Barbados
Barbados is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. The country is blessed with fine white sandy beaches and the calm Atlantic Ocean nearby which is near perfect for light surfing. There is also a festive night-life in tourist areas such as the Saint Lawrence Gap and a very attractive shopping district. The country also offers wildlife reserves, scuba diving, golf, cave exploration and helicopter rides for those who are looking for a very exciting and energetic lifestyle.
Barbados is an independent island nation located just east of the Caribbean Sea in the western Atlantic Ocean. The country lies in the southern Caribbean region and is considered a part of the island-chain Lesser Antilles. The country is considered to have one of the highest standards of living worldwide.
To the west are Saint Vincent & the Grenadines and Saint Lucia, while to the South is Trinidad and Tobago and South America's mainland.
Geography:
Barbados contains tropical woodland and scrubland, large sugarcane estates, wide pastures and sandy beaches. The climate is tropical - constant trade winds off the Atlantic Ocean serve to keep temperatures mild, and the rainy season takes place from June until October.
The majority of Barbados is circled by coral reefs and is infact geologically composed of coral.
Government:
An independent state in the Commonwealth since 1966, Barbados functions as a parliamentary democracy. It's Parliament comprises thirty seats and is run under a two party-system; the two dominant parties are the Democratic Labour Party and the Barbados Labour Party.
Barbados is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
Transport:
Route taxis called "ZR's" travel to most points on the island. These are small buses and can be quite crowded at times, however take the more scenic routes.
The island's airport is the Sir Grantley Adams International Aiport (GAIA). It receives daily flights from around the globe as well as serving small regional commercial airlines. It is currently undergoing a US$100 million upgrade and expansion.
You can also fly by helicopter shuttle which travels to a number of places around the island, but mostly on the West Coast tourist area.
Did You Know?
- Barbadians, as the citizens of Barbados are officially called, refer to themselve as "Bajan". This term may have come from the pronunciation of the word Barbadian which can sometimes sound like "Bar-bajan".
- The Crop Over festival is the largest carnival event to take place on the island. It is a very important event that includes musical competitions and over activities tradtional to the island's culture. The festival begins in early July and ends on the first Monday of August, called Kadooment Day, with a costumed parade.
- Barbados is Portuguese for "bearded ones".
© Written by E.J.Clarke. |
