Barbados
Barbados is occasionally called "Little England," and with good reason. While other Caribbean islands were passed among colonial powers like so many hot potatoes, Barbados flew only one flag -- the Union Jack -- for over 300 years until it gained independence in 1966. Traces of the British invasion remain in Barbados -- in the native tongue, in the cars driving on the left side of the road, in the Anglican churches found in every parish. But perhaps the greatest evidence of the British influence is, well, the British tourists. Barbados is a prime playground for Brits on holiday -- not to mention a healthy proportion of Yanks and other international visitors as well.
Away from the big resorts and tourist hot spots, though, Barbados is a thoroughly Caribbean island, complete with lush tropical foliage, colorful chattel houses (portable houses where plantation workers used to live) and a laid-back, "why hurry?" attitude. Despite heavy development along the western and southern coasts, the rest of the island is full of sweeping natural vistas -- from rippling fields of sugarcane in the interior to the Atlantic surf pounding against the cliffs at the island's northernmost tip. The island rewards independent exploration; rent a car or hire a driver to see its unspoiled side.
Though today the sugarcane fields speak more to the island's past than its present (tourism, not agriculture, now drives the Barbadian economy), visitors can still experience the island's heritage at a number of plantation houses and rum distilleries. Try Barbados-brewed Banks Beer or a shot of Mount Gay Rum. If you'd rather skip the history lesson, there are plenty of places to just get away from it all, from Bridgetown's duty-free department stores to the soft white beaches of the south coast.
The currency is the Barbadian dollar, with a conversion rate of about $1.99 Barbadian to $1 U.S. American bills (but not coins) are accepted nearly everywhere, though you may get change in local currency. ATM's are plentiful in Bridgetown, the capital city, and in other smaller towns throughout the island.
Ships dock at the Bridgetown Cruise Terminal, about a mile west of downtown Bridgetown. The cruise terminal has the usual duty-free shopping options, complete with jewelry, clothing, souvenirs and crafts. There's also a tourist information desk and a telecommunications center with phone, Internet and postal services. A few minutes down the road is Pelican Village (Princess Alice Highway, 246-427-5350), housing artisan boutiques and a working cigar factory. It's closed Sundays.The capital city of Bridgetown is a one-mile stroll from the cruise port, and its downtown area is pedestrian-friendly. If you carry on through the town and head right - towards the sea you will find the beach and a short way along is a fabulous seafood eaterie called Lobster Alive do NOT miss it!
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