Barbados, meaning bearded, was so named because of the hundreds of moss-like plants that hang from its fig trees. British settlers founded the island community in 1628. Over the years they prospered, trading in sugar and using slaves as their workforce.
Now, with slavery thankfully abolished long ago the islanders are keen to welcome visitors and to show them the culture and history of this beautiful island. Information on Barbados holidays is readily available on the internet, in books, and magazines.
The only city on the island is the capital city of Bridgetown, one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean. It was the center of trade in the region and regarded as a jewel in the crown of the British Empire. A statue to Lord Nelson was erected in 1813 in the city center, nearly 30 years before the one that was built in London.There are currently plans to remove the monument, a reminder of the island’s colonial past.
The British military headquarters for the entire region was based on the island at Garrison Savannah where the former parade ground is now a public park and racecourse. Former army barracks have been converted to house the Barbados Museum and the Barbados Gallery of Art.
The national dish of Barbados is cou-cou and flying fish cooked in a sauce of tomato, onion, garlic and herbs. The flying fish are plentiful in the surrounding waters; they do actually jump out of the water as well as glide up to a distance of 50 meters.
Over a million tourists visit Barbados annually, half of them from cruise ships.For more fun facts about holidays in Barbados visit http://www.barbados.org