Green Christmas in the Caribbean

Driving Home for Christmas *sing*, last year it took us a maximum of 25 minutes, no matter where we were on the island. We spent a green Christmas in the Caribbean this time, but not the green we know from Germany or Switzerland. It's a lush and bright green, thanks to the heavy rainfall we get at this time of year. The rain here is warm, so it doesn't bother you and you can continue with all your plans.

Green Christmas in the Caribbean

Escaping the cold and dampness in Europe is something we haven't regretted this year. Of course, there are also great places in Europe to celebrate Christmas in the warmth. A few years ago, we were Porto Santo. But here in the Caribbean, the atmosphere is completely different again. Everything is wonderfully decorated, people are full of anticipation for the quiet and peaceful time, and the weather is just cooperating.

There's no hope for a white Christmas and disappointment when it starts raining at +2 degrees Celsius in the morning. It's simply a green Christmas in the Caribbean. But, and I have to mention this here, when you're so far from your home base, you naturally miss all your loved ones, who can now only celebrate with you and your family digitally in 2020.

However, I don't need to mention that most people could only do things together digitally in 2020 anyway, even if they were only a few hundred meters apart. Welcome to the future! We use modern technology to keep travel as close as possible to our loved ones, and that's a big advantage these days.

The possibilities are increasing, even though nothing can replace personal proximity. This year, we celebrated Christmas with loved ones here on the island, with a big party on the beach and cozy gatherings by the pool, and our loved ones back home joined us via video call now and then. That's how we had a very happy Christmas in the Caribbean.

Christmas trees in Barbados

So that Christmas spirit can also come up at home and it actually Green Christmas in the Caribbean we could, we treated ourselves to a Christmas tree for the very first time. Since fir trees don't grow here in Barbados, of course, and we didn't want a palm tree in the living room, our little fir tree came from Quebec, Canada.

In the south of the island, we found someone who shipped exactly 1000 trees to Barbados. In two large shipping containers, we chose the most beautiful one, which then looked juicy and fresh for over a month.

He „lived“ with us directly under the air conditioner and in the end was just dry, like a dried arrangement. We could have certainly left him standing until Christmas 2021. Not a single needle fell off in the last week. Tip: Get yourself an air conditioner, it works wonders =)

Botanical Gardens and Jungles

There are oodles of botanical gardens in Barbados, each more beautiful than the last. I want to dedicate a separate post to this topic, but I don't want to leave out the many green landscapes here. Driving through the jungle, in particular, is fun and at times very exciting.

„Keep left, or you'll keep left dead,“ an local once advised me. Indeed, that's good advice, because the people here have an extreme driving style. So it's better to stay as far left as possible, even on the smallest roads in the woods and between the fields.

Then you've reached your goal, usually after 20 or 25 minutes, the relaxation begins. The botanical gardens in particular are home to numerous colorful and diverse plants, flowers, and trees. Few are native, many are from Southeast Asia or China, and some are from Africa.

At many spots along the street, there are stalls selling fruit, vegetables, and coconuts. We regularly treat ourselves to the latter. For a few francs, you can already get 2 liters of coconut water, yummy!

We've been visiting many gardens around Christmas time, as the atmosphere there was really great. Of course, fewer people are out and about at the moment, so we've even been in a garden all by ourselves a few times. The botanical gardens also ensure that you can experience a wonderful green Christmas here in the Caribbean.

Independence Day

On November 30th, Barbados celebrated its Independence Day for the 54th time. This is the most important holiday and is so significant for the island that if November 30th falls on a weekend, the following Monday is a holiday. However, 2020 was the last time independence was celebrated, as Barbados will become a republic in 2021, completely separating from Great Britain.

However, I haven't been able to find out so far what exactly will change then, other than that the Queen would no longer have anything to say. However, she has already been staying out of it for years.

The laws could then be renewed and modernized, for example. For instance, there is no blood alcohol limit in Barbados. It sounds strange, but it's true.

Until a few years ago, it was stated more or less literally in the law that anyone who could get into a car and drive off by themselves could drive. But it's really important that you do it alone. If your passenger helps you, you could go to jail for 5 years or something. However, the law was changed Already in 2015!! abolished. Nevertheless, there is no blood alcohol limit. However, if you cause an accident while drunk, there is an additional penalty. Oh my God! 🙂

We celebrated Independence Day on a small farm, the PEG Farm, with a lavish and delicious brunch in the countryside. Afterward, sober and completely energized, we drove to a botanical garden and spent the afternoon there. It was both relaxing and exciting. A successful day, and I hope there will be a new public holiday starting in 2021.

Conclusion to Christmas in the Caribbean

We had a wonderful Christmas in the Caribbean and a happy New Year. The Christmas parties we celebrated on the beach with locals, Americans, Canadians, and English people were also a lot of fun. So on Christmas Day, we had a delicious turkey instead of raclette =). I can highly recommend Barbados for Christmas and New Year's.

There are wonderful traditions here, and the people are nice anyway and totally in a festive mood. Instead of a white Christmas, celebrate a green Christmas in the Caribbean for a change. Now I have a few more impressions from recent weeks for you.

Happy New Year!