Barbados island tour

Barbados is the easternmost island in the West Indies. Barbados is one of the few islands in the Caribbean that are 100% coral. It was formed from old coral reefs and not volcanic eruptions.

There are 11 parishes on Barbados, named after saints. Bridgetown is the capital and biggest city of Barbados. Formerly Town of Saint Michael, Greater Bridgetown area is situated within the parish of Saint Michael. Locally referred to as "The City", the most common reference to Bridgetown is simply "Town".

Port Bridgetown is located along Carlisle Bay (on the island's southwestern coast). The sugar loading towers where we docked

Storage for sugar (pyramid) and molasses (circular tank) -

As usual we were not alone, there were 2 other cruise ships plus the Christian bookship Logos Hope. This is similar to the Doulos which I saw in Malaysia in 2006. Viking Sea on the left and Logos Hope on the right -

I went to Barbados last year, but didn't see much of the island as I wanted to go to Harrison's Cave. So this time I wanted to do an island tour and also see Georgetown.

So I got a share taxi for an island tour. We went along the coastline which is the very upmarket area we had driven through last year. Up through some estates and a 44 hole Sandy Lane – Green Monkey golf course. Saw some green monkeys, which originated from West Africa.

Saw Mick Jagger’s holiday home and passed a road leading to Simon Cowell’s and Cliff Richard’s. Went back down to the coast road and through Holetown,

Then Speightstown with the 2 marinas, Port St Charles (natural) and Port Ferdinand (manmade). We then turned inland to go across the island. Traditional house -

Went past St Nicholas Abbey which is surrounded by mahogany trees. This photo was taken through the car windscreen, hence the odd colours

We stopped at a view point over the Atlantic (east) coast, at Cherry Tree Hill vista, by an avenue of mahogany trees, which is the end of the abbey railway. The view was rather hazy.

Zenaida dove with Carib grackle

 

Souvenir stall at Cherry Tree Hill. The broken trident of the Barbados flag is supposed to represent independence, a symbolic break from being a colony -

Then down to the coast, stopping at Morgan Lewis sugar mill, the Caribbean's largest and only working sugar mill-

The Atlantic coast is much more wild, with white waves, and cheaper resorts. Went through St Andrews parish which is mostly formed of sand rather than the crystalline limestone. Some impressive huge rocks along the beach. The rocks might be remnants of an ancient coral reef. Or they might have come from the old cliff faces (geology report). We stopped for photos at a large rock on the beach.

Looking back down at the coastline -

We stopped at Bathsheba for a while. Lots of tourists here. Legend has it that Bathsheba, wife of King David, bathed in milk to keep her skin beautiful and soft. Legend also says that the surf covered white waters of Bathsheba, Barbados, is rich in minerals and life and said to resemble Bathsheba's bath in both appearance health giving value.

Then we made our way inland again, over Horse Hill, Bushy Park, and very close to the area where Harrison’s Cave is, although I saw no signs. Saw old colonial plantation houses. Then stopped at some rock carvings but I didn't catch what the driver told us about these apart from the cricket stumps representing Barbados cricket -

Went up Gun Hill and past the signal station, built in 1818. At the foot of signal station is a magnificent lion statue which was carved out of a single piece of rock in 1868 by a Britishofficer at the signal station.

A cotton plantation

This mill is now a house

Came back to the coast on the Caribbean side at Worthing, saw the university and sports stadium and Olympic pool.

Drove north back to Bridgetown. The World Heritage site starts at Hastings, with the fort and garrison.

Saw the race course and drove by George Washington’s house. Went through Bridgetown with its colonial heritage buildings and on to the terminal. After lunch I went back to the town to have a look around.

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See the next blog on my Amazon & Caribbean cruise - Bridgetown Barbados World Heritage Site.