Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles, in the Caribbean region of North America.  The Portuguese are believed to be the first Europeans to "discover" Barbados on their way to Brazil in the 1500s.  They claimed the island and later abandoned it in 1620, with their only remnants being an introduction of wild boars for a good supply of meat whenever the island was visited, and to replenish their water supply.   In 1627, the first permanent settlers arrived from England, and it became an English Colony.

The Viking Sun was in port for 10 hours allowing the crew time to store the provisions from six large shipping containers into the cargo hold.  Arriving was fresh produce, meat, fish, dry goods, sundries and most important beer and wine.

While the crew labored, we traveled to the island's center and visited an astonishing natural wonder, Harrison's Cave.  From the visitor's center, an electric tram took us down into the subterranean world of magnificent chambers, stalactites, stalagmites, underground water falls and streams.

Formed over the millennia, the caves first recorded discovery date was 1796.

The cave's interior lay untouched for 174 years until 1970 when it was rediscovered by Jack Peeples.

The cave is naturally formed by water erosion through the limestone rock.  The calcium-rich water that runs through the cave has formed the unusual stalactite and stalagmite formations. 

 At the lowest point in the cave, a waterfall plunges into an emerald pool.

A shaded tropical garden at the cave's exit allowed us to transition from the cavern's cool interior to the island's sweltering heat.

As I write this, Jan is sitting on the veranda enjoying a book from the ship's library.

Nautical Term of the Day -- Cut and Run

If a captain of a small ship encountered a larger enemy vessel, he might decide that discretion is the better part of valor, and would order his crew to cut the lashings on all the sails and run (move away) from the danger.