Tropical loos in Hunte's Garden

When I shared the loo with a garden in October, I didn’t realise that this would become a thing. But it has, and here’s the post to prove it, and there’s another one to come too, but that’s for another day. Today’s Loo Series is from Hunte’s Garden in Barbados, and the garden was a special one, very special.

The garden itself is in an unusual sink-hole like gully and you’re invited to work your way down, around and through the garden before returning to the entry level again, where there’s yet more to discover. Hidden away on the entry level, along from one of the many seating areas, where the loos.

Rustic and simple, but entirely functional, and in keeping with the garden too.

And as is becoming customary, there was an opportunity for a picture in the mirror - I think the most tropical background so far, and probably to come.

And if I thought the loos were good looking, the view as you emerge back into the garden, well that was just sublime.

Just looking at this picture now, I’m back in the garden in my mind. I can hear the music which was playing throughout the garden, I can feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, though of course I’m wearing many more clothes than on our visit. This garden is one of, perhaps my all time top to visit garden, it’s one that I felt a complete emotional connection to, in a way that I’m not sure I have before.

I can’t wait to share the rest of the photos from our visit, and if you visit Barbados you must definitely go and visit for yourself.

Blue skies and mud at Emmetts Garden

Sun and blue skies, what a treat for January. And way too nice to be indoors, like many others we headed out to a local garden this weekend to make the most of the weather. We arrived at Emmetts Garden at lunchtime on Sunday, with plenty of people arriving before us, and some after us too.

Despite it being just a little over thirty minutes from us, it was our first visit. We’d planned to head out in Saturday, but one thing led to another and then it was almost 1pm, and while not late, we didn’t want to rush around somewhere on our first visit.

So better, and earlier plans were made for Sunday. Even though the sun was out, even at 1pm there was still evidence of the morning’s frost in the Rose Garden, at the shadier end.

BLUE SKIES OVER THE ROSE GARDEN

But what a bench, and what contrast against the skies. Imagine sitting on the bench surrounded by the scent from the roses, warmed by the sun. Sounds great doesn’t it? I’ve a feeling that now that we’ve found Emmetts Garden we’ll be back throughout the year.

MOSS COVERED TREE STUMPS

Of course, the gardens weren’t lost. We’d driven past them, or close by, many a time. Me in the car, MOH on his bike en-route to his mums, and it was nice to explore the inside of the plot for a change.

The gardens boast of great views over the surrounding countryside, and we weren’t disappointed. MOH was soon pointing out local landmarks, like the reservoir in the distance.

The paths are up and down, and mostly hard standing, though the longer routes around the woodland have a more natural feel. With the more natural paths, especially in recent weather, comes mud. Though I was feeling relatively smug, having thought ahead and pulled on my timberlands before leaving the car park.

They were needed. I’m not really a fan of mud it must be said, but with the right footwear it was manageable. Being able to stop to liken the lichen (that still never gets old!), also helped.

LICHEN LOVE

Even though the gardens were busy, many of the muddier paths were quiet and it was refreshing to just have a wander. Even MOH slowed down a bit once we got more into the woodland, there was no need to rush through such beautiful scenery.

And choosing the right path, or mud route, needs consideration.

FI FI FO FUM

We did have a chuckle though as a little lad went past with his parents teaching him the start of the Fi Fi Fo Fum rhyme, with mum hastily explaining that it was because of the ‘giants steps’. The lad himself wasn’t so sure, and had the look of suspicion as if his parents might be having him on, but also happy to be the ‘giant’ and bellow his new knowledge and rhyme.

I bet this place holds memories for them all, maybe in years to come. Even this one. That’s what gardens, and nature, does, even if we don’t know it at the time. Or even if we do.

For our part we followed the Ram Pump Walk to the pump, then strayed onto the red route, it was only when we got to the road with a sign to the garden pointing the way that we’d just come, we questioned our wisdom, and the time, and turned back. I’m sure the rest of the walk would have been fine, but it wasn’t quite our plans, which as you might guess included a cup of tea and a slice of cake, or at least a look in the door.

And look in the door was all we did, the queue was still to the threshold so we headed on and through the South garden, then into the Rock garden. For me, this is the part I want to see how it changes - right now, there’s heathers, bare patches and primroses starting to flower, and a leaky pond with great reflections.

But for now, that’s where our visit to Emmetts ends, I’m saving the photos of the flowering heathers until Friday…

Christmas trees in Bridgetown

We got braver for our second trip into Bridgetown, skipping the taxi and taking the local bus instead. If you’ve been to Barbados you’ll no doubt be familiar with the Reggae buses, which seem to have multiplied since our last visit. We used these regularly to head up to St Lawrence Gap and visit one of the many restaurants there, but they go all the way into Bridgetown, and for the same fare too.

That fare was 7 Barbados Dollars for the both of us, which is quite different to the forty US Dollars for a cab back from the port, which was our first trip to the capital - I’ve not shared that here yet, but will share more from our day on the Spirit of Discovery later in the month. The Reggae buses vary in age, decor and friendliness - while none are unfriendly as such, some are more welcoming and used to tourists. The one we flagged down for our Bridgetown trip, was friendly, newer than most and had the most ornate interior we saw.

So we lucked out. In many the windows are wide open and the breeze is welcome in the 30 degree heat, though in one I was convinced if the driver were to brake quickly I’d more than likely be out of the window. Thankfully there isn’t too much braking quickly, unless of course, a new far is spotted!

The buses turnaround in Bridgetown and the advice from our hotel was that we were there when everyone else got off. Not bad advice really, though we weren’t 100% sure as there was that stuttering of people getting off earlier as the traffic slowed. It’s true you can never get lost on Barbados, not just because it’s a small island (it’s just 21 miles long and 14 miles wide) but because the Bajans just won’t let you get lost.

Once off the bus we were heading towards the Mount Gay Rum Distillery, which we knew was on the sea front and further along from the port, and so we followed the crowd mostly and kept the sea to our left.

Simple as that.

And along the way we saw some great buildings (see above), walked through the commercial centre heading into a department store briefly - it was just like a department store at home, and just like the stores at home, MOH coughed and spluttered through the cosmetic and perfume department on the ground floor.

In Independence Square we wandered around several of the Christmas trees on display - there were over a hundred 10ft trees set up by the Barbados Defence Force, with each tree representing a Commonwealth country. Given the heat, not even I was up for wandering around them all, which I know MOH was pleased by - and remember, we were also on our way to a rum tasting at the distillery, so other things might have been on my mind.

We did stop and admire some of them though, and notice their similarities and differences to each other, and to our decorations at home, which this year stayed firmly put away.

THE GAMBIA

CAMEROON

BARBADOS

LESOTHO

Looking more closely at the decorations on the Cameroon tree, the stars looked to be made out of cardboard tubes, squished into shape. The wooden ornament wouldn’t look out of place on our tree, and had we seen any decorations like these to buy, I’m pretty sure we’d have left with some.

I was intrigued by the figures on the Lesotho tree, which were large - though admittedly on a 10ft tree you can manage with large decorations. On closer inspection I realised they were Kings, several more than the three Wise Men in the nativity, but again, how many of our tree decorations are factually correct in numbers?

On even closer inspection I spotted a headless King, which while a shame, showed just how they were made. A two litre fizzy drink bottle painted and clothed in fabric. Who’d have thought such an everyday item would be given such a regal makeover?