Just the beginning of Barbados!

As you saw in the last post, I was able to experience Barbados with my mom. I’m so stoked to be back and will have much to share this round!

As I introduce you to this island of peace, parties and paradise, you’ll get to meet my amazing friends who have welcomed me to the “locals side” of life.

How we all first met was actually back in Folsom (my hometown) at the WOZ cup last year. Pause… WOZ cup? This is a tournament in which all of the best Segway Polo teams gather for a championship. Pause again… Yes, I said Segway Polo! If you want to see details of this unique sport, you can check it out at
www.segwayhtpolo.com .

I went to the tournament to visit my mom which was volunteering as a timer for the matches. As soon as I got there, she walked me to the field to meet “the coolest people here”. The team from Barbados!

Here we are last year during WOZ cup in Folsom, Ca.

A little fun out on the town.

I set plans to head back to the island during what they refer to as the wildest week of the year. This is the annual celebration of Crop Over which includes a variety of festivities. Those posts will be coming soon!

For a sneak peak at what I have to look forward too, check out the website at barbadoscropoverfestival.com .

Before I folded it to a wrinkly mess, I definitely had the coolest welcome sign at the airport…Thanks Ryan!

Good morning Barbados!
We combined my typical breakfast with a little Caribbean flare… Notice the fried plantains? It added a nice sweetness to the plate.

Right away I got to reunite with the entire team during one of their practices. If you look at the photo with the bus in the background, it’s actually tourist taking pictures of this world traveling team. Adorable.

Here’s my host and dear friend Ryan teaching paddle boarding at his office (poor guy). His work ethic sends him to the beach at the drop of a request from either a local improving their skills or a group of tourist looking to just try it out. His prices are right especially with his knowledge and “fun facts” about Barbados. You’ll walk away with an experience beyond a board and paddle. If you ever get the pleasure of seeing this beautiful island please give him a call for some memorable lessons!

I strolled through some of the streets and found some cute little buildings with a variety of shops, deli’s and boutiques inside. Love the colors!

This is “Cuz”, a food shack that sits water side and serves up one option, fish sliders. You can pick from plain, with an egg, or with egg and cheese. This little hut was actually featured on The Today’s Show in the set of “Where in the world is Matt Lauer”.

Snack time! I found a spiked green item that resembled a Cherimoya which is one of my favorite fruits from South America. Turns out it’s in the same family, but this breed is called a Guanabana, also known as a Soursop. I then opened up a starfruit and scooped some of the Greek yogurt I scored directly into it. Viola, a scrumptious treat!

I stumbled upon this gem by accident, hooray for unexpected path crossing! Meet Nicha, the owner and operator of Body Restoration .
This wonderful place is a whole food store that provides an impressive selection of organic based products ranging from skin care to snacks. I pleasantly lost track of time snooping through all of the goodies and thouroughly enjoyed the uplifting conversation with my new friend. Thanks for the info girl!

This was a cute set up outside of a bar along my walk. Bajan’s love their rum!

Hungry? Clearly this is not farm raised and hasn’t been previously frozen.

A bread fruit tree! I’m really looking forward to a local dish that includes this ingredient.

Mikie (who you’ll get more of later) and his wild Monkeys! They Casually hang around and know just what to do when he reaches for the banana box. If you look closely at the 2nd photo, it’s a momma with her baby, precious!

Awh… I was given a “poor boys proposal”. As children on the island they would pick these White Frangipangi flowers and bend the pedals to create a ring. A handmade gift for the girls that was given as a flirtatious gesture. I can remember the boys back home just chasing us around the playground with some sort of slimy creature. Well, I finally got my ring.

Ackee fruit is common here in Barbados, however if you ask for an Ackee in Jamaica, they’ll hand you you something completely different.
Notice that we’re in a car. That’s because people stand next to main roads and highways and wait for a buyer. You just wave them over and seconds later, fresh Ackee!

Step one – Get a bunch.

Step 2 – Split it gently open with your teeth.

Step 3 – Eat all of the flesh off the seed. They’re sweet with an ever so slight tang depending on how ripe. Love them!

Fact of the day: This island is approximately 21 miles long and 15 miles wide with over 3000 hours of sunshine a year! The average daytime temperature is between 29-31degrees Celsius (that’s about 84-89 Fahrenheit).