Barbados (Part One)

We just got back from our 15-day-vacation around (part of) the world!  

Saturday, June 23rd was our first day and we traveled all day.

Our first flight left at 6am (we were up at 3:45am and in the Lyft at 4am). 

 5:45am and on the plane (and blurry)!

We landed in Fort Lauderdale at 8am and spent a loooong time in the airport.

We ate breakfast in the airport and then walked around.

We let the girls get giant lollipops because why not. :)

 We also took silly selfies to kill some time :)

 Group selfies too!

 The girls climbed on me A LOT.

After eating lunch in the airport and running around for another hour, 

it was time to board our second flight!

Elizabeth sat with me on the second flight

She LOVES making silly selfies :)

Halfway through the flight and Caroline LOST IT.

She was crying and screaming for me.

So, Ben passed her up to me and the girls watched TV together for an hour.

I was so pleased. Hahahaha.

Ben thought it was hilarious and enjoyed his extra space.

I'm still mad (but at least the girls were really good sitting with me)

We landed around 6pm (I think) and it took about 45 minutes to get through customs and immigration, grab our luggage, and walk outside and find Noah.

We were at Jessica and Noah's house about 15 minutes after we left the airport.

The girls played with their cousin while we unpacked.  Then everyone ate and we put the girls to bed.

We hung out with Jess and Noah for a few hours and then we headed to bed too.

Sunday, June 24th was our second day. 

 This kids were up early playing in the front yard and running around.

Our rental car was dropped off around 9am and we spent about 45 minutes getting all the paperwork done, getting our Barbados drivers licenses and all sorts of fun things related to renting cars in a foreign country.

After that, we loaded up the rental car and followed Noah to the beach.

It was an immediate lesson in driving on the other side of the car AND the other side of the road.

Thankfully, I'm a quick learner and we didn't have any problems getting to the beach.

We went to Jessica and Noah's favorite beach club- Copacabana Beach Club (search on Facebook).

 

 Some blurry family photos from our first day at the beach.

 

 It was cloudy for about 40 minutes (and sprinkled for about 15 minutes) and that was it the entire day.

Some notes about beaches in Barbados.

1) All of the beaches are free

2) You can pay to go into a beach club (like we did).  

We paid US$20/each adult and that got you: a beach chair, a shared umbrella, and $20 back to use at the beach club restaurant for food and drinks.

3) Some beach clubs due charge an entrance fee for kids, but Copacabana did not.

4) The sand is PERFECT.  It is not hot, it doesn't have shells, and it melts under your feet.

5) The water is also PERFECT.  Crystal clear turquoise blue, no jellyfish, and warm!

Jessica and Noah told us that Copacabana Beach Club had ruined them for all other beaches and I totally agree with them.  I will compare every beach the rest of my life to the beaches in Barbados.

I'm not sure why these are blurry, but we were having a good time :)

The girls LOVED being in the water with Ben all day

I love my sweet family playing in the water!

The kids took a break to play in the sand for a bit.

There was kayak race going on in front of us so the kids played in the sand 

and the adults watched the race.

So happy to be relaxing at the beach!

 

Ben had all three kids in the water, so I had to get some photos :)

 

 

Another family photo!

Ben relaxed for a bit and I took the girls into the water

   

  Again, not sure why they are blurry...

  

After a great day at the beach, we headed home and changed clothes.

Noah and Jessica introduced us to their favorite Mexican food restaurant.

One of the best deals- two for one cocktails.

 

Ben enjoyed the rum punch because that's what you drink in Barbados.

Monday was a very busy (and fabulous!) day, so I will save that for it's own post.

Happy Monday y'all!