What Was the Best Local Experience You’ve Ever Had?
This following is part of the Wanderlust Game Co. ongoing blog series where the author chose a card from the Wanderlust Table: Travel Deck as a writing prompt.
In 2019, I had the pleasure of travelling to the beautiful Caribbean country of Barbados to visit a friend who had recently moved there. From the moment I stepped out of the airport and into the warm tropical air, I had a feeling that my trip would be unlike any other. To reach my friend’s apartment, I hopped on a ZR bus, which is a form of public transportation on the island. The ZR buses are not your typical city buses. They are small and resemble a Volkswagen van with very limited seating. ZR buses aren’t commonly used by tourists, and are not necessarily the easiest transportation system to navigate, as I soon found out.
I was immediately puzzled by how I would know my stop was approaching, and if there was a way to notify the driver I needed to get off. Confusion was written all over my face as the bus blaring with Caribbean music slowly began to fill up with people. I’m not one to easily get claustrophobic, but filling a 10-seater bus with 15 people was becoming stuffy. I did take notice of one thing in particular, everyone on the bus seemed to know each other. They were talking happily and joking around, making for a friendly environment. Although I was physically uncomfortable, I felt safe.
Sweat began to drip from me and I pulled out my phone to look at the map of the island- hoping I’d be able to gauge where I needed to get off, despite no longer being able to see out of the window due to overcrowding. I kept looking at my map and could feel someone’s eyes on me. I looked to my left and the man beside me was smiling. He said something then pointed to my phone. I nodded my head and smiled, but couldn’t make out what he had said. Barbadians speak Bajan, an English-based creole that can be difficult to understand if you’re not used to it. The man continued to talk and eventually pointed at the map on my phone. I realized he was trying to figure out where I needed to get off, probably after observing the confusion on my face. I told him the name of my stop. He smiled and held up three fingers to indicate it was three stops away. I returned the smile and thanked him, automatically feeling relief. As my stop approached, the man got the driver’s attention, and the bus pulled over. I thanked the man profusely and exited the bus onto the busy street.
This was the first of many heartwarming and memorable experiences during my time in Barbados. It didn’t take me long to notice how small the island truly was. It seemed like everywhere we went I recognized someone- whether it was other tourists or locals I had seen around. The friendliness and welcoming demeanor of the locals continued to be a reoccurring event. People were so eager to help and always met you with a ‘hello’ and a smile.
By far one of my favourite memories in Barbados was the night we visited Oistins Fish Fry. I had been hearing so much about this famous fish fry throughout the week and didn’t fully understand what it was until I went on a bustling Friday night. Oistins Fish Fry consists of over 30 small food stalls that serve a delicious variety of local cuisine, but the experience goes beyond the food. It resembles a cultural street party with colourful lights and live upbeat music. It is a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike. It didn’t matter if you lived 5-minutes down the road or on the other side of the world. Everyone was there to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and each other’s company- something that is not always common when travelling. We even ran into some of my friend’s co-workers as we were sipping on cold beers and breathing in the delectable food smells.
Barbados had been a very last-minute trip, and to be perfectly honest, I hadn’t done much prior research on the island. Therefore, I didn’t know what to expect other than pristine beaches and turquoise waters. While yes, Barbados is an absolute island paradise, the beauty of it lies within the kindness of the people who call it home.
Author Bio:
Cortney Ellis lives on the East Coast of Canada where she works in healthcare philanthropy. She is always on the hunt for a beach to explore or a new sour beer to try, and can’t wait to travel again. You can usually find her in the company of family and friends, or, with a book in hand.
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