Melange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine July 2020 | Page 19

decide to join a tour group or go
solo, spend a day on the beach
or a week or so exploring the
island, it will be time well-spent.
Along the western side of
the island, you’ll find the
Codrington Lagoon, home to
a mangrove system that houses
an impressive variety of sea
life. Out on the lagoon, you will
be able to see frigate birds in
their natural habitat. Barbuda’s
Frigate Bird Sanctuary is
the largest in the Western
Hemisphere.
At the north of the island,
you’ll find Two Foot Bay
National Park which is a
place of historical significance.
Caves housing drawings from
Siboney, Arawaks and Caribs,
the island’s earliest settlers, can
be found here. An unsullied,
white beach awaits at Two
Foot Bay but when swimming,
caution should be exercised
because of the strong currents.
The reef here stoically protects
the pristine beach from the
unrelenting advancements
of the Atlantic Ocean – a truly
captivating sight.
Heading south from Two Foot
Bay is another historical site,
the Martello Tower.
Constructed of
limestone in the
18th century, it
is believed to
have been
part of the island’s 18th century
coastal defense system. In this
area known as River Road are
small, intimate beaches, perfect
for tranquil moments. One of
these beaches was a favourite
of Princess Diana, who loved the
privacy it afforded and would
vacation here with her sons. It
was aptly named in her memory
and still bears the name today,
the Princess Diana Beach.
History does exist on this
island and it resides in the
relics, ruins and stories passed
down through the generations.
Highland Hill’s ruins are
especially significant as it tells
of some of the dark days that
existed on this tiny island. At
this historical site, the once
bustling Codrington home and
compound, now lie in ruins.
Codrington brothers were
involved with the slave trade
and many slaves were sent
to Antigua and other
Caribbean islands from
this compound.
Although the
thoughts of
what once
took
place
here are not pleasant, the
environs belie its dark history. As
one of the highest points on the
island, a panoramic view awaits
those who visit Highland Hill
and from here, a 45-minute hike
will take you to Darby Cave,
a natural sink hole. Climbing
into and out of the hole is an
adventure for many.
One of the delightful things
about visiting Barbuda is its
food. A sustainable lifestyle has
been enjoyed by Barbudans
for generations. Residents have
always planted and harvested
food for their consumption,
and land teems with fruits
and vegetables: mangoes,
pumpkins, squash, beans,
peas, just to name a few. The
woodlands and forests on the
island are also a source of food
used to produce interesting
local delicacies from the deer,
soldier crab, land crabs, land
turtle, guinea fowl and wild
boar hunted.
Like the other Caribbean islands,
seafood is never in short
supply and Barbuda
offers a lovely
selection for
those whose
palates veer
towards the
ocean. Spine
lobster, conch,
grouper,
yellow tail tuna,
mahi mahi,