BARBADOS IS "BIM"
BY CLAY LARROY
BY CLAY LARROY
Traveling is the kind of activity, which almost all the people love. For someone it
is an opportunity to relax and abstract from everyday busy life. For others it
is interesting to observe the
way people of other cultures and
mentality live. Some people consider it to be the best way to have fun and
always try to visit as many clubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes as possible for
their wallets and time limits. When
you want to plan a vacation contact me!
Things to see and do in
Barbados
Bridgetown
Barbados’s
capital Bridgetown – named after a crude bridge constructed by early Indian
settlers - is the best place to enjoy the island’s colonial history.
Visit
National Heroes Square, which boasts a statue of Lord Nelson, which was erected
in 1813, well before Nelson's Column was put up in London. Nearby are the
neogothic Parliament Buildings, Bridgetown Synagogue (reputed to the oldest in
the western hemisphere) and the pretty, pink pastel coloured facades of
DaCosta’s Mall. When you tire of sightseeing, pop into one of the ubiquitous
rum shops or head for a drink at the Waterfront area overlooking the marina.
Chalky Mount Potteries
Barbados's
famous Chalky Mount potters are renowned for their high-quality inexpensive
art. You can watch the local potters at work at the wheel fashioning
centuries-old designs - a respected 300-year-old tradition.
Colonial architecture
The
Jacobean St Nicholas Abbey is graced with ornate Persian arches and well-kept
gardens. Although now in ruins, Farley Hill is still covered in hibiscus and
poinsettias and is one of the island's most storied plantation houses. The
George Washington House and Museum is a beautifully restored plantation house,
where the former US president stayed on a brief visit to Barbados in 1751.
Meanwhile,
Tyrol Cot, the grand former home of Sir Grantley Adams, the first premier of
Barbados, is a stunning example of local architectural styles. Constructed in
1854, this architectural gem characterizes an interesting mixture of Palladian
and tropical vernacular - beautifully restored by the Barbados National Trust.
Crane Beach
The
baby-pink sands of cliff-flanked Crane Beach, an idyllic spot that is one of
the most beautiful on the island, are perfect for a stroll. Moderate, foamy
waves draw a body-surfing crowd and there are plenty of shaded spots to chill
out until the magical sunsets arrive.
Cricket
Cricket
is the national sporting obsession, with Barbados hosting the World Twenty20
finals in 2010 at the newly expanded Kensington Oval pitch near Bridgetown.
Choose
from barefoot village friendlies to international and local club cups - where
many of the great names of West Indian cricket are honoured, most notably Sir
Garfield Sobers.
Discover ship wrecks in Carlisle Bay
The
island has about 30 dive sites, mainly on the calmer west coast. While there
are less pelagic fish off Barbados because of unregulated fishing, divers can
enjoy a range of marine life including hawksbill turtles, sea horses, frog fish
and giant sand eels.
Barbados
has several excellent sites for wreck diving; Carlisle Bay, which has more than
200 reported wrecks, and the Stavronikita, a ship which rests in 37m (120ft) of
water, less than 1.6 km (1 mile) from the shore at Folkestone Marine Park.
East Coast Road
Barbados's
East Coast Road, hemmed by crashing Atlantic waves, is one of the island's most
exciting drives. A rugged coastal route overlooks treacherous reefs while an
inland road weaves through rolling sugarcane to quaint plantation towns topped
by church steeples. One of the most popular destinations on the east coast is
Bathsheba, where giant coral boulders, which have broken away from ancient
coral reefs over thousands of years, offer striking photograph opportunities.
Bathsheba is also the location for the legendary Soup Bowl surfing competition.
Fishing
Wahoo,
dorado, barracuda, tuna and sailfish, together with mighty blue marlin and
shark, all patrol Barbados's deep sea waters. There are plenty of game fishing
tournaments and inshore competitions to join or just grab a rod and head to the
jetty.
Get close to nature in Welchman Hall Gully's
You can also take a self-guided hike amid rare fruit and spice
trees in Welchman Hall Gully's magnificent botanic garden (www.welchmanhallgullybarbados.com)
or in Andromeda Gardens (http://andromeda.cavehill.uwi.edu).
Another highlight is the Flower Forest (www.barbados.org/flowfrst.htm),
a 20-hectare (50-acre) leafy garden rich in native plants.
The
Barbados National Trust (www.hikebarbados.com)
offers free guided hikes, which last around three hours and cover distances of
8 to 22km (5 to 14 miles). They are divided into three categories:
stop'n'stare, where'n'there and grin'n'bear. Moonlit walks are also held.
Harrison’s Cave
With an
abundance of stalactites, stalagmites, streams, lakes and waterfalls,
Harrison’s Cave is a jaw-dropping spectacle. The caves, in the parish of St.
Thomas, were first mentioned in historical documents in 1795 and then virtually
forgotten for nearly 200 years, until being rediscovered in 1976.
In 1981,
Harrison's Cave was opened to the public. Visitors can enjoy a scenic trail
from the clifftop to the valley floor, before entering the caves on a 40-minute
journey in an electric cart led by guides. Self-guides walks are also possible.
Horse riding
It's
possible to gallop along the beach at sundown or simply trek along inland
trails. Over two-dozen horse-riding events take place on the Garrison Savannah.
Polo is also played to a high level by fiercely competitive Barbadian teams.
Morgan Lewis Mill
The aged
and charming Morgan Lewis Mill is one of only two of the Caribbean's intact sugar
mills, and a noteworthy example of a Dutch windmill from the days of the sugar
cane planters. The mill includes an exhibit of the equipment used to produce
sugar. Although the old plantation house has seen better days, its crumbling
exteriors are very evocative and an important legacy of the island's history.
Scuba diving
Barbados's
rainbow of coral reefs offers a pristine watery home to seahorses, sponges and
giant sand eels. Hidden caves and shipwrecks provide plenty of underwater nooks
and crannies along a shoreline nested by Hawksbill Turtles.
Taste the oldest rum in the world
Mount Gay Rum (www.mountgay.com),
on the island's west coast, can trace its heritage back to 1703, making it the
world’s oldest rum producer. Made from the sugar cane that thrived across the
island, Barbados was once the favoured tipple of English sailors.
Visitors
can learn about the refining, aging, blending and bottling process on tastings
and tours, which run hourly between Monday-Saturday.
The Barbados Wildlife Reserve
The
Barbados Wildlife Reserve's resplendent mahogany forest is the roaming territory
of green monkeys, tortoises, deer, raccoons, pelicans and otters. A
walk-through aviary allows a leafy stroll with peacocks, turkeys, toucans,
parrots, flamingoes, pelicans, lovebirds and macaws.
Viewpoints
Lofty
Mount Hillaby, the island's highest point at 343m (1,125ft), offers incredible
panoramas across the east, west and northern coasts. Dramatic vistas also
abound from St John's Parish Church over miles of jagged coastline and
moss-covered family vaults dotted with tropical flora.
Watersports
The
island's rugged south and west coasts boast world-class watersports where
windsurfers, jet skiers, parasailers and water skiers enjoy perfect conditions.
To ride the waves head to the Soup Bowl, South Point and Rockley Beach,
Barbados's surfing mecca.
Whizz through the rainforest at Walkes Spring
Aerial
Trek Zipline Adventures (www.aerialtrek.com)
offers soft adventure thrills as you whizz through the rainforest at
Jack-in-the-box Gully, Walkes Spring, in the centre of the island. The scenic
ride began operations in 2007 and is proving popular. Advance bookings are
recommended.
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/blog/index.php/destination-guides/
“Paradise” is a suffering word, grossly overused and ineptly devalued in everyday hype and blurb. Yet, tired as it is, it will have to do. Nothing else conveys that sense of place that can inspire a blissful contentment.”
Travel to create
marvelous memories for you and your family or friends!
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