Windward Coast Getaway--Bathsheba, Barbados

My husband and I were fortunate enough to be able to sneak away for a weekend in early November last year while my parents were here to watch the kids.  We didn't want to go off island since neither of my parents has even driven on the British side of  the road.  At 74 and 69, they weren't eager to learn either.  We lived on the south coast at the time so we decided to go to the east coast for our getaway. 

We're really Bed and Breakfast people and we prefer out of the way places to busy tourist areas so the Sea U guest house was perfect.  It is located in Bathsheba near the Atlantis Hotel, just up from Barbados' surfer's mecca--the Soup Bowl.  The inn is perched on the side of a rugged hill that overlooks the sea.  The main guest house is two story and has several nice rooms but the real gems are the rooms that are down the hill a bit and truly separate from the rest.  No one can see into those rooms.  Blessed privacy.

For those of you who have never been here, the east coast  is our Atlantic or windward coast.  Even if it's dead calm on all the other coasts, anything from a nice breeze to a stiff wind graces the east coast.  In the summer, the locals who can't afford to or who don't wish to go off island flock to the east coast to cool off.  Because of the near constant breeze, the Sea U guest house does not  have air conditioning units in the rooms.  As in all Barbadian homes, there are no screens on the windows.  The management kindly provides mosquito nets above the beds. 

We stayed in room five.  Our unit boasted a little porch complete with two chairs, a small table and a colorful hammock, a small kitchenette with refrigerator, a sitting room, a bedroom and a bathroom with a large shower.  The kitchenette was perfect for our stash of bread, fruit, wine and cheese which served as lunch and snacks.  We ate our snacks on the porch facing the sea. 

The view was wonderful.  The management thoughtfully provides plenty of information on the various attractions of Barbados.  There are no phones in the room but there is a local phone in the breakfast pavillion. 

The inn serves breakfast to it's guests.  The menu includes cold cereal, toast, banana bread and coconut bread coffee, tea, milk and juice.  You can also get fresh fruit (YUM), yogurt and eggs on request.   The breakfast pavilion is tucked in under the trees and has sliding canvas walls to protect the guests from sudden tropical downpours.  Two hammocks and a bench are nearby so the guest can enjoy the view of the sea.

 Dinner is available by reservation Monday, Thursday and Saturday.  We sat at the table with other guests from around the world.  We met a British surfer and his French wife, a honeymoon couple from Spain and an Irish couple down for a friend's wedding.  The food was lovely.  The menu on the night we dined there included king fish with banana, the local sweet potato pie flavored with pineapple and local squashes served cubed and boiled with the skin on.

While the Sea U Guest house has no beach access, just down the road is one of  most photographed places on the whole island--Bathsheba and  the Soup Bowl.  Dark coral rocks jut out  from the water into the crashing surf.  Some of them look like giant  mushrooms since the sea has worn them away from underneath.   The Soup Bowl itself is sometimes crowded with surfers especially on the weekend.  North a bit more is Cattlewash which is mostly homes and the beach is deserted and beautiful.  Just as you're leaving Cattlewash to the north is huge coral rock with a bench on top.   Countless locals and tourists have climbed it's sides (no steps but it's not very difficult for a semi agile adult) to sit on the bench at the top and look down at the beautiful view.

As with the whole east coast, swimming is not recommended at either Bathsheba, the Soup Bowl or  Cattlewash.  The tides and currents are strong and you can easily get into real trouble.  If you want to swim on that coast, go to the Crane Hotel and pay 25 Bajan (12.50 US) and use their world famous beach.  The fee is redeemable in drinks and snacks. Although you can get to the sea by walking down two houses to the Atlantis hotel, it isn't worth the effort unless you want to take photos of the fishing boats being repaired.

 In all, the Sea U was a wonderful getaway for us.  It was quiet, beautiful and secluded. Just what the doctor ordered for a little marriage rejuvenation. 

 http://www.seaubarbados.com/