaunt through Bridgetown, I just watched, and my attention was rewarded. Here are some examples:
On our way back to the ship, we stopped for “doubles” – a Trinidadian street food of channa (chickpeas spiced with curry powder, garlic, cumin, and shadow beni (culantro)), sandwiched between pieces of bara (fried flatbread seasoned with cumin and turmeric) and topped with tamarind sauce, chutneys, and pepper sauce. I can’t share a picture of it because it was wrapped in wax paper and then put in a paper bag – it’s as messy as it is delicious. If you’re ever in the Caribbean and have a chance to eat some, go for it!
This evening we’ll set sail for St. Lucia, one of the most gorgeous islands I’ve ever visited. Ciao for now.
The islands certainly know how to do vibrant color. The “doubles” sound delish!