Shifting Horizons

Dear Loved Ones,

The Alex is gone now, her sails once again full as she carries a new crew onward to the next horizon. Watching her slip away from Barbados, I felt a hollow space open in my chest once more, as if a tether had been quietly cut. She’s been my home, my challenge, my horizon for so long that standing still feels almost foreign. Yet, as I turned from the dock, the warmth of the island air wrapped itself around me, promising something new, a different kind of adventure if you will.

Barbados greets you with a rhythm all its own. Bridgetown’s streets hum with life, from the bright laughter of vendors at Cheapside Market to the music spilling out of open windows. After weeks at sea, my first steps into the city felt like a dream. The solid ground beneath my feet seemed to pulse with an energy I’d almost forgotten existed.

Getting around the island became its own kind of adventure. The ZR buses; those small, white vans packed tight with passengers and blasting music, were unlike any transport I’d ever experienced. Drivers navigated the winding roads with an energy that matched the pulse of the island, weaving through traffic with practiced ease. Climbing aboard was stepping into a moving heartbeat of Barbados, where every ride was unpredictable and exhilarating.

One of my first evenings ashore led me to Oistins for the famous Friday Night Fish Fry. The air was thick with the scent of sizzling marlin and mahi-mahi or as i’ve since learned locals call this “dolphin”, mingling with the steady pulse of calypso music. Locals and travelers alike crowded around long tables, sharing stories over plates of fresh fish, macaroni pie, and fried plantains. There was something grounding about it, the simplicity of good food, laughter, and music under the stars.

Seeking more of the island's untamed beauty, I traveled north to the rugged cliffs of North Point. There, the Atlantic hurled itself against the rocks with relentless force. Standing on the edge, the wind whipping past me and salt spray on my skin, I felt that familiar sense of awe, the same one I knew aboard the Alex. The sea was no longer beneath me, but it still called to me in every crashing wave.

Of course, not every moment was filled with adventure. Carlisle Bay offered a softer side of Barbados. I spent slow afternoons stretched out on the warm sand, letting the gentle rhythm of the waves wash over me. The water here is impossibly clear, and I would wade in, letting the ocean hold me for a while. In those moments, the tension I hadn’t realized I was carrying began to slip away.

Evenings in Barbados brought their own kind of magic. I often found myself sitting quietly on the beach, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues that no photograph could ever truly capture. In those moments, I felt at peace, caught between the longing for the adventure I’d just left behind and the joy of the one I was living now.

Watching the Alex-2 disappear beyond the horizon was harder than I imagined, but Barbados reminded me that endings are just beginnings in disguise. The ship taught me to chase the horizon, to embrace the unknown, and here on this island, I’ve found a new horizon to explore. One that invites me to rest, to dream, and to prepare for whatever comes next.

From here, I travel back to Ontario for school before my next adventures in the next few months. I’ll see you all soon and thanks for following along.

With love,

E