Interesting Facts About Barbados

• The national currency in Barbados is the Barbados Dollar; however, the US dollar is also widely accepted.
• Neptune’s trident, the Pride of Barbados, and the pelican are all national symbols of Barbados.
• Barbados got its name from Portuguese sailors who used to call it “Los Barbados.” This translates as “Bearded Ones” and is believed to have derived from the many fig trees that grow on the island, whose hanging roots look like beards!
• Barbados is part of the Lesser Antilles and is the easternmost of all Caribbean islands (and one of the nations closest to the equator).
• Barbados has managed to maintain most of its lush rainforest in its interior after a portion of it was cut down to create sugar plantations and tobacco fields when it became a British colony.
• The Bajans, or the Barbadians, are what the locals in Barbados call themselves.
• Although English is the official language of Barbados, Bajan (an English Creole language) is the preferred language to communicate in Barbados (among the local population).
• The national sport of Barbados is cricket, with many Barbadians playing in the West Indies cricket team. Kensington Oval is the famous Barbados cricket ground that hosts several competitions and world cups.
• The Crop Over Festival is the most celebrated cultural event of the year, with calypso music and a carnival.
• Many turtles live in Barbados, including leatherback and hawksbill turtles. As for the island’s wildlife, you will find animals such as green monkeys, lizards, and bats, along with 270 bird species, one of which is also endemic!

Weather

Barbados has a tropical climate, distinguished by two distinct seasons, a dry period that starts in January and lasts through June and a wet season between July and October when it is also the hurricane season. Overall, visitors are welcomed with warm weather year-round and average daytime high temperatures reaching 30oC (86oF). As for the water temperatures, these are also high enough year-round, at around 25oC (77oF) on average. Swimming is a pleasant activity throughout the year in Barbados, which also enjoys more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually!

History of Barbados

The Amerindians were the first indigenous inhabitants of Barbados who lived on the island way before the first European settlers (Spanish) landed in 1511. The Amerindians originated from Venezuela, but their land was claimed for the Spanish crown when Spanish explorers found Barbados.

A century later, the Portuguese also reached the island, which was eventually colonised by the British in 1627. That is the beginning of a new era for Barbados, with Holetown being the first British settlement (to the island's west). With the arrival of the British settlers, a part of the dense Barbados rainforest was cut down and replaced with cotton and tobacco fields. Slavery and sugarcane were also introduced during this time.

Eventually, Barbados became independent in 1966 and is no longer a British colony. Slavery has also been abolished since 1834, and Barbados is now part of the Commonwealth States.

Did You Know That….

• Despite its massive popularity as a Caribbean destination, receiving around a million tourists annually, Barbados is one of the 20 smallest countries in the world, size-wise, measuring 23 kilometres (14 miles) in width and 34 kilometres (21 miles) in length.
• At the same time, Barbados is the 4th most populated of all countries in the Americas. It is also the most densely populated Caribbean country!
• Barbados has several impressive underground lakes but none on its surface!
• The highest point in Barbados (and an exquisite lookout point) is Mount Hillaby, at 336 metres (1,100 feet) above sea level.
• The world’s third-oldest parliament is right here, in Barbados, and was established in 1639!
• Before it became a popular tourist destination and an elite getaway place for the A-lists, Barbados was filled with wild pigs and trees!

Barbados Top Attractions

The powdery beaches of Barbados, along with its heart-stopping reefs, draw thousands of visitors annually, making it one of the most visited Caribbean destinations. Some of the most famous landmarks in Barbados are scenic Crane Beach, Bridgetown, the capital of the nation and a major port town that is also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with beautiful British architecture, a historic centre, colourful houses, a military garrison, and the infamous Chamberlain Bridge speaking of the island’s rich history.

Another must-visit place is St. Nicholas Abbey, a historic site that describes when the island was home to over 500 sugar plantations. The site also includes a sugar museum and one of the oldest colonial plantations in Barbados, Sunbury Plantation House.

Of course, equally worthy of your time and energy are Morgan Lewis Hill, a former sugar mill now opening occasionally exclusively for sugar cane grind demonstrations, and Harrison’s Cave, which is enchanting visitors with its pristine waters and the elaborate nearly 3-kilometre (around 1.6 miles) cave system.

Barbados Cuisine & Gastronomy

Barbados' cuisine is a wonderful mix of English, French, Portuguese, and African food traditions. Although influenced by many cuisines, the local gastronomy produces an inviting and delicious collection of dishes adapted to the local lifestyle, with the use of different local herbs, marinated fish or meats, starchy side dishes, such as sweet potatoes, salads, fruits, and the infamous spice mix batter or gravy. As for the national dish of Barbados, that would be flying fish and Cou-Cou (cornmeal stew starring okra).

Other typical Barbados foods are flying fish sandwiches, where flying fish is dipped in a spicy batter after it has been seasoned and is then deep fried or grilled. The most popular accompaniments for this dish is macaroni pie (baked macaroni and cheese, spiced with curry powder) or French fries and either coleslaw or some salad. Of course, pudding and souse (spicy pickled pork with potatoes) and conkies (corn cookies wrapped in banana leaves) are also tasty options you should treat your palate with while in Barbados!