Karl WP Beyer Barbados article overview
Who doesn't know the catchy song title, “Woah, I'm going to Barbados”? The name Barbados may evoke feelings of longing in the ears of many people. The song talks about Coconut Airways Flight #372 to Bridgetown, Barbados. We don't use Coconut Airways. But not in Barbados. Instead of the Coconut Airways plane, we first take a cruise ship and a few years later British Airways. But before we discover Bridgetown, we would like to introduce the island at this point.
Barbados - Cruise ships in Bridgetown's harbor
Barbados – Interesting facts
Barbados is an independent republic belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations and the easternmost island of the Lesser Antilles. Barbados is 432 square kilometers in size and lies on the border between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Unlike many of its neighboring islands, the island is not of volcanic origin: rather, a huge, solid limestone plateau forms the base of Barbados. The island is also significantly flatter than its volcanic sisters. The highest peak, Mount Hillaby, is just 340 meters high. On the west-facing side, Barbados borders the Caribbean Sea. The east side borders the Atlantic Ocean.
Traveling in the highlands of Barbados
The total number of residents in 2021 was estimated at around 282.000. The island is divided into eleven districts, so-called parishes. The island's capital, Bridgetown, is located in St. Michael Parish. Wikipedia refers to Bridgetown as having a population of 110.000.
Barbados - Swan Street in Bridgetown
The official language of the Barbadians is English. Unlike in our northern latitudes, the island only knows two seasons: the rainy season, which runs from June to November, and the dry season (December to May). The currency is the Barbados Dollar (BDS).
The blue of Barbados' flag represents the color of the ocean and sky. The golden yellow represents the sandy beaches and the trident symbolizes the end as a British colony.
Barbados' flag
Barbados – a little history
The world owes the discovery of Barbados in 1536 to Portuguese sailors. They named the island after “bearded” fig trees, the “Os Barbuados”. “Bearded” meant the aerial roots of the trees. Like most other Caribbean islands, Barbados initially experienced an eventful history before England made Barbados a colony in 1627. The focus of agricultural activities at that time was the cultivation of cotton and tobacco. Sugar cane was added later. The first parliament was established on Barbados in 1639, the third parliament in the Commonwealth of Nations. Barbados gained its independence from the mother country in 1966. The head of state was Queen Elizabeth II of England until November 2021. Since then, a prime minister has been running the government independently. The office of Prime Minister is currently held by Mia Amor Mottley.
Barbados' Parliament
Barbados' economy
In the course of colonization, extensive sugar cane plantations and arable land have almost completely replaced the former tropical rainforest. Barbados made a name for itself in its early years, primarily as a sugar and rum producer. Sugar and rum have lost their importance in the present. The most important economic sectors are currently tourism and crafts. There are also petroleum deposits off the coast from which small quantities of oil are produced.
Barbados – for cruise ship guests
Cruise ships dock at the Bridgetown cruise port. From the cruise terminal, the city center, two kilometers away, can be easily reached on foot via a waterfront promenade. The port serves as a calling point for several cruise ships at the same time. In Bridgetown the cruiser can see for himself whether the island is really as “very British” as it is said to be. And besides, you can start from the port Barbados attractions Reach easily by buses and taxis.
Update April 2024