Monday, January 4, 2016

Monday, January 4, 2016

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2003. This was Mattie's first pony ride. I am not sure whose face was more priceless... Mattie's or Peter's!? Mattie was a bit scared at first, but then grew to love riding on a horse. Any time we would go to a park or zoo that had pony rides, Mattie always requested to ride. 



Quote of the day: I used to have this toy, a magic slate. You wrote or drew on it and then, just by pulling up the plastic cover, everything you did disappeared and you could start new. Maybe everyone feels that on New Year's Eve: They can pull up the magic sheet and rewrite their lives. ~  V.C. Andrews

Barbados floats by itself 100 miles east of St. Lucia, with a population of around 285,000 people. Although the Caribs, Arawaks, and Portuguese had all inhabited Barbados for certain periods, the island was completely unoccupied when the British first settled there in 1627. Gradual social and political reforms led to the country’s independence in 1966.

Ever since the Dutch kicked off Barbados’ sugar industry in the 1640’s, export has been vital to the island’s economy. Reliant upon labor from African slaves, Barbados generated more trade than all other British colonies combined at one point. 

We were greeted this morning by a glorious rainbow when we docked at Barbados. A true Mattie sign!

Gun Hill is one of six signal stations erected in the first two decades of the 19^th century for dual purposes. One was for defense, both internal and external, and the other for communicating with other signal stations located throughout Barbados. The Gun Hill station was created after a 1816 slave rebellion.  This was our first stop and a delight!

This is also of Gun Hill.  The tower is situated upon a hill overlooking many parts of the island.  Not that the fort was built to defend against anything, but it certainly looked as if it could withstand a volley.

This was one of the views from atop the Gun Hill tower, and it really gives you a feel for the topography of Barbados, which is perfectly suited to growing sugar cane, the main reason why the island remained under British control for centuries.

Peter snapped this sign at the entrance of the Orchid Gardens the second stop on our tour this morning, as it is very cute in its message. It was an outdoor tour of the most beautiful flora and fauna containing hundreds of blooming orchids and dozens of beautiful flowering plants.

This was one of the paths at the Orchid Gardens.

We cannot pass even a planter in the shape of Lightning McQueen without thinking of Mattie!

One the dozens of beautiful Orchids in bloom.

And a yellow one...

Sunbury plantation is over 300 years old and creates a vivid impression of life on a sugar estate in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. It contains an amazing collection of antique carriages and memorabilia. 

The interiors of the home were simply gorgeous and a delight to look at.

And of course, being in the Caribbean, you are never too far from rum! We got a complete demonstration (and samples) of local rums by the locals, who also enjoyed it while presenting!  This group was also willing to travel and put on the show again for us, and all they asked for was three plane tickets! Tomorrow, we stop at St. Kitts!