Barbados ¦ Part One – Deep Seeded Love

Once upon a time there was a young, redheaded little girl. Fresh from the majestic blue mountains in which she had grown up, she was now unceremoniously plopped down into the lowlands. Surrounded by gritty sand, thundering waves and spandex wearing Olivia Newton John wannabe’s. She felt terribly lost and alone. Suffering from culture shock she turned to some beloved constant companions for support…books. Among her old well worn books she found a new story to read. One that she had purchased during her old schools book sale as a memento.

Nestled under a shade tree she found herself walking along sandy beaches as she read the new book. The last place that she wanted be, seeing as how the beach was now her nemesis. It was an undesirable place that had taken her from loving grandparents, cousins and her dear horses. Yet putting down a book once she had begun was not in her nature, so she kept reading. She discovered that these beaches were different. They were tropical beaches. Speckled with palm trees and surrounded by glistening turquoise waters. There was music in the air here. The people and land seemed to hum with happiness. There was another young girl in the book. She was also feeling torn and distraught over leaving her home. Saying goodbye to her Caribbean paradise for a dreary Connecticut colony of old. Where being slightly different didn’t result in being shunned but rather hunted.

I know. What a strange way to start a post but The Witch of Blackbird Pond completely changed the way I viewed life at the beach after we moved to the coast. It has also had me dreaming of beautiful Barbados ever since I was 11 years old. So you see I had to start there first. Otherwise y’all wouldn’t know how badly I wanted to stow away in my darling surfers board bag when he took off to one of my deep seeded, must visit before I expire, travel destinations. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t begrudged him one tiny bit for going without me. The cards just weren’t in it for all of us to go this time, but soon guys. Very soon I will walk those white beaches and feel the trade winds on my face. I will also send up a little prayer of thanks that I discovered a love for the ocean and all the wonders that she’s held out for me to claim. Especially this guy, who is as much a part of the ocean as anyone could possibly be.

How could I not be thrilled that my love was able to experience what is second nature to him in a land that I have loved from afar? I suppose it’s only fair seeing as how I’ve been to Lugano, Switzerland. Which happens to be where his family is from and he has not been there yet. Life and it’s funny little quirks.

He had an amazing time and made some wonderful friends while he was down in paradise. Unfortunately, as much as I adore him for it, he’s a diehard surfer. That means he ran straight for the waves and forgot all about playing tourist for me. Tsk, tsk surferboy. Knox who went along with him has some candid photos of Barbados and “our” new friends (mine as well because I’m on the next plane), but it’s going to be like pulling teeth to get them from him in a timely fashion.

That’s okay, I’m putting together Part Two-Surfing Barbados tonight. Then once I’ve tracked down Knox, sat on him and tickled him mercilessly until I have the other photos, y’all will get to see the rest.

So in the meantime you guys will just have to stare longingly with me at the only two photos DS took with his phone. As well as the sublime turquoise waters under his board and in all of the coming action shots taken by his new bud Mark Nick.

Let’s all sigh together at once…{sigh}.

Love, hugs and tropicly deprived,

Shari-Tickled Red

Tagged as: Barbados, Mark Nick-Barbados Photography, Surf, Surf Trip, travel