Depression Recovery

Question:

Hello, We are shortly going out to stay with family who are working in Bridgetown. We are looking forward to seeing Barbados for the first time and meeting people, but are a bit apprehensive about the very touristy scene. People keep telling us about Pirate and Wenches cruises and stuff like that – which is fine if you like it, but we don’t. We are not beachy, night cluby, golfy people We really want to find some ‘quiet’ bars or rum-shops, where we can just chill for the evening. Eat some fish. Hang with the locals. Any leads would be appreciated – and will yield a drink if you are in Barbados <smile>. We will be in Hightown, St Michaels and MAY have access to a car (although what good THAT will be after an evening at a rum shop I don’t know). TIA David David Rose —

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, > We are shortly going out to stay with family who are working in > Bridgetown. > We are looking forward to seeing Barbados for the first time and > meeting people, but are a bit apprehensive about the very touristy > scene. People keep telling us about Pirate and Wenches cruises and > stuff like that – which is fine if you like it, but we don’t. We are > not beachy, night cluby, golfy people > We really want to find some ‘quiet’ bars or rum-shops, where we can > just chill for the evening. Eat some fish. Hang with the locals. > Any leads would be appreciated – and will yield a drink if you are in > Barbados <smile>. > We will be in Hightown, St Michaels and MAY have access to a car > (although what good THAT will be after an evening at a rum shop I > don’t know).

This sounds like a job for my man Leif!

Response:

>We really want to find some ‘quiet’ bars or rum-shops, where we can >just chill for the evening. Eat some fish. Hang with the locals.

You can go to Oistins, eat some fish and hang with the locals in one of the bars there, although its not a quiet place, especially on Friday night.  Regarding rum-shops, Ive always heard that the’re kinda for men only, but my wife and I have ventured into them on numerous occasions in the eastern caribbean…you get a few raised eyebrows sometimes, but when they see your just visitors they welcome you, at least thats been our experience…you can buy the whole house a round of drinks for a few bucks as the rum is really cheap, and there will be no problem in striking up a conversation or two…ha john  

Response:

One thing is for sure: I would definitely get away from Bridgetown as much as possible. Even if you don’t have access to a car, it is relatively cheap to simply hire a taxi to give you a tour of much of the island. The countryside is absolutely beautiful and there is a lot to see. I found Bridgetown to be overcrowded, congested, and rather unpleasant compared to the rest of the island.

Response:

You assume that the "locals" will want to hang with you.  I am smart and old enough to know that this won’t work. The only way you will carry it off is to meet a person and gain his confidence and be asked to join him in whatever he is doing. You can walk into a run shop on Bdos, or into a local in Stornoway, but you will not be accepted.  They’ll make you feel at home, take your money, laugh at your jokes, and know that you’re an a**h***.  They usually ask "why would one of ‘them’ want to pretend he’s one of ‘us?" Barry

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, > We are shortly going out to stay with family who are working in > Bridgetown. > We are looking forward to seeing Barbados for the first time and > meeting people, but are a bit apprehensive about the very touristy > scene. People keep telling us about Pirate and Wenches cruises and > stuff like that – which is fine if you like it, but we don’t. We are > not beachy, night cluby, golfy people > We really want to find some ‘quiet’ bars or rum-shops, where we can > just chill for the evening. Eat some fish. Hang with the locals. > Any leads would be appreciated – and will yield a drink if you are in > Barbados <smile>. > We will be in Hightown, St Michaels and MAY have access to a car > (although what good THAT will be after an evening at a rum shop I > don’t know). > TIA > David > David Rose > —

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, > We are shortly going out to stay with family who are working in > Bridgetown. > We are looking forward to seeing Barbados for the first time and > meeting people, but are a bit apprehensive about the very touristy > scene. People keep telling us about Pirate and Wenches cruises and > stuff like that – which is fine if you like it, but we don’t. We are > not beachy, night cluby, golfy people > We really want to find some ‘quiet’ bars or rum-shops, where we can > just chill for the evening. Eat some fish. Hang with the locals. > Any leads would be appreciated – and will yield a drink if you are in > Barbados <smile>. > We will be in Hightown, St Michaels and MAY have access to a car > (although what good THAT will be after an evening at a rum shop I > don’t know). > This sounds like a job for my man Leif!

Yes it is. But I will wait a day or two. I am suffering from some depression these days, and hope to recover. Untill I feel a bit better, I don`t really feel like writing. So just wait, I will be back. Hopfully. Leif Arild

Response:

Oistins is the place to go.  Try Pam’s or one of the other small stalls. Not quiet but full of local colour and vibrancy on a Friday and Saturday. Charles

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, > We are shortly going out to stay with family who are working in > Bridgetown. > We are looking forward to seeing Barbados for the first time and > meeting people, but are a bit apprehensive about the very touristy > scene. People keep telling us about Pirate and Wenches cruises and > stuff like that – which is fine if you like it, but we don’t. We are > not beachy, night cluby, golfy people > We really want to find some ‘quiet’ bars or rum-shops, where we can > just chill for the evening. Eat some fish. Hang with the locals. > Any leads would be appreciated – and will yield a drink if you are in > Barbados <smile>. > We will be in Hightown, St Michaels and MAY have access to a car > (although what good THAT will be after an evening at a rum shop I > don’t know). > TIA > David > David Rose > —

Response:

Jeez.. sounds like you’re old enough to be a drag.  Try turning the charm down and perhaps you won’t come off as such an a**h***.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You assume that the "locals" will want to hang with you.  I am smart and old > enough to know that this won’t work. > The only way you will carry it off is to meet a person and gain his > confidence and be asked to join him in whatever he is doing. > You can walk into a run shop on Bdos, or into a local in Stornoway, but you > will not be accepted.  They’ll make you feel at home, take your money, laugh > at your jokes, and know that you’re an a**h***.  They usually ask "why would > one of ‘them’ want to pretend he’s one of ‘us?" > Barry > Hello, > We are shortly going out to stay with family who are working in > Bridgetown. > We are looking forward to seeing Barbados for the first time and > meeting people, but are a bit apprehensive about the very touristy > scene. People keep telling us about Pirate and Wenches cruises and > stuff like that – which is fine if you like it, but we don’t. We are > not beachy, night cluby, golfy people > We really want to find some ‘quiet’ bars or rum-shops, where we can > just chill for the evening. Eat some fish. Hang with the locals. > Any leads would be appreciated – and will yield a drink if you are in > Barbados <smile>. > We will be in Hightown, St Michaels and MAY have access to a car > (although what good THAT will be after an evening at a rum shop I > don’t know). > TIA > David > David Rose > —

Response: