Barbados
From World travel guide
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| Quick Facts | |
| Capital | Bridgetown |
| Government | parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth |
| Currency | Barbadian dollar (BBD) |
| Area | total: 431 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 431 sq km |
| Population | 276,607 (July 2002 est.) |
| Language | English |
| Religion | Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12% |
Barbados is an island (Area: 431 sq km) in the Caribbean, or West Indies, northeast of Venezuela, in Central America, lying between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The island is portrayed as the little England of the Caribbean because of its long association as a British colony.
Contents |
Cities
Barbados has the following towns and cities:
- Bridgetown - Capital
- Bathsheba
- Hastings
- Holetown
- Speightstown
Other destinations
- South Coast -- The south coast is made up of several very small towns strung along the coast. Most of the budget hotels, guesthouses, and apartment are located here. Towns include Hastings, Rockley, Worthing, St.Lawrence, Oistins, Silver Sands and Maxwell.
Understand
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.
Electricity
Electricity is supplied at 115V 50Hz, which is similar to the U.S. and Canadian standard. Outlets are North American NEMA 5-15 grounded outlets, identical to standard U.S. and Canadian wall outlets. Occasionally non-grounded NEMA 1-15 outlets may be found. Non-grounded outlets do not accept the third, round pin present on grounded plugs. Adapters are available to allow equipment with grounded (three-pin) plugs to plug into non-grounded outlets while avoiding the otherwise necessary step of cutting the grounding pin off of the plug.
Additionally, U.S. and Canadian outlets are polarized. Polarized means that one of the two vertical blades is taller/wider than the other. This is a safety feature which restricts a non-grounded plug from being inserted into an outlet "upside down". Older North American outlets found in much of Central and South America, the Caribbean and other areas may not be polarized. As such, polarized plugs may not fit into non-polarized outlets. To remedy this, the wider vertical blade on a polarized plug may be filed down to match the width of the other. Otherwise, adapters are available which accept a polarized plug and adapt it for use with a non-polarized outlet.
Get in
By plane
For its size, Barbados boasts a large international airport with dozens of flights arriving in the high season from the UK and Canada as well as the US.
Buses run from a stop across the road from the airport up the coast to Bridgetown, but a taxi is the most convenient way to get to your hotel on arrival.
By boat
Many cruise ships dock in Bridgetown. Private moorings are available around the island. Note- stiff penalties prohibit the dropping of anchors on coral reefs.
Get around
The bus system is extensive, cheap, and fast -- if you're headed to somewhere on the main route, but a car (or mini-moke) is the only way to see many of the out-of-the-way sights.
Mopeds and bikes can also be rented, on the island, to explore sites that aren't easily reached by cars.
Talk
Bajans speak English with plenty of local terms thrown in.
Buy
The local currency is the Barbadian dollar, but US dollars are accepted just about everywhere in shops and restaurants. The exchange rate is fixed at 2 Barbadian dollars to the US Dollar. Lots of duty free shops in Bridgetown catering to the cruise liner trade, where you can buy jewellery, etc.
Eat
- Flying fish -- the icon of the islands is found on coins, bills, and menus. Try "fish cutters" a local sandwich.
- Every friday night on the main road from Bridgetown to the airport is a food market where you can buy fresh fish cooked according to local recipes. Locals stay there late and dance until late in the evening. A bit pricey, but worth the experience.
Drink
Rum and rum drinks are featured at every bar. Beer and wine is easy to find as well.
Sleep
Learn
Work
Stay safe
Although a very safe place to travel, it is generally suggested to avoid certain high risk activities Most notably, walking alone on the beach during the evening or late at night is generally regarded as a bad idea as it makes for an ideal situation for robbers to attack tourists.
Stay healthy
Respect
Despite, or maybe because of the tropical climate, Bajans tend to dress conservatively when not on the beach. Bikinis probably wont be appreciated in town and certainly not in churches.
Contact
Communications
External links
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