Being Cold in Barbados

I grew up in Colorado. I started skiing when I was 13. So I know snow. I know winter. I know cold. I survived it pretty well in my childhood — loved skiing, loved the quiet of the snow.  My dad, who was impervious to cold, used to get up on the roof of our house in Vail in his skivvies to shovel the snow off.

I was never that hardy. But I could handle it.

But now … well, I’ve become a cold, cold chick.

Right now I’m in a hotel room in Williamsburg, Virginia, trying to get warm from having been outdoors where it’s 28 degrees F and quite grey, even though the sun is shining.  Greg and I thought it would be great fun to spend the holidays traipsing through Colonial Williamsburg watching butter being churned by folks dressed as 17th-century American settlers.

But my Bajan guy and me … our holiday has consisted primarily of visiting the fabulous William & Mary college bookstore and sipping hot cider wherever we can. We’re having lots of fun, but our goal is to have fun staying indoors.

The same thing, on a smaller scale, happens to guests who stay in our Barbados holiday apartments (St Lawrence Beach Condos) … Once they’re back home in England, Scotland, Estonia, Canada, or all the other exotic cold climes from which they hail, they send me e-mails of longing for the brilliant blue (warm!) sea, the (warm!) December evenings they sat at a seaside restaurant in strapless dresses and shirt sleeves and enjoyed a fine Bajan meal, the suitcase they carried that contained nothing much more than a swimsuit and cover-up … because Barbados is warm.  And not just warm: it’s brilliantly colored in blues and aquas. Photos taken for Barbados post cards don’t need to be Photoshopped.

So … I’ve been indoors now for nearly an hour now and am finally warming up … phew! Cold chick … cold, cold chick. Well, at least with my guy I’m cold in good company.

(Just so you know, this cold chick’s got a warm heart.)



4 Responses to “Being Cold in Barbados”

1. Charles Brathwaite says:

   January 1, 2009 at 10:14 pm

   I know how you feel!!…I am back home in Calgary after my annual visit to lovely Barbados at this time of the year. Back to the snow and cold days. Atleast the warm Barbados sun is still flowing through my bones and some Caribbean Mango and Sorrel fruit wine I managed to pick up from that airport duty free shop. Just magnificent on a cold new year’s day with friends and family. Its the first time i have seen that island wine but its absolutely brilliant!!! Ah my memories of Bim
2. Jane Shattuck says:

   January 2, 2009 at 7:56 am

   Wow, that sounds good, Caribbean Mango and Sorrel fruit wine. Where do you recommend I find it? I’m having no luck with my Google search.

   I am not a big drinker, but everyone who partakes tells me Barbados rum is amazing.

   Thanks for the tip, Charles. I look forward to sampling this special wine and recommending it to others.

   Stay warm!
3. Charles Brathwaite says:

   January 2, 2009 at 9:50 am

   Hi Jane I picked up some bottles at one of the outbound airport duty free shops there….its the Caribbean ARI/Caribbean Airways shop if my memory serves me well…..Also I know you can get them at WineWorld. I told my cousin about it and he called WineWorld to ask about it and yes they do have it. Its surprisingly good wine, especially since the Caribbean is known more for rum. I am sure you will enjoy it, especially if you are in the cold!!!
4. planetbarbados says:

   January 2, 2009 at 2:38 pm

   Thanks. I have a shameful sweet tooth and don’t care for alcohol unless it’s a bit on the sweet side. This sounds perfect – for gifts and for myself. Thank you!