BARBADOS PARADISE: Why We Jumped Ship in This Caribbean Heaven

Hey guys! Today I'm taking you on an incredible journey to Barbados country number 111 on our mission to visit every country in the world! We made the spontaneous decision to jump ship from our cruise and spend four amazing days exploring this Caribbean paradise, and let me tell you, it was absolutely worth it.

Our Spontaneous Adventure Begins

The adventure started aboard our beautiful cruise ship, where we decided to fully enjoy all the amenities one last time before disembarking in Barbados. The girls had a blast playing basketball on deck, and we indulged in some final ice cream and chocolate desserts (because why not?).

Did you know that when cruise ships dock, it's not actually the captain who brings the ship in? They're called "Finns" because most of them are from Finland, and they literally jump from a small boat onto the cruise ship to guide it safely into port. It's fascinating to watch!

Welcome to Country #111: Barbados

As we stepped off the ship, we were greeted by the typical "taxi mafia" that you'll find at most ports and airports. But we managed to escape that and instead encountered some incredibly entertaining German tourists who were singing and dancing honestly, I've never seen Germans so animated and outgoing! It was absolutely hilarious and set the perfect tone for our Barbados adventure.

South Winds Beach Resort: Our Home Away From Home

We made our way to the South Winds Beach Resort, where we'd be staying for the next four nights. This place is absolutely gorgeous! Our suite came with everything we could possibly need:

  • Full kitchen with stove, huge fridge, microwave, and even a blender
  • Two beautiful bedrooms with king size beds upstairs
  • Living area with balcony overlooking the property
  • Direct beach access with pristine white sand
  • Pool facilities and beachfront restaurant

The resort truly felt like a home away from home, and being right on the beach made it even more special.

Discovering Barbadian Culture and History

Barbados city hall

A Walking Tour of Bridgetown

We took the local bus into Bridgetown (only $3.50 Barbadian dollars each about $1.75 USD) and embarked on a fascinating walking tour. Our first stop was Queen's Park, which was originally called King's House before being renamed. It made us wonder if it will change back to King's Park now that we have King Charles!

Historical Fact: Barbados was ruled by Britain until November 30, 1966, when they gained independence. However, they remained associated with the Commonwealth until just recently it was only in November 2021 that Barbados became a republic with their own president as head of state, rather than Queen Elizabeth II.

Unique Church Experience

We visited a historic church that was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. The entire floor was covered with tombstones actual graves right inside the church! While we've seen tombs in mosque courtyards and church basements, having them integrated into the main floor was a first for us. It was both fascinating and sobering to see how young people died back then many in their 30s.

The Birthplace of Rum

One thing you might not know is that Barbados is actually the birthplace of rum! This island has such a rich history, and rum production has been a cornerstone of their economy and culture for centuries.

The Rihanna Experience: Walking in a Superstar's Footsteps

Robyn Rihanna Fenty

Rihanna Drive

One of the absolute highlights of our trip was visiting Rihanna Drive the street where the global superstar grew up. The government of Barbados renamed this street in honor of their most famous daughter, Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

There's even a beautiful plaque with Rihanna's personal words: "Welcome to Rihanna Drive, my home. My whole life was shaped on this very road. I was just a little island girl riding bikes, running around barefoot and flying kites in the cemetery. But I had big dreams, dreams that were born and realized right here."

Meeting the Locals Who Knew Her

We had the incredible opportunity to meet Mary, a local woman who knew Rihanna when she was just a little girl in the neighborhood. She told us that Rihanna was always "mannerly" and well-behaved, but nobody knew she had such incredible singing talent until much later.

Amazing Discovery: Mary revealed that Rihanna still gives back to her community! Every Christmas, Rihanna, her mom, brother, and sister go door-to-door in the neighborhood, giving beautiful gifts to everyone. It's heartwarming to see how she hasn't forgotten her roots.

The house where Rihanna grew up is now an Airbnb, so fans can actually stay where the superstar once lived. With cruise ships docking right across the street, hundreds of thousands of people come down this street to see where Rihanna grew up.

Beach Life and Natural Wonders

Barbados beach

Sea Turtle Encounters

The beaches in Barbados are absolutely spectacular! We spent hours body surfing in the warm, crystal clear waters. The most incredible part? I saw sea turtles swimming right in the waves with us twice! The first time, I thought it was actually a person, but when I looked closer, there was nobody there. These magnificent creatures were just chilling and having fun in the surf alongside us.

Resort Amenities

Our resort had everything we could want:

  • Beach volleyball court (which we definitely took advantage of!)
  • Fitness center
  • Tennis facilities
  • Mini golf
  • Beachfront restaurant where we enjoyed breakfast with the sound of ocean waves
  • Lounge chairs right on the pristine white sand beach

Local Flavors and Island Life

Barbadian Cuisine

We discovered some amazing local flavors during our stay. The breakfast fritters were absolutely incredible they tasted like a perfect combination of banana bread and old-fashioned donuts. We also tried authentic Caribbean curry dishes that reminded us of flavors we'd experienced in Dubai.

Cost of Living Reality

One thing that struck us was the cost of living in Barbados. A liter of milk costs $3.40 USD, which is quite expensive considering the local minimum wage is only around $800-2000 per month. It really puts things into perspective about how locals live versus tourists.

Currency and Conversion

Barbados uses Barbadian dollars, and the conversion is pretty simple it's basically half the US dollar. So if something costs $2 Barbadian, it's $1 USD. They're part of the Eastern Caribbean Association but don't use Eastern Caribbean dollars like some other islands.

The Adventure Continues: Planning Our Next Move

Living Day by Day

Here's something we don't always share with you guys we literally live day by day when we travel. As I'm writing this, we didn't even know how we were going to get off the island of Barbados! Some people might think we're crazy or irresponsible, but honestly, everything always works out in the end.

I was even asking locals at the beach bar if they knew anyone with a speedboat who could get us off the island. Their response? "What did you do, kill someone?" Hilarious!

Home Exchange to the Rescue

At 8 PM on our last night, we finally secured our next accommodation through a home exchange. This has been a saving grace for us throughout our travels. We messaged multiple home exchange hosts, followed up persistently, and sure enough, someone responded saying their place was available.

Future Caribbean Plans

We found an amazing cruise deal leaving in a few weeks that would take us to Trinidad, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Dominica all countries that are really hard to get to independently. At only $200 per person, it's an incredible deal that would help us continue our Caribbean island hopping adventure.

Why Barbados Should Be on Your Travel List

Natural Beauty

  • Pristine white sand beaches
  • Crystal-clear warm waters
  • Abundant marine life (hello, sea turtles!)
  • Year-round tropical climate

Rich Culture and History

  • Fascinating colonial and independence history
  • Birthplace of rum
  • Home to global superstar Rihanna
  • Friendly, welcoming locals

Family-Friendly Activities

  • Beach sports and water activities
  • Historical tours and museums
  • Local markets and authentic cuisine
  • Safe, English speaking environment

Accessibility

  • Easy cruise ship access
  • Good local transportation
  • Tourist-friendly infrastructure
  • Variety of accommodation options

Final Thoughts: Paradise Found

Barbados truly is paradise on earth. From the moment we jumped ship to our last morning watching the sunrise over the Caribbean Sea, this island captured our hearts completely. The combination of natural beauty, rich history, warm culture, and incredible hospitality makes it a destination we'll never forget.

Whether you're interested in Rihanna's story, want to relax on pristine beaches, explore Caribbean history, or simply enjoy some of the best rum in the world, Barbados has something for everyone. The fact that we spotted sea turtles swimming alongside us in the surf was just the cherry on top of an already perfect experience.

We're already planning our return and who knows, maybe we'll book that Airbnb in Rihanna's childhood home next time!

Planning a trip to Barbados? Let us know in the comments what you're most excited to see and do. And don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell so you can join us as we continue our mission to visit every country in the world!

Thanks so much for following along on our Barbados adventure. Until next time, keep exploring!

Enjoy the journey!!

Thanks for joining us as we set sail into this new chapter of Growing Up Without Borders LIFE!

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