There's less than one week to go.
Our next port of call was the island of Barbados. Unlike most of the passengers, I had never been to this place before, so I was interested in visiting as many places as time would allow. Luckily, we were in port all day and most of the night, so I had plenty of time to explore this small island.
Like most of the places that we visited on this cruise, my friends and I hired a taxi to give us a tour around the island. First stop was the Sandy Lane Golf and Country club were Tiger Woods got married. The area surrounding the club is beautifully landscaped and full of million dollar estates.
At the top left you can see the mansion belonging to the singer Rihanna (Chris Brown's former punching bag). American Idol judge, Simon Cowell, also has a home in the area. These fancy homes are all secluded behind the bars of gated communities, but it isn't the people that the residents have to worry about.
Green monkeys (they don't look green to me) can be seen roaming all over the place. Some people keep them as pets, but most consider them to be a nuisance. Since their habitat is being bulldozed to make way for more and more of these mansions, the monkeys are starting to strike back. They will go after anything shiny and have a knack for destroying outdoor patio furniture and equipment. (And God help you if you are stupid enough to leave a door or window open!)
Speaking of God, our next stop was the oldest church on the island, Saint James parish church (1605).
Then we headed up to Mount Hillaby, one of the highest points on the island. Our ship was docked on the Caribbean sea but from this viewpoint we could see the Atlantic ocean (the slightly darker blue below the sky). This sign was on the top of the hill.
The next stop for me was Harrison's cave. This underground cavern had recently gone through some major renovations, so everything looked shiny and new. I guess the upgrades went over budget, because they sure were charging a lot to get into the place $60 BBD (or $30 USD).
Unlike most caves, where you walk in or take an elevator down, this tour involved boarding an electric car for the trip underground. 
I have been in caves all over the world, but without a doubt, this is the wettest cave that I have ever been in. Water dripped nonstop on you from the stalactites and you were constantly surrounded by the sound of running water.
Almost everywhere you looked, there were pools of water or small waterfalls. According to the guide, the water down here is the purest on the island and it eventually ends up in the community reservoir.
Once up top, we headed off to the beach for a little rest and relaxation. The beaches down here are beautiful and the water was warm and inviting.
Word to the wise – wear water shoes if plan on going into the water. Rocks tended to be mixed in with the fine sand. They weren't sharp, but they sure hurt when your toes hit one or when the tide washed a bunch of them up against your feet. Ouch! 
Later that night, several Barbadian musicians and dancers came on board to put on a show for us.
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