Lethargy in the Port of Barbados
It took me awhile to get off the cruise ship in Barbados. I spent awhile on the deck of the ship just looking at the dock in Barbados. Unlike the other ports the dock in Barbados is pretty industrial. Instead of women with head scarves and big hats sitting near the dock area and selling various things I saw heavy machinery loading big metal shipping containers onto cargo ships. I wondered what of interest could be waiting for me on shore.
Geoffrey Fullerton Adds an Instant Shot of Excitement
Eventually I got off the boat and immediately after having done so I bumped into Geoffrey Fullerton, one of the most famous members of the crew. Geoffrey Fullerton’s role is “Destination Shopping Specialist”. His show on which he gives advice on where and how to shop for jewelery during the voyage is televised almost continuously on the cruise ship. I don’t have much interest in jewelery but I always love to hear a person who knows their stuff and can spot a great opportunity. Geoffrey with his background as a former fine art auctioneer had an INCREDIBLY broad and deep knowledge about jewelery in general and the Caribbean marketplace in particular.
I followed Geoffrey around a little to learn more about what he did. I don’t think it would have been possible to find a more interesting way for me to spend that time. Shopping for jewelery is more of a completely foreign adventure to me than going on safari.
I watched while Geoffrey helped cruise ship passengers find good deals on exactly the jewelery they had traveled all that way in search of. Given the short time on shore and given the ever changing deals to be had, making Geoffrey available was an invaluable service provided by the cruise line.
A good number of cruise ship passengers take advantage of the deals to be had on jewelery and come to make a big investment while enjoying a cruise. Geoffrey's job was to help cruise knowledgeable passengers find the particular stone, cut, or setting that they were looking for. He even conducted a number of seminars on the ship regarding what to look for and how to get the best deals. I held my breath when a sales person at one of the stores held out a $300K plus watch for Geoffrey to show a customer.
When Geoffrey had the sales person take out the Breitling watch made for Bentley Tourbillon Geoffrey said “here is the piece that is the big deal”. He mentioned a quote from Patek Phillipe that I’ll paraphrase as saying “you don’t own a great watch because such watches last and hold their value for so long that it’s more accurate to see them as on loan to you from the children or other loved ones that you pass them on to”. Looking at the Breitling Bently watch he remarked incredulously … “300 yr old technology that has never been improved upon”. I could see the genuine, passionate interest in Geoffrey that was probably what resulted in him having become so knowledgeable. I wanted to write a profile on Geoffrey alone but after too many rum punches the night before my writing hand couldn’t keep up with the stream of information and there was no other place to store the information as I had already used up all my little remaining short term memory on remembering his first and last name. I guess I’ll have to catch him in port some time later when he’s in Antigua.
Downtown Barbados had nearly as many jewelery stores as St. Thomas.
Diamonds international was said to be the only place where you could get what I believe was called the "crown of light" cut of diamond.
You can get a taxi to one of the beach bars right from the area where the cruise shuttle drops you off in Barbados. If you're lucky you can get taxi fare to the beach and back, a mixed drink, and use of a beach chair and umbrella all for not much more than $10 US. I paid about $3.00 each way, lay on the beach with no umbrella, and had to buy water. I probably paid more for less ... but I guess I paid for the freedom to do my own thing. I like to do that sometimes.
In the background a woman grabs hold of the swing's rope and flies towards a big plunge into the refreshing Bajan sea.
Also in the background another woman holds onto the same rope for just a little while longer and catches enough heith to get her money's worth.
Ali and Tiffani from the cruise ship are relaxing in the warm Bajan waves.
The water feels refreshing on your skin but moderately sized or larger waves are still a little shocking when they hit you. After getting smacked by a good wave Ali and Tiffani regain composure.
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