Beautiful Barbados

We usually go out on one of the Tiami family of catamarans - Tiami, Excellence (1, 2 and 3) or the Irish Mist.  This company also owns the Jolly Roger Pirate Ship and the Harbor Master.  We have a selection of hats and T-shirts from these ships and we brought a TIami shirt and an Excellence hat with us for this year's trip.

We've always had good experiences with them and decided to try something different this year - Cool Runnings.  The picked us up at 8:15 am, a bit of a problem for me because I didn't wake up until 8:05 but we made it albeit a little late. I wore one of my Tiami shirts and even the taxi driver commented that the crew wouldn't like that!

And they didn't although they did so jokingly. We tried to buy a Cool Runnings shirt and couldn't.  I paid for the trip with a credit card and they couldn't give me a shirt - that was on the ship only.  On the ship they took cash only and we only had enough for the tips.  So, maybe next year.  The guys even offered a burial at sea for my shirt LOL

So, we set off from the Careenage.  This is an inlet into Bridgetown where several ships, boats and catamarans make berth.  The "bridge" in Bridgetown is over the Careenage.  There are two bridges now.  The original is now a foot bridge with the newer, wider one for vehicles.

On any of these ships, they have an open bar and start off with yummy banana bread for a morning snack.  After they clear the Careenage, they put up the sails and we're off.

Our first stop of the morning was Payne's Bay where we swam with the giant sea turtles.  The second stop was Folkstone Marine Park.  All these ships stop there because it's home to a sunken barge.  This creates a home for lots of marine life.  I'm not very good at recognizing fish but I always know when I see a school of sergeant major fish.

Our last stop was a swimming stop off Sandy Lane beach.  Sandy Lane is famous for having Tiger Woods get married there - it's a very popular gold course here.  During this stop, we had a typical Bajan tourist lunch.  The main dishes in this are fish (usually flying fish, today kingfish), barbecue chicken, peas'n'rice, green salad, potato salad, plantains and rolls.  Sometimes a sweet coleslaw or beef stew is added but not today.  Today's dessert was carrot cake with cream cheese.  Just like at home!

We were heading back to port and the crew had lowered the sail when the captain took us out a little to sea.  There was a storm out there somewhere and the breeze felt wonderful.  We had some great waves, too.  The sails went back up and we had about 30 extra minutes at sea.  Cool!

All too soon we were back at the Careenage and back to the shuttle.  One person was missing and we had to wait for him.  He'd gone off looking for cigarettes.  Grrrrr.

There were fewer people going back on the shuttle so we all had more chance to talk.  The cigarette guy had been on a Virgin flight out of England when the engine caught on fire and they had a 12 hour layover in Gatwick while waiting for another plane.

Another is a Brit who lives here now working for Cable and Wireless.  A nice young Indian man and his Brazilian wife were also there - they live in London now but have traveled all over.  He had some interesting stories to tell!

Finally, back here and a little nap (no surprise there!) for me.  Then, into our little pool.

Ever since I posted the article I'd found on Nidhe Israel Museum, I knew I wanted to visit.  I've always known that one of the earliest-ever synagogues in the western hemisphere was here but I didn't know where it was in Bridgetown, or how to get there.

Then I found out that a local department store had a shuttle to Bridgetown for shopping and I figured we could take that, shop a little, then find the museum and synagogue.  I am not a big fan of Bridgetown.  The very first year we were here a drunks/doped up man put his arm around our son and started talking to him.  Ever since that situation, I've been uncomfortable there.  The parking is also a nightmare as are the narrow one-way streets.  So, when we've wanted something, we've always shopped at a mall on the coast.

We got on the bus at 8:45 am and headed to Bridgetown.  As is usual with these shuttles, we picked up people at 2 or 3 other hotels in Worthing and Hastings before we landed in front of National Heroes Square.   This square used to be called Trafalgar Square until 1999 and has a statue of Lord Horatio Nelson in it.  This statue was erected 30 years before the one in London.  Nelson had sailed to Barbados in 1805. The new memorial, for which the National Heroes Square was named, commemorates Barbadians killed in the two World Wars.

We headed over to Cave Shepherd and bought a few items.  The, off to the synagogue and museum.  Along the way, I was accosted by someone, presumably not the same person who was interested in our son.  He asked for money for "soup" before he was sent on his way.

The Bridgetown Synagogue was just lovely.  It dates back to 1654.  At that time there was a Jewish population of 300 here.  They had left South America and were allowed to settle here.  The synagogue was destroyed by a hurricane in 1831 and rebuilt in 1837.  Today, the original sand floor has been replaced with tiles but the rest has been kept as it was.

The parking lot is being dug up as part of an archeological project of the University of the West Indies.  There were three men working today and we talked extensively with one of them.  (pictures to be posted later!)  So far, they have uncovered the foundation of a rabbi's house, the foundations of other buildings, pottery and artifacts from the Arawak and Carib Indians.  Many of the artifacts are located now in the museum.

The Nidhe Israel (Scattered of Israel) Museum is located in the middle of the synagogue's cemetery.  Many of the inscriptions from the tombs are along the walls along with translations.  We got a partial, very helpful tour from Celso Brewster, the museum's manager.  He explained a lot of the history of the Jewish people before and after they got to Barbados.  We learned a little about the Jewish Diaspora; exodus from Spain and Portugal during the inquisition in 1492.

The Dutch were a major naval power then and were colonizing Brazil.  Many Jews volunteered to settle in Reclife, Brazil, and they learned about sugar there.  Harvesting, marketing, building sugar mills.  They brought all these skills to Barbados when they fled Reclife in 1591.

By 1948 there were only 70 Jewish people still on Barbados and by 1925 only one.  The Nidhe Israel Synagogue was deconsecrated and sold.  In 1931, Askenazi Jews migrated to Barbados from Poland.  Moses Altman and his son, Paul, were among these and they rescued the synagogue from demolition in 1989.

Restoration is still going on and I'm sure much about Barbados will be learned from the archeological findings.

The museum shows the sugar trail, and how spices were traded, the history of the Jewish people before and after they arrived in Barbados and much more.  Embedded in sand and covered with glass are many of the artifacts dug up outside.  These make up much of the floor and it feels a little weird to walk over them.

There were spice exhibits where we got to smell them and guess what they were.  There was an interactive display that showed how much time you'd have to work for various products.  30 days for a pound of saffron!  Wow!

We went back to our bus meeting place and Tom ran into that same guy from this morning.  He actually apologized for hassling us!

Back home and naptime!

Yesterday was such a lazy day for me. Tom ended up working most of the day, on the phone, in conferences, on the computer. So I read a lot of my book, went in the pool, napped and kept cycling through those three.

When he finally finished up he offered to go to Chefette and get some rotis for dinner.. Oh yes! I love roti. Chefette is sort of a Bajan version of McDonalds. There are no McDonalds here, or Burger Kings or most any of the fast food places of the states. Somehow, there is KFC here but that's about it.

So, Chefette fills most everyone's fast food needs with fried chicken, pizza, ice cream, burgers, fries and those rotis. Like similar places in the states, they have playgrounds, "drive thrus" and kid's meals.

Rotis are hugely popular here and most restaurants sell them at least for lunch. There are even places with names such as Roti Hut and there's a place this year that claims that it's the "Home of the One Pound Roti". I guess that's a relative of the "foot-long hotdog".

So, Tom came back with a chicken roti and a beef roti (and 2 kinds of ice cream!). The basic roti is pretty simple. It's potato, curry and other spices wrapped up in something similar to a tortilla. That's the "vegetarian" version. You can stop there or add the beef or chicken. A simple but delicious and filling meal.

We went out for a walk along the old pool, the cliff, sat by the new pools a bit then came back inside.

I had some trouble getting to sleep last night. It was a little warmer and my sunburn is getting a bit itchy so I tossed and turned for awhile. At some point, I noticed a pain/pressure in my chest. It feels sort of how I would imagine it if my lung got pinched in my ribs. Not a big pain but there. That led me to thinking about my cancer and the possibility that it metastasized to my lungs. Oh, joy. I started trying to think about where my lung nodules but couldn't remember. I think I have a CT scan in my future!

It's only 7:30 am right now and I already hear a small boat by the cliffs. Fishermen sail out there each morning to get the "catch of the day" for the L'Azure and Zen restaurants here and some of the west coast restaurants. One of the first years we were here, one of the staff pointed out lobster being brought in. It's amazing that they were so close to where people were swimming just up the beach.

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We're b-a-a-a-c-k!

We got to the helicopter parking place outside the Barbados Concorde Experience in plenty of time and our pilot went out to do a last minute check of everything. I was amazed how small this was - and that they covered it with a cloth, sort of like you do with a car in the driveway.

The pilot, David, let us know when he was ready and I dutifully followed while Tom, as always, took more pictures.

He caught up and more pictures were taken before the safety rules were discussed.

We learned not to open the door during flight - yeah, right! - and to keep the seatbelt on. No problem with any of that.

We sat for a while before take off. The engines had to warm up and we were listening to the flight tower from Grantley Adams airport so we would know when it was safe to go.

Finally, we lifted gently up and were off. It wasn't straight up like I'd imagined but it felt like we were a gondola swinging from the propellers. I felt vaguely dizzy. I had expected to feel scared, not

dizzy!

This is the Crane from the air. We followed the coast all the way around Barbados except for where the airport is.

Unfortunately, it started raining when we got near the northernmost point. David wanted to avoid the rain so he headed out to sea to get past the clouds.

I am not normally a good flyer. I hate turbulence, noise, anything out of the ordinary. So, here we are, cramped in this small space high above the ocean, heading out towards sea. And some rain came in through Tom's door. I was sure that his door wasn't properly sealed. I was also sure that I might be sick. I saw some barf bags so I guess I'm not the first one to think of that.

When we had passed the storm, we could actually see some shipwrecks in the water. We have snorkeled near these same wrecks so that was pretty cool.

By the time we got back, the rain had let up and it was a sunny day again. David landed and I wanted to get OUT. NOW. But we had to sit and wait for the propellers to stop spinning and for the engine to cool down before it could be turned off.

I was so glad to get back on solid ground. I can now say that I've been in a helicopter - and probably never will again!

Our helicopter tickets got us admission to the Concorde Experience so, of course, we went in there, too. The A/C was wonderful!

Until 2003 the Concorde had made regular flights to and from Barbados. This was one of only 4 regularly scheduled stops, the others being London, Paris and New York. It was always a big deal to see the Concorde arrive or depart. We happened to be here in Barbados for it's final flight from here and it was a big deal locally. We were very glad when we heard that British Airways was sending the Concorde back to Barbados on a permanent loan. There is also one in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum which we have seen several times but their display is nowhere near as good.

We went inside the huge hangar housing the graceful plane and joined a group that had just started its tour. We learned some of the history of the plane, sat in a mock departure lounge, saw the luggage requirements (the plane isn't all that big inside and luggage was limited. It was expected that your maid or butler would fly a slower plane with the rest of your stuff), saw various place settings over the years.

Then we got to go up the red carpet and up the stairs. I thought if you were paying the thousands of dollars required for this trip they would have had an escalator!

The next guide greeted us and led us on - through the hold. It was really small and I could see why luggage was so limited.

The seats and windows were also much smaller than I'd have imagined. The windows were small to keep them from breaking at supersonic speeds and had 3 layers of glass.

After we saw the cockpit (also very small!) we deplaned and they had a show on the side of the plane. It was part light show, part movie, part sound effects. They lit lights on the floor that looked like a runway would look. They showed the speedometer and when it hit mach 2, there was a loud supersonic boom and I jumped out of my seat.

After that show, we walked around some, saw part of a movie of the history of the Concorde (on sale in the giftstore, of course), saw the history of flight in Barbados. I was interested to see that, in the very early days, before control towers, Cable and Wireless would call when a plane was coming in and someone would go out and light the grass in the field on fire so the pilot would know where to land. Amazing!

We could have gone up on the flight deck and watched planes arriving/departing Grantley Adams but I was getting tired. So what else is new? We looked around the giftstore some and Tom got some jim-crackies and a T-shirt.

We got back home and decided to go out to lunch. I was ready but Tom decide to check his email...so I fell asleep. We got to L'Azure, one of the restaurants here and sat out on the deck on top of the cliff.

Then, finally, real nap time for me. Hooray!

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Tom's version:

Before Flight over Barbados and surrounding seas

Sunny weather on the South Coast ...at The Crane overlooking Crane Beach

On the East Coast with an approaching storm

The edge of the storm above the waves breaking on the Atlantic Coast of Barbados

The pilot flies further out to sea as we move north working around the edge of the storm

The storm is largely behind us

Banking to starboard working around the storm

Out of the southern edge of the storm and back to sunny weather

Approaching the heliport

A few feet above touch down

A capable Pilot and A Passenger who is happy to be back on terra firma _______________

________________________ On the next day, after flying around the edges of a storm in the air, above Barbados We sail before a following wind aboard a Catamaran along the edges of a storm off shore along the West coast of Barbados

Dark clouds and choppy seas ...the storms are brief moments in otherwise sunny days

So last night I was making heating dinner. When I went in the kitchen there was a crab by the sink. When we tried to catch him, he scuttled under the dishwasher. Later, when scooping out ice cream (coconut cream) for dessert he reappeared and was caught. Tom released him back to the sea.

When we used to stay at Coral Point, we would regularly have larger crabs climbing the wall. We would just sweep them off with a broom and out the door.

That place, just up the coast, was so cool - literally. Most of the front and back walls were huge doors that could - and were - open all day so we had all kinds of wildlife crawling and flying through. It made such a nice breeze, though.

That was the first place we ever stayed in Barbados. It was next door to Sam Lord's Castle and we had privileges there. We rented bikes that year. Big mistake. It's nice flat land and would have been great if it were about 20 degrees cooler.

This is kinda silly but I discovered a lip balm, chapstick-y product in Sam Lord's sundries store that I haven't found anywhere at home. I am able to still order it online and I usually get about 10 at a time. It's all I use now - it has SPF, a bit of color and feels wonderful.

Sam Lord's is closed now but has been bought by another hotel company and should reopen...sometime.

Sam Lord was a pirate way back but not the kind that went to sea. He stayed at home, in his castle, and put lights on the coconut trees so ships would think that it was Bridgetown They came close, crashed on the cliffs and Sam added to his treasure.

Today is going to be kind of slow for me. A little email, a little blogging, some Cushing's bios and stuff. Tom has a teleconference at noon so if we go out anywhere, it will be later.

It's ok, though - I can nap and read or float around. Some of my favorite things!

I don't know what possessed me but I signed up for that helicopter tomorrow. Me, who is afraid to fly. But last summer in Alaska, while I was in the restroom, Tom signed us up for a flight plane and it was kind of cool. I was very surprised and shocked when one just like it crashed a few weeks later.

It was fun though and I figure if I can do that, how hard can a helicopter be, anyway? We see it go around the island most every day while we're here so this year we'll be on it!

I was just reading an article about singer Rihanna in the Ins and Outs of Barbados magazine. In it it says "...few could have missed the blue and yellow paraphernalia that adorned photos captured in magazines across the Caribbean, North America and Europe..."

Rihanna chose those colors because they're the colors of the flag of Barbados. I'm wondering if I chose those colors for the Cushing's website in 2000 because I was subconsciously thinking of Barbados, too. I'll probably never know but it's an interesting thought.

Of course yesterday didn't go as planned. After much haggling with his wi-fi in the lobby, Tom got a network cable from the front desk. The rest of the afternoon he was online or making phone calls.

I spent the time dipping in the pool, reading, napping. I did something I have never done here - I got a sunburn! The weather was so breezy and cool and I was out in my bathing suit. It never occurred to me I might get a burn.

Since Tom got online there was now no need to go shopping...so we didn't.

At night Tom started a schedule with 33 slots so we could fill them in with things we wanted to do. AACCKK!

At night, we watched the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, had dinner and I was off to bed. I tossed and turned a lot - the sheet was uncomfortable on my sunburned feet.

Today looks like another lazy day. I went to see Theresa (concierge) to set up the various trips and stuff we wanted to add to that schedule.

We were going to go on the Tiami but are going to try Cool Runnings this year instead. We're going to the Plantation Bajan Roots & Rhythms show again and on the Island Safari again.

New to us will be the helicopter around the island plus the Barbados Concorde Experience. We had planned on doing the Concorde anyway. We were here the day of their final flight out of Barbados before they stopped service.

I found out that one of our favorite lunch places, Cocomos, has gone out of business and has been reopened as another restaurant. This is sad on several levels, one being that this was where Sue (SuziQ) took us for lunch when she was here with us before she died. So many places here have memories of Sue. The year she died she'd been planning to come back with us again but never made it. Seeing Cocomos gone is like another part of Sue's memory destroyed. I miss Sue so much as a special friend and as a Cushing's advocate.

This afternoon we got our schedule all squared away. We found that the Garrison Savannah Horse Races were rained out last Saturday so they're rescheduled for this week. They've never run while we were here before so we changed out Cool Runnings to Friday and will go to the races on Saturday.

We went to lunch at Cutters. Cutter is the Bajan word for sandwich. After that, back to Emerald City for stuff we forgot Saturday and more milk.

Now, pool and naptime! I can never get enough of either.

From http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-10062--26-26--.html

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS): In a quest to promote cultural tourism and to honour this country’s slave heritage, the Barbados government is embarking on a “Slave Route Signage Project”.

To this end, on August 27, Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, will officially launch the Project with a Plaque Reveal Ceremony at the site of Chefette Restaurant, Upper Broad Street, Bridgetown.

The plaque to be unveiled will interpret the site of “The Cage” and is one of five interpretative signs being erected across Barbados under phase one of the project.

It is being executed by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Barbados Tourism Authority.

According to an official of the Ministry, “the Barbados project, which was launched in 2003, is one element of the Caribbean component of the UNESCO/WTO Slave Route Project, which was originally launched in Accra, Ghana, in April, 1995.

“At that time, the primary objective of the UNESCO/WTO was to foster economic and human development and to rehabilitate, restore and promote the tangible and intangible heritage handed down by the slave trade for the purpose of cultural tourism”.

The Barbados Slave Route Signage Project involves the identification, research and interpretation of sites and places of memory across Barbados that are linked to slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.

The interpretation of the sites will be effected through the erection of interpretative signage at the places identified.

Under phase one of the project, interpretative signage will be erected at the following four sites: Gun Hill, St. George; Sweet Bottom (Vale), St. George; Bourne’s Land, Christ Church; and The Cage, Bridgetown.

Meanwhile, a refurbished sign will be erected at the Newton Slave Burial Ground, Newton, Christ Church; and the sites identified will form the basis for the development of the proposed Barbados Slave Route Heritage Trail and Tour.

WooHoo!

Our cab yesterday was for 5:30 so it was a very early start. Everything went smoothly, though. Not a long layover in Charlotte, either, which was good. I got a small nap on the second plane and I was surprised when we started the descent nearly an hour before our published time of arrival.

Customs and Immigration were faster than normal, too, but the rental car was slower. We had a reservation for a couple of months. Until this year, someone with a placard with our name would meet us right outside. We'd give him the credit card, get our car and go.

Now, in an effort to "modernize" I guess, they have an indoor office like they do at other airports and you have to wait in line with others including those who have no reservation at all. Oh well - "no problem, man".

In the Crane lobby we got to give Theresa a big hug and talk a little to Paul. If I were him, I'd avoid check-in days like the plague.

After we got here and unpacked a little we went grocery shopping at Emerald City. That's so much closer than when we had to go to the JulieN. I got my beloved salt bread (it was commercial, though. It was too later for homemade. Drat!) and a bit of rum punch. I'm so glad to see that Tutti Fruitti milk is still here. I have always loved it but 2 years ago they didn't have it anymore. There were even articles in the newspaper about not having it. That and vanilla milk are 2 long time favorites here.

Tom realized he didn't bring a network cable so he can't go online with his laptop in the room. I didn't bring one because I don't need one. So, I imagine we'll be on a mission to buy one of those here. I imagine when we go to SuperCenter in Warrens later today they'll have one.

He went over to the lobby to check his mail and I fell asleep by the pool. I was exhausted. We had a very easy, fast dinner and I was heading to bed by about 9PM. I went out to say goodnight to Tom and he had fallen asleep while channel surfing LOL

I didn't wake up until around 8AM. Tom was already reading, of course, and had made coffee (YEA!). I debated going back to sleep but got up anyway. Tom's at his regular Sunday morning meeting in Six Roads. I'm sure the woman with the coconut bread will be there and Tom will come home with a loaf. Tradition!

After that, off to SuperCenter for stuff we forgot yesterday and that cable. They're the only store open on Sundays here. Then maybe, finally (finally? we're only been here less than 24 hours LOL) we'll go in the pool. Or I could go now...

From my Cushing's & Cancer Blog: "Almost ready to head out first thing in the morning

I'm almost ready to go on our trip...except for some laundry, all the packing, watering the plants, delivering Mimi to her sister's house...

How can I be almost ready? I'm not packing much, and all the web work is done, files copied to a SD card, bills are paid, forms notarized and delivered to work, puppy treats bought to take with Mimi, meds picked up, Michael's bound dissertation delivered to Mom, computer program delivered to a friend, last night's podcast uploaded to iTunes.

I'll be online some and I'll be back in 2 weeks. Check out this Barbados Blog if you want to see what we're up to.

So, I can now take a nap!"

From Calling all tennis buffs…and other news

Anyone for Tennis?

Ready for Play...

The Crane’s anticipated tennis courts are now open and playable and we invite all tennis buffs to come and play to their heart’s content! Two floodlit tennis courts are now located North of Building 9, with a gazebo offering water for refreshment. Rackets will be on loan to our guests, and tennis balls will be available for sale.

In other renovation and expansion news, the iconic Crane pillars by the Crane Beach pool have been restored (as they were starting to show a few signs of their very respectable age in the history of the property).

from Holiday Makers Understanding Of Barbados

Barbados situated near the Caribbean Sea and is the furthest east of all the islands in that region and is distinguished for its palm trees and white sandy beaches that slope gently into the surrounded clear blue seas. Popular belief is that the name ‘Barbados’ means bearded-ones although this has been swamped with controversy on where the name actually came from. Some believe it was named after a fig tree’s long hanging roots and some propose it is named after the foam spraying over the reefs in the shape of a beard.

A great way of checking the island out and seeing what it has to offer is by using the islands range of transport, and taking a helicopter flight is just one of the ways where you can see the islands shorelines and rural areas from a soaring view, a striking part to your holiday.

On your vacation to the sultry island of Barbados scuba diving is a must. You will get the prospect to discover the underwater world and swim with tropical fishes and turtles. On the other hand if you wish to keep your head above water there are many boat cruises that will take you on a tour of the island, unwind and enjoy the trip of a lifetime while you top up your tan. On offer are also night tours which are great for those loving moments where you get the chance to see Barbados in lights and also land expeditions that will take you by coach to the hotspots on the island.

If you would rather tour the island on your own and at your own free time there are masses of rental car places but you will need a temporary driving license for the island that will cost just $100bds that will let you drive legally in Barbados. Hiring a car will let you uncover different parts of the island that aren’t explored with designated group trips.

Let your imagination run wild and try out some foods that you didn’t know existed, Barbados in terms of food will give you an outstanding culinary experience with a plethora of foods to choose from that will arouse your taste buds. The chefs on the island use a variety of reliable dishes and join together Mediterranean, Caribbean and Eastern flavours to make a range of scrumptious cuisines to satisfy you. So whether it is a hearty lunch on the beach or a beautiful evening dinner you are sure to remember.

When your looking for a place to stay, Barbados has many top class apartments, hotels and guest houses and they all have up-to-date modern luxuries. If your looking for something a bit more extravagant there are many ways to hire villas around certain areas of the island, many of which are to be found on the sea front.

Written by Maria Tillinghous

About the Author

Amy is a part-time commentator who pens occasional pieces on tourism, whilst working on XL Holidays for eComparison.

For those of you that are thinking about going to Barbados a blog dedicated to all things related to Barbados can be found at The Barbados Blog.

From http://www.barbadosvacationguide.org/barbados/take-part-in-the-barbados-activities/

How should you make your stay in Barbados all worth it? For more emphasis, Barbados is one of the many fun and dynamic islands of the Caribbean which promises a whole new thing for a vacation freak like you. There are always several Barbados activities that will keep you occupied during your stay. Indeed, they can be the very reasons on why you will leave your heart in this place.

Okay, so what are the leading Barbados activities that you can readily partake in? If you are an adventurous individual, you might want to take advantage of the sea. Why not do some water sports? The long list of water sport Barbados activities include diving, snorkeling, swimming, sailing, and wind surfing. Take your pick out of these numerous choices. Now if you are much interested in the marine life, then enlist yourself in the diving expeditions as arranged by the experts. But take note that you must bear a diving license before you can be allowed to join this Barbados activity. If you love the fun and excitement brought about by parties, then you can join the party cruise. Other activities that you can opt for include ATV, hiking, tours, and horseback riding.

At night when the sun has set and the water by the beach glitters by the moonlight, you can then hit the club, join in the lively rhythm, and marvel at the dinner show presentations. Night clubs come to life to take your worries away. Needless to say, the word boring is never apt when you take part in the lineup of Barbados activities.

Chattel Houses of Barbados:



"Simple Chattel House

Chattel house
Traveling throughout Barbados, you’ll see many of the small, simple houses which date back to the colonial period of the 18th and 19th century. Known as Chattel Houses, they were the living quarters of the African slaves who worked on the large plantations. These houses did not have a permanent foundation and could be easily dismantled and moved to another site. Some of the Chattel houses have been retrofitted (and enlarged) and have been converted to boutiques or small restaurants.

On my last trip to Barbados, I came across several chattel houses that were being rented as small seaside cottages to tourists including the colorful Seaview in Bathsheba on Barbados’s scenic Atlantic Coast. See picture right corner"

Ten Essential Things To Do When You Visit Barbados:

"6.) Explore the Underwater World

If the winds are not picking up and the waves aren't cooperating, don't worry, the Barbados beaches still has lots to offer you. Shed your land legs and grab some snorkels and dive into the beautiful deep blue sea to explore a whole new world entirely. Swim with the fishes and discover the coral reefs in the west and south coasts, or you could also visit the Pamir shipwreck, a truly exciting and mysterious experience.

7.) Celebrate with Some Tropical Foods

Barbados offers some great cuisines for you to enjoy. The favorite is the Flying fish - this can be cooked in a variety of ways, fried, steamed, grilled - whatever, either way, it's a must-taste if you're visiting Barbados. You can also sample some of their fresh fruits and of course, their delicious lobsters, but if you're going to visit a restaurant though, prepare some cash because it will cost you.

8.) A Calm Interlude

In the midst of all the hustle bustle of your visit to the tropics, why not take some time to relax and have a nice peaceful walk through Welchman Hall Gully, a path that's flanked by beautiful flowers, vegetation, and spice trees. If you're lucky, you might spot a monkey or two. It's also a good place for bird watching."

Do Water Sports In Barbados | Diary of Net Adventurer: "If you in Barbados, want to do water sports then go to the western coast of the island. In there you’ll find first rate diving and snorkeling facilities, particularly in the Folkstone Underwater Park near Holetown. More experienced divers can visit the nearby Stavronikita Wreck. Equipment is readily available at most of the major hotels along the beach."

I'm not sure if my answer will go through or not - it says that Yahoo is "taking a coffee break" whatever that means for a website!

Barbados - The Crane Resort Transportation...

I am staying at The Crane Resort and was wondering how far away the bus stops are? Would it be better for me to rent a car

Your Answer:

We stay at the Crane every year (we own 6 weeks there) and we've always rented a car but the bus stop is right outside the gate.

The first year we found renting a car rather difficult because the streets are often not marked and some are very narrow and winding. Even with a map, it can be difficult and you may have to ask pedestrians for help.

Bus signs are everywhere, though, either To City (Bridgetown) or (Away From City) and those can be helpful if you get too far afield.

Also, the airport is fairly close and you can often see planes arriving and departing and head towards that as a way to get back to the Crane.

You can rent cars in advance online - it's usually about 10% cheaper - and they'll meet you at the airport and lead the way to the Crane so you don't get lost. That's also handy if you have lots of luggage - the second car will hold some of your stuff.

If you only want a car for a few days, the concierge can line one up for you.

If you are interested, I've set up a website for friends of mine who have visited with us at the Crane over the years. It's at http://www.barbados-crane.com/

Have a great time - we'll be there in less than 3 weeks. I can't wait!

Source(s):

Personal knowledge.

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World's smallest snake discovered in Caribbean

Sunday, 03 Aug 2008 14:27

The world's smallest snake was found in Barbados

At under four inches in length the world's smallest snake has been discovered on the Caribbean island of Barbados.

The species is as thin as a spaghetti noodle and is small enough to rest on a US quarter.

Evolutionary biologist Blaire Hedges came across the type of threadsnake in a tiny forest fragment on the eastern side of the island.

He and his colleagues believe it is rare because most of its potential habitat has been replaced by buildings and farms.

They announced the new species in the journal Zootaxa after they carried out genetic tests on the snake and studied its unique colour pattern and scales.

The researchers found that it produces a single slender egg that occupies a significant portion of the mother's body.

"If a tiny snake were to have two offspring, each egg could occupy only half the space that is devoted to reproduction within its body. But then each of the two hatchlings would be half the normal size, perhaps too small to function as a snake or in the environment," Dr Hedges explained.
"The fact that tiny snakes produce only one massive egg - relative to the size of the mother - suggests that natural selection is trying to keep the size of hatchlings above a critical limit in order to survive."

It is not the first time the scientists has discovered tiny species; he and his colleagues are responsible for the discovery of the world's smallest frog and lizard species.