On the shores of Carlisle Bay is the largest free port in the Caribbean – the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown. According to simplyyellowpages, the city itself is small, only 80 thousand people live in it. Local buildings are a mixture of colonial and modern architecture. The narrow streets are full of rum shops. There is also a government residence and offices of large companies. The center of the city is Trafalgar Square, which is an exact copy of the same square in London, and the statue of Lord Nelson was installed several years earlier than in London. Being in Trafalgar Square, you can observe the beautiful landscape of the city harbor, which crashes into the city. Numerous cruise ships and yachts moor in the harbor. Walking a little to the east of the square, you can stumble upon the English Cathedral of St. Michael. In the cemetery, which belongs to the cathedral, the most famous personalities of Barbados are buried. A little further east is the best vacation spot for citizens and tourists – Royal Park. The main pride of the park is a thousand-year-old baobab. An equally interesting place in Bridgetown is the Garrison Barracks, which now houses a magnificent museum. A long line of old barracks surrounds the parade ground, and today it houses many interesting cultural and entertainment venues. The City Museum, in addition to its main function, is a research center that studies the history of Barbados. The museum’s library contains about 160 thousand archival documents, including materials about the West Indies from the 17th century, maps and manuscripts. Outside the city there are also interesting places, for example, the Baishore shopping complex, which includes dozens of shops and antique shops, where you can buy quite interesting things and souvenirs. As a rule, all tourists who come to Bridgetown are offered a tour of the Taylor Cote estate. The estate was formerly home to notable post-war figures from Grantley Island and Tom Adams. Around the estate are traditional island rum shops and several shops selling traditional handicrafts. The east coast is considered the main natural attraction of the island. This area is practically unexplored by tourists. Wild beaches are the best place for surfing and hiking. In addition to the most beautiful beaches, there are other interesting places here, the most famous of which can be called Andromeda Botanical Gardens, which were created by local botanist Iris Bannochi. Being on the eastern beach, you can visit the small resort town of Betsheba, on the territory of which there are many excellent restaurants. The northern part of Barbados is the most sparsely populated and visited part of the country. However, there are places of interest for tourists here. The most popular place is the Wildlife Sanctuary, where several hundred green monkeys, deer, raccoons and other wild animals live. Nearby is a beautiful park where you can have a good rest on a hot day. A little to the north lies a sugar factory, which owns the last working windmill on the island. The second largest city in Barbados is Spiketown. Once Spiketown was one of the largest ports in the West Indies, but today its influence is almost lost. Of the local attractions, the most famous are the forts that were used to protect the harbor. Only one fort, Fort Orange, has survived to this day.
National cuisine of Barbados
Mixed African, British and Indian cuisines have created a unique Barbadian cuisine. In addition, the island has a huge number of restaurants with Jamaican, Chinese and Mexican cuisine. Most of the products are imported, from their own ingredients there is only a large amount of seafood and spices. Today, the island is home to many world-famous chefs. The main national dish of Barbados is porridge “coo-coo” consisting of cereals and okra, as well as flying fish. In general, special attention is paid to fish and other seafood on the island. Sea urchin, lobster and shrimp are often served on the table. Along with the fish, as a rule, local vegetables and sauces are served. Of the meat, pork is the most popular, which has become widely used here, ranging from schnitzels and cutlets, ending with unusual kebabs with original sauce. Most of all, the inhabitants of Barbados love stewed pork with okra and lamb ribs with sauce. From Indian cuisine, the locals adopted the tradition of the wide use of various seasonings. Desserts made by local chefs also deserve attention. The most famous chocolate cake, which must be present on the table for a birthday. Fruit muffins, pineapple pie, guava jelly are also the pride of Barbados confectioners. The main drink of the island is rum, which is the hallmark of Barbados. An incredible number of rum bars are scattered throughout the island.
