The Caribbean tour (4). Barbados

May 5, 2018

This was the most touristic Caribbean island of all we visited. Bridgetown, the capital, is a cruise-ship port bringing thousands of tourists to the shopping area and centre of the city. On other islands, you would not find so many (or any) global-brand shops or fast-food chains. Certain areas of Bridgetown are very similar to all modern big cities’ shopping areas.

Bridgetown is proud of its 17^th-century old-town, protected by UNESCO. I guess it depends on your background, but from my perspective, it is just a few not-so-special British-style buildings. I imagine that the exciting part is not the architecture or beauty of them, but rather the location and therefore heritage of colonial times.

We took public transport and went around the island. It looked much more active, more Westernized and more commercial than the other islands. For those interested in luxurious hotels and spas, Barbados has more to offer than other islands. One side of the island seemed to be exceptionally luxurious with beautiful villas, limousines parked nearby and large private parks around them. Locals said that some American superstars own summer villas in that area, and that we could hang around and maybe meet somebody famous. But we passed this area in an overcrowded public minibus – no superstar came onboard, unfortunately.

And the rest, of course, is all about beaches…

What was very obvious in Barbados was that whatever beauty existed – little ornaments, flowers in the garden – it was all done for tourists or by some European/American immigrants. The general image of Barbados was of the most developed, best organised, and most luxurious of all the previously visited islands, but when we took a more careful look into local, less touristic areas, the local zones seemed very basic, like on other islands.

From a European traveller’s point of view, I would say that Barbados is very regular and usual, very similar to European resorts.

We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Anthony Hunte, whose British family moved to Barbados in the 17^th century and managed a sugar plantation. There is still a villa and original bridge remaining from the plantation times. Today the owner has developed and invites tourists to his beautiful botanical park called Hunte’s gardens. Once you have had enough of the beach, or when it is too hot during midday, this is a lovely, refreshing place to visit.

Read about other Caribbean islands we visited:

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