Well I’ve made the quick hop now over to Barbados to join my sailing trip for the festive season. Like the backpacker of old I caught the rattly public bus from the airport through town to the port area. It’s sultry here but with a cooler sea breeze than Panama and feels less steamy than back home. I’ve had a quick glimpse of the Caribbean vibe rolling past pastel and brightly coloured houses with white window and door trims and plenty of beach shacks. There’s chicken jerk food trucks, an occasional strain from a steel drum in the air and crystal blue seas carved up by windsurfers beyond.
But no time to wet the feet yet as I boarded my ship the Royal Clipper. Let’s not call it a cruise- I’m not ready for that scene yet, but I did figure a boat was a more sensible way to island hop in the Caribbean. And what a boat!
The Royal Clipper is the largest sailing ship in the world- 135m length, steel hull with 5 masts and 42 sails (that are power controlled). She is beautifully fitted out with a 2 storey grand staircase in a central atrium and mahogany and brass that needs polishing. What a treat for Christmas this year! Hoist the sails as we leave Barbados bound for the lesser Antilles islands!
Holy cow… that whole atrium in a sailboat thing ??!!! Fantastic xxx