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Barbados
Barbados is one of the Caribbean's most attractive real estate investment opportunities. Agents at Caribbean Real Estate Showcase want the chance to show you the range of exciting real estate possibilities at this enchanting Caribbean destination. Beach villas that stretch along the white sands at St. Lawrence can be used as vacation villas and rental villas. Available near Holetown, Bridgetown and other spots along the scenic west coast on the Caribbean Sea are luxury villas complete with swimming pools, hot tubs, and breathtaking views of the Caribbean. The agents at Caribbean Real Estate Showcase will show you areas on Barbados' east coast along the Atlantic where real estate opportunities with rental, luxury, and vacation villas run deep. For more nearly four centuries, visitors to Barbados have been amazed at the natural beauty of its pristine beaches, crystal blue waters, and scenic landscape. Come let the agents at Caribbean Real Estate Showcase inspire you with all of this and the real estate investments that await you at this favorite of the Caribbean islands.
Overview
The easternmost island in the Caribbean, Barbados is part of the Lesser Antilles. Barbados lies east of Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and joins with Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago to the southwest to form what are known as the Windward Islands.
Barbados is some 270 miles northeast of Venezuela at coordinates 13 degrees north latitude and 59 degrees west longitude. The island has a total area of 167 square miles. The Atlantic Ocean borders Barbados' east coast, while the Caribbean Sea runs along its west coast.
Barbados has a rich history that mixes British, African, and West Caribbean traditions. It is one of the Caribbean's best locations for surfing, windsurfing, diving, and beach going. It also offers great duty-free shopping, unique restaurants, and lively music and dance.
History
The first people to inhabit Barbados were Indians from the Orinoco Valley regions of Saladero and Barrancas in Venezuela, who arrived as early as the fourth century. By about the year 800, Arawak Indians from South America had moved into the island. Early in the thirteenth century, however, Carib Indians from South America replaced both as the dominant group on Barbados.
In 1536, the Portuguese explorer Pedro Campos landed on Barbados on his way to Brazil. Campos observed that the island's many fig trees had long, dangling roots above the ground that looked like beards, so he named it Los Barbados, or "The Bearded Ones."
English setters under Captain John Powell ventured to Barbados in 1625 and discovered the island was uninhabited. Within a few years, scores of English came to Barbados and established a permanent settlement at what is now Holetown on the Caribbean Sea. Though tobacco and cotton were attempted early on, by the 1640s the English had turned to sugar cultivation as their primary cash crop. Relying on large importations of slaves from Africa, the extensive plantations and huge profits realized by British planters on Barbados helped fuel the sugar revolution throughout the Caribbean islands. In latter decades, as large planters took over most of the arable land in Barbados, some smaller planters moved into Britain's North American colonies, in particular South Carolina. In 1751, George Washington, later the first President of the United States, traveled to Barbados to visit his half-brother Lawrence.
Barbados' location so far east of the other islands in the Lesser Antilles helped keep it out of the many conflicts between European nations struggling for power in the Caribbean. Early in their colonization of Barbados, in 1639, the British settlers established a legislative assembly, one of the first created in the Caribbean islands. The reliance on slave labor, however, resulted in a Barbados split between the minority white sugar planters and the majority black slaves. In 1816, Barbados saw the biggest slave revolt in its history. In 1834, the British government abolished slavery throughout its empire.
For much of the next century, sugar planters continued to control the economy and political life on Barbados. By the 1930s, in the face of rising economic turmoil, poor living conditions, and popular discontent, Barbadian black leaders such as Grantley Adams and later Errol Barrow pressed the British government for socio-economic reforms and more political rights. In June of 1966, Barbados became an independent nation with its own constitution.
Government
The government of Barbados is a parliamentary democracy. Barbados' capital is located at Bridgetown in the southwest corner of the island on the Caribbean Sea. The island is divided into eleven administrative parishes. Barbados gained full independence from the United Kingdom on November 30, 1966.
A Prime Minister heads the government with the support of a cabinet and governor general. The Parliament has two houses: a 21-member Senate appointed by the governor general and a 30-member House of Assembly, whose delegates the people of Barbados elect every five years.
Economy
The sugarcane industry dominated Barbados from the mid-seventeenth century well into the mid to late twentieth. While sugar, molasses, and rum are still important today, tourism supplanted sugar as Barbados' main industry in the 1990s. As in other Caribbean islands, offshore financial services have become more important to the Barbados economy in recent years.
Most Barbadians work in tourism and financial services, but about a quarter are employed either in light industry or agriculture. Exports from Barbados include sugar, molasses, fine Caribbean rum, other local foods and drinks, and some electrical components and chemicals. Barbados imports many of its basic consumer goods, foodstuffs, fuel, and construction materials.
Barbados has one airport, the Grantley Adams International Airport in the southern part of the island. Its main seaport is located at the capital of Bridgetown.
Money
The Barbadian or Barbados dollar (BBD) is the official currency on Barbados. The United States dollar is also accepted widely on the island.
Demographics
About 280,000 people reside on Barbados. 90% of the population is black, some 4% is white, and the remaining 6% is Asian and mixed. Residents on Barbados refer to themselves as Bajans.
Language
English is the official language on Barbados.
Medical Services
There is a Government hospital located near Bridgetown. Bayview Hospital, also near Bridgetown, is a private hospital. In addition, there are a number of small clinics maintained by the government across Barbados.
Climate and Weather
Barbados has a tropical climate with a mild rainy season running from June into October. The average daily high reaches 83F in January and about 86 F in July. As it does for most islands in the Caribbean, the hurricane season runs from roughly June into October.
At 336 meters, Mount Hillaby in the north-central part of the island is Barbados' highest elevation.
Recreation
Its setting in the Atlantic combined with its extensive coral reefs make Barbados one of the Caribbean's best surfing destinations. Favorite spots can be found along the east coast near Bathsheba up to Bay's Cove in the north.
Windsurfers will also find Barbados to be a paradise for their sport. The best place to get excellent winds and waves is Silver Sands along the tip of Barbados' southern coast. Optimal times to catch the best winds on the island are from roughly the middle of November to the beginning of July.
As in other Caribbean islands, kitesurfing has exploded in popularity in recent years among vacationers looking for thrilling action in the crystal blue waters of the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea.
Of course, beaches rank among the most important of all Caribbean vacation activities. One of Barbados' most popular beach spots is St. Lawrence, on the southwest coast, where pristine white sand beaches on the Caribbean Sea are the setting for a lively mix of sun worshiping, great food and nighttime fun. Dover Beach is a top beach here in St. Lawrence.
The Boatyard at Bay Street in Bridgetown has an array of water sports and beach activities, including pedal boats, snorkeling, beach chair and umbrella rentals, and even glass bottom boat rides. The Boatyard also offers day trips filled with sun and fun aboard the 57-foot HeatWave Catamaran or a private cruise for that romantic getaway exploring the waters around Barbados.
Scuba diving is also a popular recreation on Barbados. Carlisle Bay's many shipwrecks and the superb reef at nearby Friars Crag make it an ideal place for all sorts of tropical fish. The Folkestone Marine Park near Holetown offers both an offshore and inshore reef for scuba divers and snorkelers respectively. The offshore reef was created from the ship Stavronikita and is about 120 feet deep. To the north, the wreck at Pamir is a great place for beginning scuba divers.
Fishing of all types can be found in the waters off Barbados. The Oistins Fish Festival is a popular annual event on Barbados for anglers of all sorts.
Cricket dominates Barbadian culture like no other sport on the island. The 2007 Cricket World Cup will be played on Barbados.
Several other international sporting competitions of note are held annually on Barbados. Each January, Silver Sands near South Point hosts the Barbados Windsurfing World Cup. The waters off Bathsheba on the Atlantic coast are the setting for the Caribbean Surfing Championship held in November.
Barclays Park on the eastern coast presents stunning views of the Atlantic and is a great place for games and picnics. There is a horseracing track at the Garrison Race Track south of Bridgetown.
Shopping, Dining, and Nightlife
Barbados offers some of the Caribbean's best cuisine. The mix of British, African, and West Indian traditions means there is something on Barbados for everyone's taste buds.
The upscale Cliffs Restaurant in St. James combines spectacular sunset views with an excellent wine list and culinary sensations from across the Caribbean. The restaurant at the Yellow Bird Hotel in St. Lawrence Gap serves an eclectic mix of Caribbean cuisine and some traditional British favorites. The Boucan Wine Bar & Restaurant at the Savannah Hotel features an international flair that has garnered rave reviews. Calabaza on the coast in Prospect, St. James also serves up an unusual but tasty mix from the Caribbean as well as nations throughout the world.
Across the island near Bathsheba, the Round House Inn Restaurant and Bar offers diners exquisite views of the Atlantic, live music, and great food. The Sunbury Plantation House presents candlelight dinners and other special functions in the ambiance of a nearly 350-year old house. Bubba's Sports Bar and Restaurant has casual dining and all the action from English soccer, the NFL, the NBA, and other sports leagues on its big screen televisions. For the more intrepid, O'Cristal's Beach Bar and Bistro at Fitts Village, St. James is a casual yet distinctive little restaurant out of the hustle of the busy beachfronts.
In the evening, the scene at St. Lawrence is always a lively one, where dancing, partying, and great foods go late into the Barbados night. The Plantation in St. Lawrence hosts one of the Caribbean's most famous dinner and stage shows with the Bajan Roots and Rhythms. The Whistling Frog Restaurant and Bar at St. Lawrence also promises good food in one of Barbados' best nightspots. The Boatyard at Bridgetown is another of Barbados' favorite party spots. Here you will find Sharkey's Bar, one of the island's most popular clubs, as well as the oceanfront South Deck Grill.
Shoppers will delight in the local art works, carvings, sculptures, straw baskets and mats, rum cakes and other goodies available in the shops at Pelican Village near Bridgetown. There are also a number of duty free chain stores, such as Cave Shepherd, Emeralds International, and Harrison's, which sell jewelry, perfume, electronic goods, china and crystal, clothing, and other items at sites throughout Barbados. Pottery enthusiasts will find several unique studios near Edgehill Heights in St. Thomas. Speightstown, once an important port and business center, has been rejuvenated in years with fine hotels, restaurants, and art galleries. The Bayshore Complex at Carlisle Bay in Bridgetown has also undergone a renovation recently and features shopping and dining sites.
Cultural and Historic Sites
Barbados has some of the Caribbean's most distinguished architecture. In fact, two of the three surviving Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere stand on Barbados: St. Nicholas Abbey in the parish of St. Peter dates to around 1660, while Drax Hall is thought to have been constructed sometime in the 1650s.
At the capital at Bridgetown, many remnants of Barbados' colonial architecture remain, mixed in with modern commercial buildings and businesses. The buildings of Parliament run along Broad Street. The Bridgetown Jewish synagogue has roots dating back to the mid-seventeenth century; the structure there today was rebuilt after a hurricane in 1831 and eventually restored in the 1980s.
The Barbados Museum, which is located in a military prison dating from the early 1800s, focuses on some of the main themes in the island's history, notably the colonial period, the sugar industry, and slavery and emancipation.
Constructed around 1660 by Matthew Chapman, the Sunbury Plantation House in the southeast is one of Barbados' most historic sites. Built of native coral and stones brought from England as ballast, the house takes visitors through four centuries of life at one of Barbados' great sugar estates.
The Tyrol Cot Heritage Village was constructed next to the birthplace of Grantley Adams, political reformer and first premier of Barbados. The village features a mix of Barbadian heritage, including reproduction slave houses, a working blacksmith, and a restaurant and recreated rum store. The Morgan Lewis Mill in St. Andrew parish and the Sir Frank Hutson Sugar Museum at Portvale tell the central role sugar had in Barbados' history.
St. James Parish Church in Holetown was completed in 1847 and has a bell dating to 1696. Sam Lord's Castle, on the other side of Barbados in St. Philip parish, dates to 1820 and is an imposing mansion named for the infamous pirate Samuel Hall Lord. Just to the north is the East Point Lighthouse at Ragged Point, from which visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of Barbados' eastern coast along the Atlantic. The beautiful Codrington College in St. John has the distinction of being the oldest theological institution in the Western Hemisphere. It was completed in 1743 with money from benefactor Christopher Codrington and remains a vital training center for priests throughout the Caribbean nations.
Wildlife, Marine Life, and Flora and Fauna
A top draw for animal enthusiasts is the Barbados Wildlife Reserve near Farley Hill in the northeast area of the island. Red-footed turtles, iguanas, green monkeys, parrots, peacocks, and pelicans are just some of the amazing wildlife this spot in Barbados offers. Visitors here can also take in the spectacular views of the Barbados landscape from the nearby Grenade Hall signaling station. Another signaling station offering amazing views of the island is located in St. George parish at Gun Hill.
Vacationers seeking a peaceful walk through some of Barbados' best natural areas will love Welchman Hall Gully in St. Thomas parish, a wooded ravine that winds through a trail filled with almost 200 different species of tropical plants. The six-acres of gardens at Andromeda Botanical Gardens in the parish of St. Joseph contain a mix of some of the Caribbean's most beautiful flowers and trees alongside flowing waterfalls. A visit to Lazaretto Gardens outside the capital of Bridgetown in St. Michael's parish also promises ornamental flowers, trees, and a cascading waterfall.
Festivals and Events
Barbados celebrates its Independence Day every November 30. During the entire month of November, Barbados sponsors The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts, where singers, dancers, and actors compete in talent shows, with the finals taking place on the November 30 Independence Day.
The Crop-Over Festival, which began during the colonial period to mark the annual sugar cane harvest, is Barbados' largest and longest festival of the year. Crop-Over starts around the middle of July and runs for three lively weeks, ending with a costume parade on what is known as Kadooment Day, which is the first Monday to fall in August.
The Holetown Festival in February commemorates the landing in 1627 of the first Englishmen to permanently settle Barbados. Street fairs, a musical gala, and even a road race highlight the events during Holetown, which runs for seven days.
For fishing and boating enthusiasts, every Easter Barbados hosts the Oistins Fish Festival, which features events like fish-boning competitions and boat chases alongside wonderful foods, unique crafts, and spirited dancing.
Radio
BBS 90.7
Faith FM 102.1
CBC 900 AM
Mix 96.9
VOB 92.9
Links
Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia
www.barbados.org
Fun Barbados Travel Guide
www.funbarbados.com
Government of Barbados Information Network
www.barbados.gov.bb
Sunbury Plantation House
www.barbadosgreathouse.com
Barbados Football Association
www.barbadossoccer.com
Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation
www.cbc.bb
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Caribbean Real Estate Showcase is a division of Caribbean Villa Owners Association 877-248-2862 804-693-5216 804-693-4856 | |||||||||
Disclaimer
Caribbean Real Estate Showcase, Dunham Young Inc. its owner, executives and employees act in good faith in the promotion of this web site but are in no way responsible to either property participants or potential customers or real estate purchasers for any loss of any kind howsoever caused. Continued use of this website indicates acceptance of this condition. Property purchasers should exercise caution and use independent legal advice when entering real estate transactions of any kind.
