On our sixth day of the cruise we had the opportunity to visit Bridgetown, Barbados.  Today was one of my favorites because we were able to relax together as a family and we were able to experience some amazing new adventures for the first time.  Like many of the other Caribbean Islands we had visited on our trip Barbados was a plantation culture, cultivating primarily tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane.  The English settled Barbados after the Arawaks were gone with the primary agriculture crop being sugar cane.  They built an amazing defense system of 26 forts along the coast of Barbados.  Barbados gained their independence from Britian in 1966, however, the British influence remains evident.  There are a lot of great activities to enjoy while on the island of Barbados from touring the wildlife reserve to seeing the home of the Green Monkey to snorkeling with turtles, sting rays and more in one of the great locations around the island to shopping or relaxing at the beach. Barbados had beautiful turquoise blue Caribbean Island water that you could look down and see to the bottom of the ocean floor.  It was a great place to swim, snorkel, and see all kinds of neat sea life.

We had a more relaxing day planned in Barbados.  It was our day to spend at the beach swimming, jet skiing, snorkeling, relaxing, and more. I didn’t learn as much history about Barbados since we basically took at taxi ride from the boat to Blue Monkey beach (which is not on the tourist map if you go to Barbados but I highly recommend the beach).    Jake, Amber and I swam out a little further from the swimming area and had the opportunity to swim with turtles, sting rays and a variety of other fish.  It was such a neat experience looking down or beside you and seeing a turtle or sting ray swimming right next to you.  There were several times I could have reached out and touched the turtle.  I am thankful for the water camera we had (thanks honey) with us so we could share these pictures with Brina and Karlie.  We have had fresh water turtles at home before but to swim with one in the ocean was a memory that I will never forget.  I do have to admit the swim out to see the turtles, sting rays and fish was easier then the swim back to the beach.  If you decide to go to Blue Monkey Beach and swim out a little further to snorkel on your own I recommend you take at least one or two other people for additional fun and to have someone to swim with you.

It was nice spending time swimming and relaxing at the beach for several hours.  Another activity we did while were were at the beach was ride on jet ski’s.  We had three jet ski’s with Lee and Becky, Josh and Amber, and Dad and I riding on a jet ski.  After being out for only a few minutes we looked over to see Amber hanging off the jet ski quickly followed by her and Josh crashing, it was an interesting to watch.  We found out that flipping a jet ski in the ocean was not a simple task, but we managed to get it back upright.  It took us a little bit to figure out how to steer with the waves and not crash but by the end I think everyone had a better handle on it.  I think Lee and Becky were the only ones that didn’t crash their jet ski.  Dad and I felt the jet ski tipping over one time and bailed off so we didn’t have to flip it back over in the water.  We had fun racing each other.  You can get the jet ski’s going pretty quick.  Bouncing off the waves, feeling the wind in your hair, and the spray of the water hitting your face was a lot of fun.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed speeding across the ocean on a jet ski.  Having an opportunity to experience the adventure with family made it even more memorable.

If you ever have a chance to go to Barbados check out Blue Monkey Beach and what it has to offer.  The jet ski’s were a little more expensive but we only had to paid $5 to rent a snorkel mask to swim out to the turtles and sting rays.  Here are a few facts about the beautiful island of Barbados:

• Capital: Bridgetown
• Population: 254,000
• Climate: Temperature 75F to 90F year round, typically 8+ hours of sunshine a day
• Geography: Caribbean Island – 21 miles x 14 miles.  Barbados on the West & South have the calm Caribbean sea and beaches.  On the East is rugged cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean
• Language: English (with a broad dialect)
• Currency: Barbados Dollar (US $1 = BDS $2)
• Time: GMT (no daylight savings time in Barbados)

A Vacation To Remember series is a reflection on our recent trip and ways we relaxed.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Go with a good attitude and looking for fun and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

Fact information received from Barbados.org