We have to be ready for "Ted's Tour" for 9 am at the front of our apartment building. Ted came highly recommended and it's not long before we find out why. We are picked up by a bus, which also happens to be the tour bus. It's about a 40 seater and is already half full. Ted introduces us to everyone on the bus and then he introduces them to us. He's wearing a microphone so everyone can hear him. He explains that there are a few more pickups but it's obvious the tour has already started. This guy is a gold mine of information, not only about where to eat and what to do while in Barbados but also it's history.
At speightstown we stop in case anyone needs to buy film or use the "restroom". Before we board the bus again, Ted borrows some fish from the market to tell us about them. The flying fish, the barracuda and the dolphin (which, as everyone likes to point out here, isn't Flipper! ) He couldn't show us a King Fish because they had run out, but it tastes like dolphin.
Anyway, we are off again and Ted continues with the tour. He is very entertaining as he continues to tell us about the island. The next stop is at Cherry Tree Hill, this time for rum punch and a spectacular view.
Soon we are moving again with the news that lunch will be served at the Edgewater Hotel in Bathsheba, an all you can eat buffet.
This tour is well worth the money! There's a pool here and stunning views up and down the east coast.
Lunch is fantastic with lots of local dishes. I really like the lamb stew.
We're on our way again and Ted immediately announces that the next stop will be a rum punch stop. Strangely it's at a church - St Johns. There are more vendors here selling everything from rum cake to locally grown peanuts. Again, the views from here are fantastic as the church is perched on a cliff.
There's one final stop for a view of the south of the island and then he tells us about Sam Lord the pirate.
This has been a great tour, so as Ted says at every opportunity "Remember Ted's Tours!"
After this the first guests are dropped off at their hotel and Ted continues to tell us about places to eat on the south coast.
We are nearly back now and Ted tells everyone "I have tell you that this is the first time I've done this tour and Mr Pinnock has been checking our progress with his GPS and also feeding me facts about the island through my headset". All lies of course! He told the last couple we dropped off that they we're actually the only guests onboard. All the other passengers were highly trained professional actors posing as guests to enhance their pleasure of their tour!
As we got of the bus we thanked Ted and of course gave him a tip.
It was a bit late to go to the Beach Bar so we just showered and tried out the little restaurant a few hundred yards up from Magic Isle called Bistro Monet. The food couldn't be faulted but I think the restaurant was pretty new and service (or rather the lack of it) was disappointing. I'm sure it will improve.
Drinks tally:
A lot of Rum punch and 2 Banks (on tour) G&T and wine with dinner.