With its golden beaches, tropical sunshine and warm Bajan welcome Barbados is hard to beat.
The island has strong English ties and this is reflected in many of the historical place names such as Hastings, Worthing and Christchurch.
The capital, Bridgetown, even has its own statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square and the country is run on an English parliamentary sytem.
Don't expect to find deserted beaches here, but do expect a wide array of activities and entertainment.

Choose from water-sports to riding and golf, from horse-racing and cricket to beautiful botanical gardens and, during the evenings, a good selection of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
And yes, it is still possible to simply lie back, relax, and soak up the sunshine.

Barbados has three quite distinctive coastlines: the fashionable West Coast has the best beaches, with long sandy stretches bordered by many luxury hotels, and the gentle Caribbean sea, protected by coral reefs, is ideal for water-sports.
Evenings here tend to be quiet and sophisticated.
The South coast has many good sandy beaches too, but sometimes the water can be rough. There's lots going on here, and you are never too far away from the next bar or restaurant. The East coast is scenic and un-spoilt. Atlantic waves crash onto the rocky shore; an impressive sight. This is a great place for a day out, however, swimming is dangerous here, so look out for the Red Flags.


All beaches are formed when coral is repeatedly ground down by wave action in to smaller pieces, from the peaceful tranquillity of Dover beach to the majestic splendour of the Lucy Caves facing the Atlantic.

The road system is very good and car or mini-moke hire is easily arranged. This is Carol and I driving around the Cherry Tree Hill area.
A local license is required which will be organised by the car hire company for a small charge, and if arriving from the UK you will need to bring a full British driving license.
There is an efficient bus service, especially to and from Bridgetown, and locals will direct you to the nearest bus stop.
Taxis are easily available, but fix the price before you get in.
You can find a guide to taxi prices on the transport page.

National Flower of Barbados is the Pride of Barbados (Dwarf Poinciana or Flower Fence). References to this flower were recorded as early as 1657. It is a shrub and is often pruned into a low hedge. If untrimmed it grows to a height of 10 to 15 feet. A member of the Legume family, it blooms all year round, the more common varieties are a fiery red and yellow "sunset colour" although other variations can be found. The flower has five petals with a yellow margin in a pyramidal inflorescence. Each flower is about 1½ inches across with five sepals. The ten stamens are long and the pistils project from the centre of the flower. The fifth petal is far smaller than the other four. The stamens have coloured filaments with anthers at the tips however, the eleventh filament bears a stigma and is the style. The National Flower is accepted as the red variety with the Yellow Margin on the petals. It appears on the Barbados Coat of Arms. Other varieties are yellow or orange/pink.

The National Anthem of Barbados

In plenty and in time of need
When this fair land was young
Our brave forefathers sowed the seed
From which our pride is sprung,
A pride that makes no wanton boast
Of what it has withstood
That binds our hearts from coast to coast -
The pride of nationhood.

The Lord has been the people's guide
For past three hundred years.
With him still on the people's side
We have no doubts or fears.
Upward and onward we shall go,
Inspired, exulting, free,
And greater will our nation grow
In strength and unity.

Lyrics By: Irving Burgie

Chorus:
We loyal sons and daughters all
Do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own.
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great,
Strict guardians of our heritage,
Firm craftsmen of our fate.

Barbados Coat of Arms
The Grant of Arms conveyed by royal warrant was presented to the President of the Senate by Her Majesty the Queen in 1966 - the year Barbados gained independence from Britain. The Golden Shield carries two "Pride of Barbados" flowers (the National Flower) and the Bearded Fig Tree (after which Barbados is named). The shield is supported by a dolphin (symbolic of the fishing industry) and by a pelican (after a small island called Pelican Island which existed off Barbados). Above the shield is a helmet and mantling and above is a hand of a Barbadian holding two crossed pieces of sugarcane (symbolic of the Barbados sugar industry). The cross formed by the cane is a reference to the cross on which St. Andrew was crucified - Barbados' Independence Day is celebrated on November 30th Saint Andrews Day

Weather Averages for Barbados	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daily Sunshine (Hrs)	9	9	9	9	9	8	8	9	8	8	8	8
Temperature (F)	83	83	85	86	87	87	86	87	87	86	85	83
Rainfall (inches)	3	1	1	1	2	4	6	6	7	7	8	4