Barbados:
Did you know that George Washington left the United States only once? He was about 19 years old. His brother had asthma or some other respiratory ailment and he went with him to Barbados. They have restored and saved the house they stayed in. Also, George, while in Barbados caught smallpox during an outbreak, met the British head of the military, who taught him military strategy and studied the government structure. Well, he used the strategies in fighting the British and when smallpox broke out in the Continental Armies George Washington was immune so he could continue to lead. Our constitution reads a good deal like the Barbadian one which came first. Hmmmmm Divine Intervention?

Also are you aware that there is a connection with South Carolina and Barbados? South Carolina was settled by people from Barbados and our first 4 governors were from Barbados. They came into Charleston area. That was all new to us so I thought you might like to know it too.

Education, from nursery school thru college is free, as is health care. The literacy rate is 99.7% from age 15 and over.

The music is Calypso and Reggae but I think you already knew that. The people seem fun loving, conservative and very spiritual. The play cricket, which is the national sport. Many of them are employed in the tourist industry. Their old fashioned homes are called Wooden Chattel Homes. They are built on blocks so they can be moved in case of disputes with landowners. The homes have corrugated roofs and lots of Victorian type “gingerbread” trim. The colors are all brilliant and many are multi-colored

There are many Christian churches, from Anglican, the most prevalent, to Spiritual Baptists, Muslims, and Quakers are represented there too and 1 synagogue. The synagogue is the oldest one in the Western hemisphere. That seems like a very good fact given that we celebrated the first evening of Hanukkah last night, on board the ship.

We took a 45-minute ride to an animal reserve and Jack took some really nice photos. I was so surprised at the hilly terrain of Barbados. Most all photos are of the beach areas, which are lovely, but the hills and valleys are pretty too.

Back on board I realized how many photos Jack took so I started another album on Webshots. http://community.webshots.com/user/pins4

A quiet evening followed this 5 hour tour and we are now underway toward the Amazon. 1 day at sea and then we enter the Amazon River. Tomorrows lectures will prepare us for that adventure.
Good night I am really tired