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can spend an afternoon watching( and, if you like, betting on) the races at the Garrison Savannah track, where the horses have been running since 1845.
Another worthwhile outing is to St. Nicholas Abbey in St. Peter, a stately mansion built in 1658 with guided tours that include a fascinating home movie of life here in the 1930s. Barbados is also famous for being the birthplace of rum: learning how the spirit is made, and its many nuances, is an absolute must. For a simple introduction, visitors can take a tour of the Mount Gay Visitor Centre in Bridgetown, which is popular with cruise ship passengers. If you prefer something a bit more exclusive, book a trip to the company’ s aromatic distillery in rural St. Lucy, where they’ ve been crafting fine rums for more than 300 years.
GORGEOUS GARDENS
Want some‘ wish you were here’ photos for Instagram? There are many talented horticulturalists on Barbados whose skills are reflected in an impressive range of mature gardens that are ideal for a loved-up wander. Established in 1954, Andromeda Botanic Gardens, near Bathsheba, includes a heliconia walk and palm garden that’ s not to be missed. It comes with an app so visitors can learn more about curiosities like the mamey apple tree, the fruits of which are adored by the island’ s monkeys. Another worthwhile visit is to Hunte’ s Gardens at Castle Grant. This is an enchanting sanctuary where the emphasis is on soothing the soul in small, secret spaces where visitors can immerse themselves in nature. Refreshments here include tea, coffee, cake and of course, rum punch. For those seeking long-lasting memories, there’ s the opportunity to arrange a professional photo shoot at both venues.
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LET’ S DANCE
If there’ s one thing Bajans know how to do well, it’ s having fun and partying into the early hours. A firm favorite with both locals and visitors is a Friday night at Fish Fry in the southern seaside town of Oistins. It’ s a Barbados institution where crowds of revelers gather to enjoy goodvalue fish dishes served from wooden stalls accompanied by plenty of opportunities to drink and dance.
Also open on Fridays, Harbour Lights is a large open-air nightclub in Carlisle Bay that plays regional and international hits with house drinks included. If you want to hop around venues, Saint Lawrence Gap is a dense cluster of tourist-filled bars, restaurants and karaoke spots close to the resorts on the south coast. For visitors staying on the west coast, Haymans Market is a former sugar factory turned retail and entertainment venue that has live music, DJs and salsa classes.
ISLAND FLAVORS
Barbados has plenty of fresh and intriguing tastes to savor. Tropical fruits, available in markets and from roadside vendors, are a delight— look out for ackee, soursop, sugar apples and Bajan cherries. The national dish is cou-cou( cornmeal) with flying fish, but islanders also love rice and peas, spice-rubbed roast pork and breadfruit. Some local drinks to sample include mauby, a traditional Christmas drink made from tree bark, homemade ginger beer and sorrel. When it comes to cocktails, fruit juice-based rum punch is a welcome drink that’ s offered almost everywhere you go, but if that’ s too sweet, ask for the‘ old fashioned’ version, made with lime juice, bitters and grated nutmeg. Good souvenir rums include Mount Gay Eclipse, a mixer that’ s ideal for parties, which you can also pick up from the airport before heading home.
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PEACE OF MIND THIS IS AN ENCHANTING SANCTUARY WHERE THE EMPHASIS IS ON SOOTHING THE SOUL IN SMALL, SECRET SPACES WHERE VISITORS CAN IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN NATURE
Clockwise from right: Green
monkey at the Barbados Wildlife
Reserve; St. Nicholas Abbey,
a museum and rum distillery;
orchid plant at Andromeda
Botanic Gardens
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images: alamy |
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