Beautiful Barbados

By David

 

Bridge Town is the largest and capital city of Barbados and it is famous worldwide for its tourism purpose. It was once known as the Town of Saint Michael and it is located within the township of Saint Michael. It is a famous West Indies tourist destination and the city offers a wide range of attractions for its every visitor. If you are looking for an outstanding place to enjoy your holidays in an exceptional way, the city is the perfect match that will be a dream land for you.

There are plenty of attractions in Bridge Town that will please you in every possible way. All of these famous locations add more charm to your journey. The major attractions of the city are National Heroes Square and Fountain Garden, Independence Square and The Independence Arch, The Montefiore Fountain, Parliament Buildings, The Cathedral Church of Saint Michaels and All Angles and The St.Mary’s Anglican Church and many more. The harbor of the city is also a famous attraction point where you can go to enjoy boat tours in Barbados.

Bridge Town enjoys a warm and humid climate all year around and thus, it offers plenty of water sports and other amenities for its travelers. The tourists can go to the city as per their suitability as it welcomes them throughout the year in the same manner.

Being a famous tourist destination, the city of Bridgetown takes care of your staying problems in a better way. You can find good accommodation facilities here. The most famous hotels in the city include Hilton Barbados, Island Inn, Kings, Beach Hotel, and Shells Guesthouse Bed and Breakfast. The lovely beaches of the city will let you relax there and forget your tensions and worries in just a few minutes.

Bridgetown is famous for shopping and tourist take pleasure in shopping here. Don’t miss shopping here that helps you buy something different and cheap goods here. Your visit to the city of Bridgetown will be the best of your tours ever enjoyed!

 

From http://www.articles-heaven.com/articles/?Bridge-Town-Famous-Tourist-Places-for-Barbados-Holidays-Traveler&articleid=39764

Published Date: 23 August 2009

By Katie Wood

IT'S hard to be grumpy in Barbados, but I managed it. So am I a spoiled, pesky individual who would find fault in paradise? No, genuinely no. I just got rather hacked off hearing the Caribbean island constantly referred to as Little England.

Not only are there plenty of physical similarities on the east coast of Barbados to Scotland (hence it's actually called the Scotland District), but when you delve into its history there are countless strong links to north of the border. And, as we all know, nothing - well few things - irritate a Scot more than being called English.

So, since a sizeable proportion of the population has Scottish blood flowing through their veins, I politely pointed out to my new Bajan pals that it might be more accurate (and PC) to call it Little Britain.

As a break from the idyllic beach, delicious food and barrage of cocktails one normally associates with the Caribbean, I took myself off to the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, where I discovered several interesting papers that took me through the background of the "MacBajans". The first "proprietor" of Barbados was the Scotsman James Hay, Earl of Carlisle. Following the establishment of trading links between Scotland and the West Indies, Scots indentured servants were in constant demand on Barbados plantations, and many married African slaves; hence you find black Hamish MacDonalds and the like on the island today.

Three major spurs caused Scots to be banished to the island: Cromwell's victory between 1648 and 1651; the Covenanter Risings in the second half of the 17th century and the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745. There were also voluntary immigrants, as throughout the colonial period a steady trickle of Scots sought to inhabit Barbados because of the various opportunities offered by the land.

Barbados is also of special significance to genealogists, as it was the springboard for the settlement of other British colonies - notably Jamaica and South Carolina. One infamous inhabitant of Scots descent was Rachel Pringle - the illegitimate daughter of a Scottish sea captain and a local black woman, whose claim to fame is that she founded the first brothel in Barbados. That famous Scottish entrepreneurial streak strikes again.

Another link with home is the annual Celtic Festival, which takes place each spring. Pipers, dancers, choirs, a haggis night, a rugby tournament… sounds like a real home from home.

Okay, I won't pretend I spent all week leafing through dusty ancient manuscripts in the museum while it was 85 degrees of perfection outside. So what else should one not miss on the island? Well, a good start would be a trip on the Cool Runnings, a luxurious catamaran offering five-hour sails with snorkelling, lunch, hotel transfers and a free bar thrown in - well worth the £58 a head. It's great to get on the water and enjoy a rum punch, and it's a good way to see the beautiful Barbadian coastlines.

The aforementioned Scotland District, on the east coast, reminded me of Ardnamurchan. Battered by Atlantic seas (though turquoise, not the murky grey we know so well), the whole area is wild, uncommercialised and seriously beautiful. Here you find the little village of Bathsheba, huddling beneath cliffs and populated mainly by surfers.

What distinguishes Barbados from other Caribbean islands is its sophistication and infrastructure (and, come to that, the large middle class). Here you find a National Trust looking after many of the historically important buildings. Worth visiting are Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill, one of the oldest and largest surviving in the Caribbean, and Tyrol Cot Heritage Village, the former home of Sir Grantley Adams. This beautifully restored 1854 mansion, with its Barbadian antiques, is the centrepiece of an authentic chattel house village that features a market for local arts, crafts, food and drink.

The visit to the Foursquare rum distillery at St Philip is akin to a good whisky distillery tour. It's set in a beautifully landscaped park and occupies the site of an abandoned sugar factory.

The renovated St Nicholas Abbey, a Jacobean mansion dating back to 1658, is one of Barbados's most historic landmarks. There's also an 1890 steam mill, gift shop and restaurant. And don't miss the film of Barbados as it was in the 1920s, which is absolutely charming.

As a destination of only 166 square miles, but with more than 100 restaurants of every genre, Barbados is known for the quality of its food. Indeed, the range of restaurants is one of the primary reasons repeat visitors account for 40 per cent of arrivals in Barbados. If you want a really special meal, the Fish Pot, near Speightstown, is a great place to go. A favourite of Tony Blair and numerous A-list celebs, it is a relaxed beachfront location with an excellent menu and a Bajan chef who has worked in fine kitchens around the world. It has fabulous seafood, steaks, Asian fusion, creative salads, fantastic desserts and an excellent wine list - lunch costs around £80 for two.

The restaurant is attached to a cluster of luxurious suites that make up the accompanying Little Good Harbour hotel (www.littlegoodharbourbarbados.com). It offers peace, tranquillity and all the privacy of a personal villa while at the same time affording all the amenities of a hotel.

But if you prefer to lock your wallet away for the duration of your stay, Almond Beach Resorts has the monopoly on all-inclusives. It has three properties on Barbados: Almond Beach Village, with an impressive mile-long beach, five restaurants, comfortable rooms, a kids' club and all manner of land and water sports; the new Almond Beach Casuarina, which has good facilities but somewhat lacks atmosphere in the public areas and has no nightclub; and the adults-only Almond Beach Club, which has the best spa and a great location, right next to Sandy Lane, on the west coast (though service can be patchy and the beach is too small for comfort when the resort is busy). The value for money in all of them, however, is seriously good. And as a Scot, that makes real financial sense.

Fact file: Barbados

Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia (020 7636 9448, www.barbados.org)

A seven-night stay at the Almond Beach Village starts from £1,179 per person. Seven nights at the Almond Casuarina Beach starts from £999 per person. Seven nights at the Almond Beach Club & Spa starts from £1,069 per person. These prices include return international flights with Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick or Manchester, direct to Barbados, and return transfers - based on two adults sharing a standard room on an all-inclusive basis.

To book, call 0844 5573 859 or visit www.virginholidays.com/almond

For more information about the hotels, call 0871 871 2828 or log on to www.almondresorts.co.uk

 

From http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/spectrum/Barbados-Little-Britain.5577599.jp

So...what happened?  I still don't understand this but for about 8 years we owned 3-weeks of "lock-offs".  This means we own the larger front 1-bedroom unit and the smaller studio.  The 2 apartments can be used as 1 2-bedroom unit or as 2 units by locking the connecting door.

At first we used all 3 weeks but that turned out to be too long and Tom ended up coming home to work leaving me there to entertain friends.

A few years ago we decided we wanted to enter the Rental Pool to save on maintenance fees.  We needed 4 weeks to put into the pool and we still wanted to be in Barbados for 2 weeks.  We also wanted to get rid off the other 2 studio apartments since all our guests have already come.  They didn't want all these studios, so we sold the 3rd week back to them and bought 2 cheaper units for November.  So, the 2 third-week units plus the 2 November units gave us enough for the Rental Pool, saving us a bit of money each year.

All this stuff is somehow run through RCI.  Unfortunately, as of yesterday, RCI had information BEFORE these sales/trades in 2006.  A computer somewhere in Barbados submitted our old 3 lock-offs to RCI to be used by someone else. RCI was never updated as to what we actually own.

So...we had our plane tickets since early June.  Tom needed a surgery.  The hospital scheduled surgery for September 2 - when we would be in Barbados.  Tom got them to change the surgery to last Tuesday so we wouldn't have to change Barbados.

I had a premonition about this trip and emailed people we know to remind them we were coming.  That's when we learned that someone else had been given our weeks by RCI who thought that they were available.

So, now we have plane tickets to a place that we can't go to.  We could rent a place but I sure don't want to pay thousands of dollars for something we actually own.

Everyone says that this is someone else's fault so we're out of luck.

We do have a lot of points now with RCI so we can go somewhere else but it's so close to the time to leave that not much is available.  If we do find something, then we have to tackle changing the flights at this late stage of the game.

I am so angry and I feel betrayed by people who have been told time and time again over the last 10 years  that we were never going to trade these two weeks.

I know I should feel lucky that I have ever been to Barbados but right now I can't see it that way.

On Sunday, 9 August 2009, the tropical wave was located about 12.5 north and 20.6 west or about 2000 miles east of Barbados.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 9 August 2009 - The first storm of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season could form around midweek.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami says a low pressure centre associated with a tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean is showing signs of organisation.

This means that it is developing thunderstorms and beginning to take on the characteristics of a tropical cyclone.

"This system ... could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days as it moves westward at 10 to 15 mph," says NHC hurricane specialist Robbie Berg.

"There is a medium chance - 30 to 50 percent - of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours."

On Sunday, 9 August 2009, the tropical wave was located about 12.5 north and 20.6 west or about 2000 miles east of Barbados.

Computer models are agreed that it will develop into a tropical storm and this could happen by Wednesday or Thursday.

What they radically disagree on is the track - where will it go? Long range tracking models are not reliable and forecasters will have to wait several more days until the global models can get a better fix on the system and the atmosphere around it.

If this wave does develop into a tropical storm, it will be named Ana.

From http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Caribbean/Stories/2009/08/09/NEWS0000008409.html

Barbados is a beautiful island nation in the Caribbean Sea personifying the colors of nature. The country has one of the most spectacular beaches in the world - The Crane Beach. The magnificent spectacle of palm trees and coconut trees standing on pure white sand embody the flavor of the Caribbean region. The sand is so soft that it just kisses your feet and walking over it is just a moonwalk experience. The beach wears a serene look and the waters are ideal for swimming and surfing activities. Ascending the cliff is worth gold just to have a look at the breath taking view of the beach below. All type of people visit here and it hosts a perfect blend of glamour and fun.

A local beach sandwich called cutter made from salt bread, flying fish, cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes is highly recommended for a brunch in the beach.

You can stay at The Crane beach hotel cum resort and enjoy the splendid backdrops. Its hard to explain the wonderful feeling that emanates from your heart the moment you arrive here. With its stunning sights and a marvelous coastline Crane beach truly deserves its perfect getaway tag.

From http://healthytraveller.blogspot.com/2009/08/crane-beach-barbados.html

Barbados Emancipation Day Date: August 4, 2009

Emancipation Day is a public holiday in Barbados.

In Barbados, emancipation day is celebrated every year on August 4. This event marks the abolition of the inhuman tradition of slavery. A slave named Bussa led the slave revolt of the island. He is still regarded as a national hero. In honor of him, a statue of him stands on the Emancipation Roundabout in Hagget Hall, St Michael. This day is celebrated all over the island, particularly at the Bussa roundabout. On this spot a grand function is organized every year to commemorate the abolition of slavery. The celebrations include parades, educational displays, speeches and performances.

In the Bahamas, Emancipation Day is more commonly referred to as August Monday because it is celebrated on the first Monday of August. Mostly the celebrations take place at Fox Hill village, Nassau. It is a former slave village. According to folklore, the inhabitants of this village got to know about their freedom a week after others on the island.

History of Barbados Emancipation Day

Now, we come to the history of this event. Bussa is also known as Busso or Bussoe. Not much is known about his date of birth but it is known that he was born in Africa and was brought to Barbados to work as a slave. He worked as a slave at Bayleys Plantation in the southern parish of St Philip. Even today, the plantation’s “Great House” stands and is now home to the famous musician Eddy Grant. He uses the house as his residence as wall as recording studio.

Bussa worked as a domestic slave on the plantation. Domestic slaves did not have to experience the hardships of field slaves. So, domestic slaves thought themselves above the field slaves. They revealed to their masters the plans of slave rebellions to gain favor. Bussa had a privileged position but he helped to plan in advance. Plans of rebellion started after the House of Assembly rejected the Imperial Registry Bill in November 1815. The slave rebellion was a result of the strong desire to uproot the oppressive white aristocracy, and to claim their rightful freedom. On the night of Good Friday, April 12, 1816, the rebellion was given the final touch and a mulatto slave, Washington Franklyn, was declared the governor of the island.

Two days later, Bussa led around 400 slaves and set on fire several cane fields. The revolt spread from Bayleys Plantation in St Philip to Christ Church, St George, St Thomas, and St Lucy. The white plantation owners had a tremendous blow. It took about four days for the authorities to curb the revolt and to regain control. Bussa was killed in the battle, and the ringleaders were executed. It is true that the rebellion was a failure but it was successful in leaving its mark. More than a century later, the Emancipation Statue was erected at the roundabout in Hagget Hall, St Michael. In 1999, Bussa was declared one of the national heroes of Barbados.

Barbados Emancipation Day Traditions and Activities

On this gala day (August 4), grand celebrations happen at the island of Barbados. This includes Emancipation Day Walk, Village and Beach Fest. The crowd walks from Independence Square to Bay Street Esplanade early in the morning. There is a Rhythm Section. After that, various renowned artists organize a cultural rally with performances by them. Delicious African cuisine can be tried and one can opt for some serious shopping too

 

From http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/barbados-emancipation-day/

Barbados Kadooment Day Date: August 3, 2009

Kadooment Day is a public holiday in Barbados.

Kadooment Day is a crop over day and the people of Barbados celebrate this day with great vigor and joy. It is a day when the people or the Bajans (as they are more properly known), undertake a total cut of their grown crop. Thus, this day, as according to their culture, is of importance and should be celebrated on a massive scale. Thus, the people of Barbados have a cultural as well as emotional attachment to the celebration of the Kadooment Day. Furthermore, the people celebrate this day with sheer enthusiasm and madness. They dance in the streets and sing their traditional folk songs.

Barbados Kadooment Day History

The celebration of Kadooment Day in Barbados has an ancient history. Masquerading was an old African tradition in which the people of the province used to roam all over the village in their traditional attire made of natural materials such as feathers, bones and grasses. They used to give the firstly grown crops to the Gods in the hope that “They will be happy and provide good luck”. Again, they also hoped that the evil spirits will be removed from the villages. Since those days, the celebration of modern Kadooment Day is observed.

Barbados Kadooment Day Traditions and Activities

The Grand Kadooment Day is also a major event in other parts of the African Continents. The countries also celebrate the carnival with the same enthusiasm. The honorable President of the respective countries is also invited as the chief guests at the carnivals. However, the security of the carnivals is maintained low, as it is thought that there is a marked low evil spirit in the area. Thus, in order to celebrate that thought, this step is taken. The Kaddoment Day celebrations attracts participants from various countries and the aura of this event makes everyone a part of the event.

There are strict laws governing the celebration of Kadooment Day. According to that, the people involved in celebration have to be registered in the costume band to intrude into registered revelers. A person found not undertaking such act can be charged a amount of BDS $15,000 or a two years imprisonment or in some cases both. People have great enthusiasm to celebrate this event and have been known to celebrate this event for two straight day’s non-stop. The crops are then sold out in the market or taken up by the families themselves. The festival is considered as a carnival in some cases. People, who are not registered as the carnival band, can view the spectacular event along the route, through which the carnivals passes by.

 

From http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/barbados-kadooment-day/