After about 300 years of British heritage, Barbados has become very British and Bajans (BAY-juns), as Barbadians call themselves, are not about to stop now. Cricket is huge in the sports category of Bajan lifestyles. There is a statue of British Royal Navy Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson in Trafalgar Square, Bridgetown, the Bajan capital. There is also a dress code; formal attire isn't just for weddings and funerals. Businessmen dress up, even to the point of sometimes wearing a jacket as well as a tie. And, here, bathing suits are strictly for the beach.
Topping it all off is the Bajan obsession for education. Literacy is around 100 percent. Bajans overseas are so highly educated that they are the first to be hired, the last to be fired. It should come as no surprise that Barbados was the first British Colony to back England in its 1939 declaration of war against Germany. Bajans fired off a cable to London and informed the Mother Country that they had nothing to fear - because "Little England is with you."
Barbados is still very British. In fact, the island is commonly referred to as "Little England." Afternoon teatime is observed, cricket is the national passion, and polo is played all winter. Many villages, streets, monuments and parks are named after locations in the U.K., as well. And Bajans often possess a bit of the English reserve.
What's more, British aristocrats have wintered in Barbados for decades, and the island reflects their influence in many ways. The resorts are luxurious, and the restaurants provide fine dining. Even duty-free shops are more upscale than those on other Caribbean islands.
What to do in Barbados? For starters, there is kite surfing, windsurfing, spelunking (exploring caves), golf and tours ranging from safari to rum, submarine, helicopter and catamaran adventures. Highly recommended are the so-called Seven Wonders: Harrison's Cave, for its gallery of stalactites; the huge Baobab or Monkey Bread tree; two of the Western Hemisphere's three Jacobean mansions; the intact and restored Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill; the 17th century Jewish synagogue; the world's rarest collection of 17th century English iron cannons; and the place where a Bajan citrus cross-fertilization produced the world's first grapefruit. In addition, there are many romantic plantation houses, a zoo, and the world-class Pelican Crafts Centre. At Orchid World, there are thousands of orchids in and around the cane fields of St George Parish.
Lets not forget the most stunning beaches in the world coupled with the clear blue Caribbean sea.
What's for dinner? Your choices are mind-boggling. Bajans are known for their tasty flying fish dishes, but there are many non-Bajan eateries, ranging from Chinese to Japanese, French, Polynesian, Italian and Greek.
Barbados has a range of world class restaurants to enjoy such as Daphne’s, The Cliff, Lonestar and Sandy Lane among many others. Don’t be surprised if you are sat next to a captain of industry or a well known celebrity!
The capital city of Bridgetown is only about a mile from the Bridgetown Cruise Terminal. If you arrive by air, you will land at an airport so advanced that it was named the best in the Caribbean in the World Travel Award competition in New York City in 2003. Barbados, at the same time, was named best Caribbean destination, best Caribbean tourist board, the leading Caribbean golf centre, and head of the pack in boutique hotels.
On the windward (east) coast, there is a constant breeze to temper the island's marine tropical climate. Bajans enjoy a wide variety of flora and fauna, as well as many caves and underground lakes. The drinking water is considered to be one of the purest in the Caribbean.
In short, Barbados is a beautiful place with much to offer in the arts, entertainment, hotel and restaurant fields. In the science category, you can find geological phenomena unlike any other formations throughout the Caribbean. And the people couldn't be nicer or friendlier. Try to arrange your visit during the gala "Crop Up," in August when Bajans celebrate the harvest season.
Though efficient is a word that is not used very often in the Caribbean, it fits Barbados better than many other islands. It's been catering to visitors for decades and has one of the most fully developed tourism infrastructures in the region.
Because of its popularity, Barbados is hardly an undiscovered or unspoiled paradise. Although it lacks rain forests, mountainous terrain and world-class reef systems, the island's natural beauty and scenic variety are magnificent. You'll find dramatic natural caves, rocky cliffs with blowholes by the sea, miles of sugarcane fields and some remote scenic beaches. Those seeking a holiday break or a holiday home, expecting total relaxation on beautiful beaches, perhaps with a little nightlife and history mixed in, will likely be pleased with what Barbados has to offer.
Barbados certainly offers something for everyone.
