Barbados Diary: Day 0

Swimsuits? Check.
Sun lotion? Check.
Summarized and categorised list of all places to visit, eat at and what to do, nicely assimilated from multiple reliable sources on the internet and typed up onto crisp new sheets of A4 paper? Check.

We were ready for our holiday!

Having arrived at Gatwick Airport with plenty of time, we had a look around the shops, grabbed a bite to eat and sat in the main area reading whilst awaiting the gate announcement.

This duly came, and we made our way (after leaving the finished magazines on a chair so someone else could enjoy them before they get recycled) towards the appropriate gate feeling quite smug.

You see, normally when we travel somewhere else we feel envious at each gate we pass which states a better destination than our own. This time it was our time to be the enviable, no gate could match ours, and we watched the other people going past it saying to themselves "I wish I was going there".

 

 

No, that's not me in the background...

The waiting area filled up, people came by in their posh frocks - too many to all be in first class. Lucky for us we weren't too shabby either, as the dress code was one of the many aspects read up on in advance.

Time for boarding. Goodbye surprisingly sunny London, you'll feel a lot colder when we return.

The flight was like most transatlantic flights, although our first with BA. The TV screens in the chairs seemed smaller than those of Delta, and didn't have any games on offer for inflight entertainment. However they did have the films.

We needn't have worried about the flight being full, as ever other row seemed to be empty, so plenty of space to spread out if you so wished (right, Olga?).

Four films finished, and we came into Bridgetown Airport just after sunset, so we saw the lights on the island, but alas not the coastline. That would have to wait until the following day.

Oh yes !

Getting off the plane brought back memories of the Barranquilla climate (being roughly the same latitude this isn't surprising), however, even Olga had to admit it - this was Barranquilla, but comfortable :)

Queuing for the immigration desks there were some lovely colourful posters along the walls, next to signs saying "no photography". I duly acted like an ignorant tourist, and got the following shot:

Ignorance is bliss

Leaving the airport we needed a taxi to our hotel, and so what did we do? You got it, joined another queue. This is all quite the norm for us English folk, but seemed to be beyond the people of a more continental / merkelesque origin, who couldn't believe you couldn't get in the first cab if you pushed hard enough. Luckily there was security on hand, and the queue moved forward in it's defined manner. Oh, colonial remnants :)

Getting to the hotel took about 20 minutes going through roads with palm trees all over the place, the hint of rum in the air, and always smiling faces.

Coconut Court, Hastings, Barbados. Our home for the next week.

After checking out the very comfortable room and unpacking our things, we then started to plan the next day. Except, where did all those meticulously researched and typed up notes go?

If anyone reading a What Digital Camera magazine found on a chair at Gatwick is planning to go to Barbados, I highly recommend you take out the collection of A4 pages used as a page marker and keep them safely with you on your trip.

We finally relaxed to sleep to the sound of the sea lapping up against the shore 30 foot below us, and the roof fan slowly turning around.