Day 6 - Barbados holiday

As the holiday is coming towards the end I'm feeling really positive about the move. There is nothing that I thought "I can't cope with that....." I feel completely at home already.

We decided to go and see the horses swimming at the beach this morning. We had watched them from the balcony of the hotel most mornings, but we wanted to go and have a closer look. So bright and early we walked down the road to Pebble Beach, where the horses walk from the racetrack and go for their swim in the sea. It seems to depend on the day how many come at any one time but while we were there we had a few horses off swimming and others arriving and leaving. There were quite a few people watching and it seems to be an unofficial tourist attraction now.

You can see the trainers walking them into the waves and splashing them with the water to get them used to the temperature, I guess. Some seem to like it more than others but we all know how cold it can feel when that first wave hits us. Once they have got used to it the horse and trainer swim further out and back. They make it look so effortless and they return to the beach glistening, before walking back to their stables. Here is a little video of some of the swimmers.

Once we had seen enough, and my tummy was saying it was time for breakfast, we walked back up to the hotel cafe for our usual breakfast of coffee and fresh muffins. We sat out by the pool in the quiet before everyone settled in for the day, just appreciating our surroundings and looking forward to it being 'home' very soon.

After breakfast, we decided to go for a swim in Carlisle Bay. The shipwrecks we had seen on the catamaran tour weren't far from the shore so we thought we could swim out to the general area and see if the water was any clearer. We had brought our dry bags with us so we could put our clothes and things inside to keep them safe, and make the bag a bit of a float so we could relax and bob about if we wanted to, as well. We got out to the area, but the water was even murkier, so we couldn't see much. To find the best areas for snorkelling, just look for the boats coming and going so you know where to go. Despite the poor visibility underwater, it was just nice to be able to get out and swim in the ocean without the risk of hypothermia, like at home in the UK.

We had a good long swim about, then once we had had enough, we walked back towards the hotel. There were taps at the edge of the beach so you can wash any sand off, and you soon dry off since it is so nice and warm. We stopped off at Cuzz's to get a couple of fish sliders for lunch, I tried it with cheese this time, and a spicy pineapple sauce that was on offer, so I had to try that as well, I can see why everyone talks about him being so good. Everything is so fresh and tastes amazing!

We had thought about going up to the Holetown area, but since we had discovered the Worthing area we really thought this was the area for us. We wanted to go back during the day to explore a little more. So after getting clean and changing into walking shoes, we set off down the coast. Once we got to Worthing we checked beach access, since other areas seem to have really limited access, but fortunately, it was good here. Whilst wandering about we also found a good choice of restaurants, supermarkets and even the post office. We walked along some of the residential streets, just really trying to get a feel for the area. It all had a nice vibe, and we pretty much decided this would be the place for us. We noted some apartments with rental signs, and we made a note of them so we can do more research once we get home.

Once the sun had gone down we headed back to Worthing Square to try one of the other food trucks. It was a bit later in the evening this time, and it was a lot busier, but there were still plenty of seats, and the atmosphere was even better. There were a couple of singers on the stage and people all around enjoying being out with friends and family. We decided to try Reggae Jerk this time, with their meal deal. It was 30BBD for a protein and 3 sides included. I went for the Ackee and Saltfish with salad, breadfruit and plantain. I didn't really know what to expect but the server was so convinced I would like it that he said he would give me my money back if I didn't. What a salesman! Suffice to say his moneyback guarantee was not needed, it was delicious! The fish was salted as expected, and the sauce was well spiced without being overpowering. It is the Jamaican national dish, and since the truck was all Jamaican food, they obviously knew what they were doing. The breadfruit seemed to be boiled so was a bit dryer than other variations we had tried, but it went well with the dish.

Here is a short video from Worthing Square, showing some of the food trucks, seating and the band that was playing on the stage when we visited.

After basking in the warm evening and enjoying the music we walked back to the hotel. Tomorrow we head home, but we know we will be back soon, and we can't wait. This visit confirmed everything we thought about living on the island and made me even more convinced that it's the place for me!

Costs (between 2 people including tips where applicable)

Hotel cafe - 42.55BBD (£17.61) - Raisin Bran muffins today with coffees

Cuzz' cafe - 23BBD (£9.52) 1 x standard fish cutter, 1 x fish cutter with cheese

Reggae Jerk - 89BBD (£37.46) 2 x meals (30BBD) and 2 drinks