Navigational triumphs

This morning we packed and then sat in the lounge where the signal was decent to do a bit of blogging, photo uploading etc. Eventually cleared out at about midday with the hire car and a couple of hours to kill, so we headed through Holetown (swift stop to photograph the cute Methodist church) and up the hill to the Earthworks pottery. The hotel was full of their wares so we thought it would be nice to go up there and buy some stuff to take home. However, they obviously operate on island time because we arrived, after much zigzagging hither and yon, twenty minutes before the advertised closing time to find them thoroughly shut up and gone to de beach. C not impressed.

 

With something like an hour or an hour and a half before we wanted to check in, we decided to attempt to find the Gun Hill signal station, which had been recommended as a "heritage destination". It was marked vaguely on our poor-quality map so we attempted to go cross country, as it is situated somewhere between the pottery and the airport. I followed my nose, but my nose led me down increasingly potholey roads until we ended up at a dead end in a sugar cane field. Barbados has no road signage of any significant description and lots of interconnecting roads. Also, none of the villages have names so even if the maps were remotely accurate, which they aren't, you wouldn't be able to tell where you were. Anyway, we went back towards civilisation (the bus stops helpfully have "to city" on them when you are going towards Bridgetown, and "away from city" when you are headed anywhere else - sometimes this is the only way of orientating yourself that does not require knowledge of mosses on tree trunks etc) and hit the main road, after which C got us to Gun Hill in a remarkable feat of navigation. It was nice, with a good view, some cannon, and bits of info about how early 19th century regiments had decamped up there from the garrison to avoid the yellow fever etc. it was used as an observation post to warn of approaching ships, rebellious slaves etc. 

 

After the signal station it was time to go, so in another navigational triumph we arrived at Grantley Adams international in plenty of time and checked in. Instead of going through security we went next door to the Barbados Concorde Experience, where they have an actual Concorde in a display shed. It is really quite well done - I have only been in the Duxford prototype before so it was good to see in a genuine passenger example. Made us feel somewhat sad that such an outstanding bit of engineering should have been retired with nothing remotely as interesting or advanced to replace it. A retrograde step, even if we would never have been able to afford it - there was a price list for 1988 there and it was 3000 return to Barbados even then. BA gave this example to the island because it was the only holiday destination it was used for on a regular scheduled basis.

After that to the terminal and the mocking presence of the Virgin 747 standing next to the toy aeroplane we have to fly in. Bought lots in the souvenir shop, had some quick food then it was time to board.