Carlisle Beach

 

 

The Island

Barbados is a beautiful small  eastern Caribbean island and an independent British Commonwealth nation.  As such the majority of the tourists are from Britain followed by Canadians. All the British people I met were visiting repeatedly many years in a row and usually came and stayed for a period of 1-3 months. They loved the island. Although it is a small island of 32 km by 25 km there is so much to see and do and wonderful surprises everywhere.

 

Airport and Taxis

Barbado’s  airport is the only one I have seen that  welcomes visitors on arrival  with water, juice or a local drink. It is also the only airport I know of that has an open concept departure area. There are no doors to enter the building. You just walk in.

There are airport taxis available to go to different areas of the city and the different prices for each area are listed on a board at the airport.   Going to the south coast was US$ 15 or BD 30. US currency is accepted everywhere. Taxis on the island don’t have set rate. It is better to agree on the pricing beforehand. The amount is only accepted in cash.

Buses cost US 2 in any direction.

Champers 

 

Beautiful Vibes

Barbados is an expensive island. .I was staying on the  south-west coast as I wanted to be staying closer to the capital city Bridgetown. I absolutely loved the area I was staying in. The color I associate most with Barbados is turquoise. Watching the beautiful turquoise water from the plane and then seeing it everywhere on the beaches,  in the decor and the buildings was delightful.

The color turquoise is associated with meanings of refreshing, feminine, calming, sophisticated, energy, wisdom, serenity, wholeness, creativity, emotional balance, good luck, spiritual grounding, friendship, love, joy, tranquility, patience, intuition, and loyalty.and I can vouch for feeling  happy and deeply relaxed during my stay.

Champers 

 

Where to eat

There is an abundance of delicious places to eat. Seafood is available everywhere.  I love eating at  vegan cafes and restaurants for the healthy options they serve. Here are some of the places I visited and very much enjoyed. You will find juices, smoothies, acai bowls and so much variety of different dishes to suit every palate.

Champers is not vegan but serves upscale vegan options.

A special mention to Shawn at Green Lime Eco Cafe & Juice Bar for his delicious food and juices and for his suggestions on what to see in Bridgetown.

 

Bridgetown

 

Places to visit

Ocean – There are lots of water related activities like surfing, snorkelling, swimming with the turtles or a cruise with lunch  available. Hotels can arrange excursions and there are booths on the island that offer different packages.

Beaches – There are so many beautiful beaches on the island with the west coast having the calmest waters. Carlisle Beach in the south has the most gorgeous turquoise color and soft white sand and is considered the most beautiful beach in Barbados. 

Hunte’s Garden – I have visited so many gardens including some of the top listed gardens in the world but Hunte’s garden is so special. It was one of my favourite experiences in Barbados I highly recommend this stunningly beautiful, magical and tranquil haven. 

Bridgetown -The capital city has a city vibe without a touristy feel. Downtown Bridgetown is a Unesco World Heritage site. Bajan culture can be felt throughout the city. I enjoyed the street vendors and the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The golden apples are a delicious must try. They  have a sweet tangy taste. They don’t taste like apples and look more like mangos. 

I can totally understand why so many people are drawn to stay in Barbados for longer periods of time.

Bridgetown

 

Hunte’s Garden