We both wanted to try snorkelling one more time, so we arranged for a catamaran trip with Stilleto. They took us to an area with sea turtles, who crowded around us (a few small fish thrown out by the captain helped matters along). The captain then took us for a sail, which was exhilarating. We saw schools of the famous Barbadian flying fish – they really do seem to fly, travelling up to 300 yards.

I (Bernd) went for an evening swim in the pool and discovered I was sharing the pool with a large land crab (perfect size for a meal!). The hotel hauled him out saying it was common for some wildlife to take a dip at night. It was perfect a perfect way to end the day, floating in the pool watching the stars.

One last minute treat before we left, was seeing a band of wild monkeys who live in area just behind the hotel. They were in the trees, and racing along the top of the fence. Apparently, they enjoy eating the almonds and other fruits from the trees at the hotel.

Before heading to the airport we stood one last time in the ocean surf for one last picture. With thoughts home, we tried out our cel phone. The cel works well but gets intercepted by the local communication company requiring a ~$100us/one time charge plus a ~$5/day charge plus ~$0.50/min (rough costs). Yes, you could actually run a business from the surf (also, isdn is common on the island).

• We left Casuarina at 3pm, having been strongly urged to be at the airport 3hrs before the flight departure, via Royal Airlines (at the time we thought, Why?, there is no customs clearance done here). At the airport we got boarding passes with no lineup and browse the shops outside all in 20min – now wondering what to do. We decide to have a drink in a nice cool (but smoky) large lounge outside the secure zone and watch the planes for a while. Then we head into the secure zone to find one very, very crowded area with various small duty free shops and no comfortable lounge! Here we twiddle our thumbs wondering what we are doing here so early. Liquor duty free shops are very expensive (except rum), far better to buy on the plane (actually good prices, just very limited selection and oddly mainly 750ml bottles, even though Canadians are allowed to bring back 1.14 litres each). Magazine prices are through the roof. Jewellery stores were doing a booming business. But no place to relax and enjoy a drink or meal (just take-out food and drink).

• For anyone travelling out of Barbados, we would recommend dropping off your bag and grabbing boarding passes 3hrs early (no idea why so early but that’s what they say) and then grab a cab to tour the island returning an hour before the plane leaves. Or stay in the lounge outside the secure area.
• For departure information, the secure area has very little current information. Gate number is only given over the PA system when it’s time to board. Our flight was delayed with no one in the area able to tell us what was happening (we began to wonder if somehow we missed the plane!).
• Ok, so the plane did finally leave with us for Toronto with a stop over in Antigua. Well, someone had to be taken off the plane by ambulance in Antigua and all the luggage was placed on the tarmac to search for the persons luggage! Extra delays.
• Out of Antigua we fly, right into a thunderstorm. Quite exciting to see lightning flash around the plane (thought about the Twilight episode with the creature on the wing – didn’t see one on ours)
• Land in Toronto around 1:30am and hang out in terminal 3 for our morning flight. Morning comes (snoozing on an airport bench is not fun but what should one do for 5hrs? in the morning) and we discover the Vancouver flight is delayed by several hours
• Into Vancouver we arrive with both our wonderful neighbour Pat and our great Simson parents there to pick us up. With 28hrs of travelling, we finally arrived home.