Inside Barbados Issue 6 /November 2019
r the e v o Unc own Unkn story ing trigu adosn i n A Barb e h t f o lina Caro ion ect Conn
Historic Bridgetown
Adventures on an Electric Bike!
Lick de Bowl Food Tours
Bright & Beautiful
A Tropical Wonderland
hile you may be walking in a win tery wonderland during the final months of the ye ar, in Barbados it’s still bright, su nny and full of w o nd erfully diverse experiences for the sagacious tr av el er . Can you imagin being able to w e ear your favour ite sun dress an with flip flops w d st ra w hat hile you hop into a taxi and go C shopping? That hr is tm as ’s the easy norm here in the winte and we would lo r months ve to share it w ith you! Sign up for a w alking tour thro ugh the capital designated as a city UNESCO World H eritage site and a vast array of discover time-worn mus eums, modern complexes, auth sh opping entic Barbadian eateries and ico shops. nic rum You will also ap preciate the bloo ming beauty of on a tropical isla nature nd in one of our m an y idyllic garden where a rainbow s of colourful flo ra awaits. Want to move a little faster? Ho p onto an e-bike tour the terrain and further inland an d along the coas will probably se ts. You e a few old plan tation great ho along the way. uses One of these gr eat houses is w here the planning of the settlement of th e C arolinas in the USA took place. Find out more of this intr iguing story as we cruise Insi de Barbados!
The Barbados Carolina connection Special thanks to South Carolina Educational Television and the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor for providing some of the images and link to the ‘Beyond Barbados’ video.
Sir John Colleton
Sir John Colleton, one of eight Lords Proprietors of the Carolinas and owner of large plantations in Barbados, was gifted an extensive land grant by King Charles II to develop on unsettled land in the Carolinas. As Barbados’ population and economy became more developed, space for further growth was limited. The vast unsettled lands of North America beckoned and thus the decision was made. Sir John was one of the principal os ad rb t House, Ba Colleton Grea leaders of the move to settle in Carolina, along with other English settlers on the island. This resulted in what is known today as South Carolina becoming a colony of Barbados, while Barbados was still very much a colony itself! Colleton County of South Carolina bears his name. Visit scetv.org for details.
T he Pirate Stede Bonnet
A Barbadian-born aristocrat who grew bored of his home life and thus, bought a ship and left his family to become a pirate on the seas along the coasts of the Carolinas. He became known as the Gentleman Pirate who may have invented “walking the plank” as he might not have liked violently using his sword against people. Bonnet partnered with the notorious Blackbeard for a little while before being betrayed by Blackbeard and left with a debilitated ship. He was caught and hanged in Charleston a mere eighteen months after his pirating debut. Right: Plaque in Charlestown near where Stede Bonnet was hung in 1718.
Above: Portrait of Stede Bonnet by Thomas Kelly Pauley.
Scandal at the Abbey
n Sir Joh
ans y Yeam and Lad
One of the first planters to settle in Carolina from Barbados was a plantation owner named Sir John Yeamans. It is alleged that he seduced the wife of Nicholas Berringer, owner of the St. Nicholas Abbey plantation, and poisoned Berringer during a dinner party. He then took the widow as his bride and inherited ownership of the plantation. The St. Nicholas Abbey is one of the three remaining genuine Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere. Yeamans relocated to the Carolinas with his wife, bringing servants and slaves with him, and built a house called Yeamans Hall. He later became one of the first governors of the colony.
St. Nicholas Abbey, Barbados
From Here to T here
The new settlers of Carolina not only took their trade with them when they left Barbados, they also took a few more concepts: • The Anglican or Episcopalian religion • The system of parishes and eight of the parish names • The Jewish community’s provision of financial aid in setting up the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue in Charleston • Language - some of Barbados’ Bajan terms and South Carolina’s Gullah words are similar in pronunciation and meaning. • Architecture - the single house model, as seen in Speightstown’s Arlington House and many homes in Charleston. • The repressive slave laws that were put into place in Barbados and were then adopted by South Carolina and from there to other areas of North America. Watch a video on the Barbados Carolina connection at https://www.scetv.org/beyond-barbados
Arlington House, Speightstown
Adventures on an Electric Bike! EBike Island Adventures Cruise off the beaten track on an electric pedal assisted mountain bike! With four levels of hybrid-electric assist to suit a variety of fitness levels, cycling just got easier! Enjoy your thrilling island adventure around Barbados as you discover off road tracks that lead to hidden coves, secluded beaches, breathtaking views and fantastic picture opportunities. Visit www.barbadosebiketours.com for more information.
Lick de Bowl Food Tours You will want to lick the bowl after your culinary adventure on one of these food tours. Started by sisters Kareen and Camille, Lick de Bowl Food Tours provides authentic Barbadian food experiences designed for intimate groups. The three main tours to choose from are listed below. For more information visit www.lickdebowlfoodtours.com
BRIDGETOWN FOOD AND HERITAGE TOUR Walking food and history tour of the island’s capital city and designated UNESCO heritage site.
A BITE OF TWO TOWNS
COOK LIKE A BAJAN
Private group food and history tour of the island two oldest port cities, Bridgetown and Speightstown.
Private group instructional class on how to prepare popular Barbadian meals.
Gardens of B
These tropical beauties are wai Hunte’s Gardens Located in St. Joseph in the centre of Barbados’ rain forest in a sink-hole gully, Hunte’s Gardens is a series of magical minigardens. Rare, exotic plants offer the visitor an uplifting, fulfilling experience. Hunte’s Gardens has earned its name as “The Most Enchanting Place on Earth.” For details visit them at huntesgardensbarbados.com
Andromeda Botanic Gardens Follow the peaceful pathways between towering trees and colourful flowers and bask in the glory of Andromeda Botanic Gardens. Relax by the pond and enjoy the surrounding beauty. For more information visit them at andromedabarbados.com
Barbados
iting to be explored!
Orchid World & Tropical Garden Be guided along winding pathways that lead to waterfalls, ponds, a coral grotto and various orchid houses. Each turn along the pathway offers a new and beautiful floral delight in a tropical garden setting. For details visit them at orchidworldbarbados.com.
The Flower Forest 7 acres of botanical blooms in the heart of the countryside cover the area with a blanket of colour. Take the trail through the forest and discover flowers that bloom year-round, surrounded by majestic palms and sky-scraping trees. For details visit them at flowerforestbarbados.com
Welchman Hall Gully Welchman Hall Gully is a tropical hideaway in the heart of Barbados, home to wild monkeys, majestic rainforest trees and delicate native plants. The gully, formed from the collapse of a limestone cave, is a unique geological formation. For more information visit welchmanhallgullybarbados.com
Please Stay! When booking your cruise vacation to begin and end in Barbados, staying on is a must before or after your cruise. Daily airlift from major cities and gateways in Canada, the USA, and the UK make this dream vacation a close reality. You will be amazed at the diversity in accommodation on this little island. Luxurious all-inclusive resorts with well-known brand names like Marriott and Sandals are prominent along the coasts, fully catering to your every need. Check out visitbarbados.org Private villas are located to see what else is going on in islandwide but mainly found Barbados. We’re always adding on the west coast between more activities and experiences two historical towns. The architecture of some of these you’ll love! houses reflects the island’s colonial past, while others show off a more contemporary aesthetic. Many of the villas come complete with a butler, cook and even a driver, so you can enjoy the luxury of being pampered at your leisure. For those on a modest budget, the Intimate Hotels of Barbados are a range of smaller hotels that give you that at-home feel but with a variety of services at your fingertips. Many of these hotels are located in St. Lawrence Gap on the South Coast, a few minutes drive from the airport and sea port with easy access to many activities, restaurants and beaches. If you actually want to stay in a home and live like a local almost anywhere on the island, there are a growing number of Airbnb and HomeAway properties available. Contact your travel agent for booking information on our pre and post cruise packages.