The island located in the Lesser Antilles is a new tourist proposal since there are flights from Córdoba. Caribbean climate, endless beaches, very good hotels and excellent food.
Barbados is much more than sun, sea, music, food and rum; although those attractions would be enough to decide on a rest travel destination. This Caribbean Island located in the Lesser Antilles is an undiscovered tourist pearl for many people.
For many years it was an exotic destination for Europeans and Americans. But now, the air connectivity that the authorities achieved since mid-2018 makes the island-country an option for many South Americans who are looking for something different from the well-known paradisiacal beach destinations.
“Barbados? Where is it?”, is the first thing we must answer those of us who have a ticket to this small island of endless beaches, bathed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic.
Among music lovers, many have heard of Barbados as Rihanna’s homeland. Music is in the blood of its inhabitants, so it is not surprising that the international star was born in this destination that was a British colony until 1966, when it achieved its independence.
English, with a British accent, is the first barrier encountered by the Spanish-speaking traveler as soon as they step into the Bridgetown airport, the capital of the country, with just over 100,000 inhabitants. Along with the first obstacle, there is also the first sign that it was not a mistake to choose this destination: the good predisposition of the Barbadians. Brunettes, always with a wide smile, are willing to solve any inconvenience.
The friendliness of people is natural, but also a way of making a living. In Barbados, tourism is the main industry without smokestacks. It seems that each inhabitant is clear about it and acts accordingly.
Our visit coincided with the Barbados Food & Rum festival (there, rum is written with an “m” at the end). Food and drinks are other attractions: from the most luxurious restaurants to the street stalls in the center or on the beach, the care and culinary skills of local chefs, trained in Britain and France, are evident. The dishes are proof for demanding palates.
The main event was held in a giant tent, where the island’s most renowned chefs, along with some Europeans, delighted with simple and extravagant dishes but with a common thread: incomparable flavors. Fish, chicken, lamb, lobster, spider crab and fresh vegetables are the base of the preparations. With an addition that makes them special: rum and sugar cane are present in almost all the dishes.
Barbadians claim they make the best rum in the world. With proof, there are few arguments left to dispute that assertion. In each category or beach bar you can taste incredible drinks, based on rum, sugar cane and fruit.
Whoever comes to the island is so driven by the desire to enjoy the sea, but if you read books about barbados, you’ll notice that Barbados also has a rich history that it’s worth to learn.
In the Plaza de la Independencia the flag waves with a trident in the center, a symbol of the break with Great Britain. The country gained its independence only 55 years ago, but the Queen of England is still the head of state. The Prime Minister, Mía Mottley, is the first woman to be elected to that position through popular vote in July 2018.
Independence from England is not cultural. At every step you breathe the British air on this island, which for centuries was one of the many colonies of the European country.
The weather is exceptional almost all year round. It is only rainy in October and November, but the temperature rarely drops below 24 degrees, nor does it exceed 32.
The beaches are washed by two seas: the Caribbean to the west and the Atlantic to the east. They are polar opposites. In the first one you can enjoy clear sand and crystal clear and calm sea. On the other coast, the Atlantic is furious, only recommended for those who are daring in water sports.
The best hotels, gastronomic and entertainment centers are located on the beaches facing the Caribbean. Most of the hotels offer all-inclusive services, with private beaches. Europeans and Americans love to arrive and enclose themselves in those masses of cement and glass that provide them with everything. The prices are in dollars, but adjusted to the quality of the services.
The island is 430 kilometers long and can be covered in its entirety in a day’s drive.
For $60, there are tours that take you into the jungle heart of Barbados and include lunch and drinks. On the tour you will visit one of the many farms that until the last century were full of slaves working in the production of sugar cane and rum.
Those farms keep traces of a cruel past, with slaves. Now the reality is different: Barbados is one of the Caribbean countries with the lowest rates of unemployment and poverty. It is not an opulent country, but on the tour of the island there are no signs of poverty. Most of the houses are made of wood, humble, in the neighborhoods of the workers. On the Caribbean coast are the mansions of the richest sectors and category hotels, which include golf and polo fields.
The locals are lovers of cricket. There is an impressive state cricket stadium, which is an eye-catcher in a colorful capital, where you can see old and new, but flat, with few high-rise buildings.
The second most coveted tour by tourists is a day of navigation for $80 that includes food and drinks, giant and friendly sea turtles and snorkeling. The tour is done aboard a catamaran through the Caribbean Sea. The crystal clear, warm and calm water invites you to dive. Diving among multicolored fish is an unmissable plan. Then, the catamaran approaches within 300 meters of some inhospitable beach and invites you to swim to the sand. There are no risks: lifeguards and swimmers provide maximum security.
After an exhausting day, a quick rest at the hotel is urgently needed to start with another of the island’s attractions: the night. In nightclubs, rum is not served from bottles, but directly from barrels. Savoring fried fish, with rum and coconut water, to the rhythm of reggae, is an irresistible proposal.
The 10 hours of flight and the four hours of waiting in the different airports, English and the dollar can make you hesitate when choosing this place. But whoever comes to this island country will not regret it. The conclusion is in the first lines of this text: it is much more than sea, sun, music, food and rum.
Rihanna is the international star who made Barbados better known in the world. The young singer was born on this island, with which she maintains indestructible ties.
Rihanna was born in a humble home in the capital, near the parish of Saint Michael. The wooden bungalow where she lived until she was 14 years old is today a must-see, and the street is named after her.
The singer lives between the United States and London, but has a mansion on the island on the coast. She is much loved by Barbadians because she never forgot her land: every year, she is the central figure in the Carnivals (Crop Over Festival) held in August to celebrate the end of the sugar cane harvest. In addition, with her foundation, she helps the most neglected sectors of her country.
With only 15 years of international career, she is a symbol for the young people of Barbados.
As happened with Maradona and Messi for Argentina, Rihanna’s international fame made her beloved island known throughout the world.
Hi, my name is Erica Jacquline and I've been involved blogging for a number of sites in recent years. This blog however, is mine. Initially I started this site as a hobby, but it has since started to make me some money and I am now pursuing this by creating content that is educational in all aspects of life. Enjoy!
