Aplmac

___________ ..along stretches of the East Coast of Barbados

Looking North towards Pico Teneriffe

High Rock, Bathsheba.

These boulders are thought to have prehistorically broken off from the Hackleton's Cliff escarpment above

and rolled down the hill :eek: - that's more than a mile inland,

and about 800 ft. above sea-level!

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Taken at Bathsheba!

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Did you get any pictures of Saba?

I got one last year, most of the island shrouded by clouds. ===> Usual situation!

SABA medium..?

or SABA Big?

Ummmm...that's the airstrip, that darkish area at right -along the shoreline

(just to the left of an eroded reddish area)

Said to be the most dangerous airstrip in the Lesser Antilles island chain! :eek:

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aplmac, the pictures of sunrise over St. Maarten from the Caribbean Princess are so intoxicating

I can almost taste the sweet, tropical, humid air in my mouth.

I'm thankful that I'll be able to do that for real in just a matter of days!

Here's another one, same scene but maybe a minute later?

Hey... Bon Voyage!! :)

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Mercury floating in Great Bay after rough water snapped lines :eek:

 

 

 

when a North Swell heaves them around, while docked.

Have you had a close look at those mooring lines..?

They're about 3-4 ins. dia. -and they're braided, not twisted like regular cheap rope.

Can you imagine the tensions involved, to snap that stuff??

I'm told you don't want to be nearby when the snap comes! ;)

Sounds like a rifle-shot -feels like a deadly whip-lash!!

Not cute.. :cool:

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While we were browsing the street market in Marigot

these two off-road vehicles passed us

full of cruisers, on a jaunt somewhere...Off Roaders?

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This is a very nice Mall

with attractive Euro-goods in the many shops inside!

Marigot is the big town over on the French side of the island.

-and it's about 20 mins. by taxi from Philipsburg(on the Dutch side)

where your ships docks.

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I visited Dover Beach (East of Accra/Rockley by about a mile?)

to find it very nice.

Lots of chairs and umbrellas available -and a few Hobie cats on the beach too.

Things were looking lively!

It's a lot like Accra/Rockley, but a bit more sheltered, and thus a bit calmer.

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my contributions...

Long Bay beach

I can see the ruins of the old Harrismith Great House and its out-buildings..

I think Long Bay would be Sam Lord's Castle beach

I'm also intrested in renting a Harley. Where at? any details would be great!!

In going over to Marigort on the French side, we passed the Harley shop and dealership

which strikes me as being about halfway in that journey.

Not at all sure if this puts it on the Dutch side or the French side :confused:

but it sure ain't in Philipsburg where the ship docks nearby

-unless they have an outlet there as well.

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I'm not in a position to make any recommendations activities-wise

but I can say that most sidewalks in/around? Bridgetown

have long ago been modified with little wheelchair-access ramps.

The local Disabilities people saw to that! ;)

I see them all over..

In other countries, such sidewalk access spots are highlighted

by being painted a lovely sky-blue color, to point them out,

but not here -not yet.

Barbados needs to get with that paint program: make it look good.

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What is the best way to get from the ship to Maho Beach and back?

My DH really wants to go watch those planes, so I want to make this happen for him.

-probably with a whole bunch of other people all similarly inclined.

They use those big 10-seater vans a lot,

so you'll probably get mixed in with other cruisers from other ships.

There may also be a bus service out to Maho, but can't say with certainty.

Water taxi does not go that far.

To the best of my knowledge, the Water Taxis do their thing within the big Philipsburg Bay

taking cruisers from the base of the pier, over to two stops along the Philipsburg shoreline

with a third stop soon to come.

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You're spot on - it's a Frangipani caterpillar that turns into a very dull brown moth.

I was disappointed as it's so spectacular as a 'pillar....

they rear up at you in a rather aggressive manner!

Keeps the kids away!! :D

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-at sunset.

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I was looking for a photo of The Boatyard.....

.... is there a reason no one posted any? Is is not a nice beach?

-in fact one of the nicest beaches on the island now.

I say 'now' ..because Carlisle Bay beach has filled in BigTime within the last thirty years or so.

Back when I was a kid here on the island, C.Bay didn't have much of a beach at all

then Hilton went and entirely altered the 'profile' of Needhams Point

which in turn affected the swirl/eddy pattern into C.Bay,

which happens because of Needhams Point

-and Carlisle Bay has been filling in, to our delight, ever since!

Carlisle Bay is about 2 miles long!! and anywhere from about 30-100 yards wide

depending on where you are.

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Didn't I show you guys this one?

This is Carlisle Bay -not the bit down by Boatyard, though..

this is getting along up towards the two big hotels on the far Southern side.

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Thanks for the church info.

 

2nd Question - Payne's Bay or Rockley?

If Payne's Bay, where do we go to get beach access.

(or at least it used to be..I haven't been in years, don't much like it,personally)

-if not opposite Coach House, then there definitely is a public access just North

-on the other(Northern) side of a humongous great Hotel jammed onto the road

awesome columns an' all

(fondly referred to by us locals as King Kong, :D because of its unsuitability at that site -you'll see!)

That public access will put you on the Northern extreme of P.Bay,

so when you get to the sea, turn LEFT/South and you'll be on your way.

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IMHO, I'd do the South Coast somewhere -it's breezier and consequently more surfy,

but it's your day and you know what kinda sea conditions you want.

West Coast (Paynes Bay) is usually mill-pond or close to that

but if Your Day in Barbados has a North Swell running,

you can forget all about mill-pond and any sort of snorkelling water clarity

and I'd start heading to the South Coast instead.

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Easter Sunday in 2010.

Can you tell me where there is a Catholic Church vis a vis the port for Mass.

stands the St.Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral.

Geographically, that's your nearest and biggest RC church ..to the Port.

It's a quick taxi ride thru the town to where St.Patrick's is, on the other side of town.

specially on a Sunday with little traffic around.

Should be no problem.. should take 5? mins. to get there

Nice church. Nice lighting at 4 p.m.

Attached are three pics taken at a wedding at St.Patrick's - Sept. 29th. 2007

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Haven't tried uploading photos before - fingers crossed I've got it right.

Was at St.Maarten with Explorer of The Seas earlier this month. Here's the poof.

I've seen that one before -on Grenada

so clearly this species can be found up and down the Lesser Antilles island chain

although we do not have it, here on Barbados.

I'm pretty sure it'll eventually become a giant moth -not a butterfly.

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Is it possible to get a day pass to the Hilton

just to spend the day at the pool, beach and some lunch. ===> Yes.

How do you get there? ===> 10 mins by taxi?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=650675

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When you say Middle of the Bay....is there a certain place we should ask to be dropped off???

If you mention Accra, you'll likely be taken to the Accra Beach Hotel instead.

At Rockley Beach, there's a big car park where access to the beach is free and public

and you'll be just about middle of the bay,there, anyway.

You'll see. It's not difficult,

and Rockley Bay isn't more than abot 1/4 mile long anyways.

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Where is a good spot on Accra to be? ===> Middle of the bay

- and everything towards the Western end, down near the boardwalk. ;)

 

I think we will go to the beach for a few hours early, before the crowds,

have a bite to eat...flying fish sandwich....

and then walk the boardwalk and take a taxi back to the ship.

If we don't make it all the way to the Hilton,

can we get a taxi before that???

Their beach looks like this..

It's not far from the Western end of the boardwalk:

you can see a bit of the hotel at left. Basic architecture

painted a sea-green kinda color.

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A little further West is Amyrillis,

and further West again is another one

-can't remember the name now(Seaview?)

You can get a taxi at any of these hotels.

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I would guess the beach is about 1/4 mile but the good news is..

the boardwalk starts on the western end of Accra beach in front of Magic Isle

so you could walk a lot longer.

As mentioned above, Rockley Beach "Accra" is about 1/4 mile long,

then there's the 3/4 mile long boardwalk tacked on to that

- which then connects to Hastings Beach which, about another mile later

will get you down to the Hilton on Needham's Pt.

Then you have to walk back, to pick up your things you left at Accra!

On the other hand, had you walked with your stuff, you'll find that when you get to Hilton,

you can see(from Hilton's front entrance) your ship across Carlisle Bay

and you realize you're halfway 'home' -that's when you catch a Hilton taxi back to the Port?

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Can you tell me

about how long it will take to get from the cruise terminal to Crane Beach? ===> 45 mins. to an hour?

It looks so lovely.

If that is too far and or not worth the trip we will probably go to Rockley or Accra Beach.===> A lot closer!

which is no more than about 15 mins away from the dock

depending on the traffic situation going through the town and its suburbs.

If this will be your first visit, Rockley Beach will give you enough Wow! factor, I reckon.

Save Crane for your next time here. ;)

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At the cruise ship pier, Philipsburg.

Whizzing across Great Bay, Philipsburg, SXM.

At the Water Taxi pier, in Philipsburg.

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Regatta turns in the St.Johns inlet, ANTIGUA

Caribbean Princess backs up, into the turning bay at Bridgetown, Barbados

People checking out the sailaway.

Carnival Victory sails away

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