10 BEAUTIFUL BARBADOS - PART TWO


January 2021 Travel News SAY HELLO SEA! WITH THE


In the final of a two-part series contributor Chelsea Cousins tells us more about the abundant beauty of Barbados


I


N the first part of my two-part series on Barbados, I spent some time at the stunning Cobbler’s Cove resort while waiting on the results of my second


PCR test. The first test was taken 72 hours before my departure and the second is required to be taken 5 days after the first.


THE SECOND PCR TEST There are a few options on how to get this done. You


can choose to be retested at an approved government facility, this option is free of charge. Another option is to be tested privately at any one of the approved facilities, this list can be found on the government website and a small fee is required, or you can organise a retest at your accommodation, get in contact with them and organise an appointment, for a fee also. Here is my journey with testing - I took my first


PCR Test on Wednesday 14th October (72 hours before travelling) at TMB in Dublin. I got my results and travel certificate on Thursday afternoon (it was stated officially that it takes 48 hours but during my appointment I was told it could be earlier, always assume it will take 48 hours). I uploaded my results and completed my immigration form on Thursday evening. I travelled to and arrived in Barbados on Saturday 17th October. On Monday 19th October (5 days after my first PCR test) I took a 2nd test at 6.30am in the hotel I was staying at. On average it takes 24 hours to get the 2nd result back. Once we obtained the second negative PCR results it was see ‘ya hotel room, HELLO SEA! In the event that you don’t get a 2nd negative result,


you will not be allowed to come out of quarantine and it will be required you retest. So for example. There was a person in our group that did not get a negative result, the result came back inconclusive. In this case, the sample had to be retested and this person had to remain in quarantine until the retest came back negative.


WHAT BARBADOS HAS TO OFFER For those that know nothing about Barbados,


let me fill you in. Barbados is an Island in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of North America. This little rock is only 21 miles in length and 14 miles in width and has a population of around 287,000 people. Bridgetown capitals Barbados and in 1966, the


island became independent from the UK after being possessed in 1625 in the name of King James I. Having a wealthy sugar colony, Barbados became an English centre of the African SlaveTrade which was outlawed in 1807 by the Slave Trade Act and later emancipation following the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. Fun fact regarding this little slice of heaven, all


beaches on the Island are public. Not one is private, meaning if you fancied it, you could spend a day roaming and enjoying all the beaches in Barbados. Back to the trip, collectively as a Cobblers Cove


Crew, a pact was made: Negative result, swimming gear on, sea. It did happen like this, just in style! The first thing on our itinerary of the trip was a Catamaran boat trip on the very luxurious Cool Runnings IV. Arriving at Port Ferdinand Marina where Cool Runnings IV was docked, we met the rest of the media and travel agents who where staying in different hotels.


Irish and UK Media with Hon Lisa Cummins during their recent visit to Barbados


All with negative results, we hopped on the catamaran and set sail. Cool Runnings IV was fabulous, the phrase ‘living my best life’ came to mind while I sat top deck with the wind blowing my hair and a champagne in my hand. Somewhere between having so much fun getting to know the group and being on the water with the excitement to get in for a swim, I managed to drop my sunnies in the water. Now I know a few of my work colleagues wont be surprised at my clumsiness but I’m a walking disaster and we have all accepted it. Accepting my £5 last minute Asda purchase was gone forever, I moved on… Went for my first swim in Barbados on the North West Coast. This was genuinely the best start to the trip, a swim in the warm beautiful Caribbean waters with a beer in hand and go pro pointed at my face! Out of the water to enjoy some great grub and a chat


with a Comber man and his wife that joined us on the boat trip (small world aye), we all got to hear more about Barbados and what it had in store for us all. Somewhere between stuffing my face and enjoying myself, one of the crew mentioned he could see my sunglasses in the water and offered to get them. Being mortified that I dropped them in the first place but kinda wanting them back, I took him up on his offer. Flippers on his feet and goggles covering his eyes, in he went and grabbed them in no time! What a service! Is there a better way to explore a new destination


than a walking tour? The answer is no! I have realised the recurring theme of getting to know the place and people is best done by getting boots on the ground and catching the sighs. Arriving in Bridgetown, Barbados’ Capital we met the most amazing tour guide/historian/ tv presenter and all round fabulous lady called Dawn- Lisa Callender. The group, led my Dawn-Lisa hit the streets of the Historic Capital City. Visiting some of the most well known sights in Bridgetown, getting to learn and understand the history of the rich maritime island; Independence Square, Independence Arch, The Swing Bridge, Carlisle Bay, and James Street Methodist Church to name a few breath taking locations. Getting a deeper understand of the Southwest City and being truly surprised at its very prominent British colonial history left me quizzing our guide and wanting to know so much more. For those that don’t know, Rhianna the singer/ business mogul and all round incredible human was


born and raised in Barbados. She is so well respected and highly loved on this Island, hearing the stories our host had in relation to her was so fantastic. Being incredibly lucky we got to take a detour from our itinerary to visit her childhood home, during the trip. The street this house is on has been remanded Rhianna Drive and a well known spot in Barbados for fans to visit.


You will hear me say this through this article, but


one of my favourite activities was a day trip on an old school Bajan Bus. Imagine the wee toast tours bike but not pedal powered mixed with the Belfast City Sigthtseeing open top buses but 100x better! This historic mode of transport is an incredibly unique and awesome way to explore the 11 parishes that make up the island. As we made our way north of Barbados, picking


up Dawn-Lisa on the way, our first stop was Little Bay. Only 30 minutes from Bridgetown, Little Bay is anything but little. It was a huge landscape of beach and cliffs with big views to match. Located in the most northern Parish of St Lucy, the only parish named after a woman, the group hopped off the big red bus and where hit with fresh air and bright colours of the Barbadian sea. Venturing up the cliffs gave me the breathtaking views of the Bay and wondering down onto the beach revealed natures fine work with a ‘pool’ like cove that resembled heaven, almost. After around 100 pictures, the group reluctantly


boarded the bus and ventured to the next stop. Moving into St. Andrews Parish, to check out Cherry Tree Hill. I will be straight with you all, again… I didn’t think anything could top Little Bay, boy was I wrong. Cherry Tree hill was a dream for different reasons. Being 850ft above sea level, before me was what felt like the whole Island. Green met blue with vibrant tones colliding against each other. This stunning sight promoting views of the Scottish District which covers the parish of St. Andrew named after the Patron Saint of Scotland also boards the Parish of St Peter where St. Nicolas Abbey plantation sits. This 1658 genuine Jacobean mansion is only one of three in the western hemisphere. On my next visit to Barbados I will be making a point to visit St. Nicolas Abbey and take the tour of their rum distillery and explore its beautiful gardens. According to EVERYONE I spoke to before I left


for Barbados and everyone I spoke to once I stepped foot on Barbadian soil, if I didn’t visit Mount Gay Rum Distillery then I didn’t do Barbados correctly, so you can imagine my relief when I saw this tour on the itinerary *wipes sweat from brow. This tour was a stop on the Bajan Bus Tour and a must on anyones list of ‘things to do’. Arriving at Mount Gay Distillery in St. Lucy, myself


and the group were met by Chester Brown, THE man to get a tour of Mount Gay from. Chester is the brand ambassador who travels the world spreading the word about the legendary rum. It was so interesting listening to Chester explain the


Chelsea and her group visited Cherry Tree Hill


heritage and history of Mount Gay Rum and how it started with the leadership from Sir John Gay Alleyne to how it became one of the most famous rums globally 300 years later, his passion and love for Barbados’ finest spirit brought a sparkle to the tour when we discovered what distillation, ageing ad blending techniques are responsible for crafting the worlds oldest rum. After a quick taste test (rum wasn’t my spirt preference before the tour, after, I could get behind it) and a picture with Chester to make my boss jealous, it was back on the Bajan bus with the tunes pumping to enjoy the scenery and great company to end the day. To book a tour at Mount Gay Rum Distillery, visit


mountgayrum.com During our time in Barbados we got the opportunity


to meet The Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator, The Hon. Lisa Cummins. At a gathering in Villa Tamarindo located on the Beach Lands. The Minister addressed the crowd of Barbadian officials regarding our presence in Barbados and her hopes for the future of tourism on the Island with us there to experience the health and safety protocols put in place across the Island to encourage and show the British & Irish Travellers what it is actually like. This soiree took place in one of the most beautiful villas


I have ever seen. This two-story, 5 bed, four and half acre property was the epitome of pure class and luxury! When


Port Ferndinand Marina


I win the lotto, I’m putting my money here — better start doing it to increase my chances! After getting a tour of the location by Chris Parra from One Caribbean Estates and a quick test of how comfy the 1 of 5 baths where, it was time for Rum punches and good music.


GOOD FOOD AND LIQUER JOINTS Throughout the whole trip, every single place we dined


was absolutely a 10/10. I mean, all I could think about was food and where we were eating next - that good! We had the pleasure of eating in establishments across the whole Island and not one disappointed. We ventured from beach front restaurants in the south of the Island to local fish restaurants by the sea. During our quarantine period, The Cobblers Cove


Crew dinned in the Camelot Restaurant in the hotel. The food here was an experience, from breakfast to dinner, it was perfect every single time! With fresh produce on the menu every single day, I struggled to pick what I wanted but, I would highly recommend the Lobster eggs Benedict, *kisses fingers like the chefs do*, if I could have this for breakfast everyday I would. I guess I will just have to visit super soon to get a taste again! Outside of restricted movement and ready to stuff


our faces, the first restaurant we visited was Tapas. Located on the South Coast with ocean front dining,


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