"blue" wrote in message
news:1137583835.555920.63460@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> No, thank you - thank you
>
> In fact, I'd just as soon hear abotu the things you like.
OK, you make me start on something that I dont know where will end and how
long it will be. I will just let my fingers work as my mind goes from place
to place. Lets start in Bridgetown. A town with two main streets, Broad
Street and Swan Street. Most tourist places are in Broad street, but you can
some times find better offers in swan street, most shops there are owned by
indians...
Bridgetown is not much to talk about when it come to nightlife. You have
Boatyard just a 3 minute walk from the Bridge that is a very good place,
especially on friday nights. And for the very speical ones, you have a
street named Baxters Road. I would not really recommend it to people, but it
is the kind of place I like to go myself. But I am a different person than
most others, and I dont think lots of regular tourists would think it is so
cool as I do.
So dont take a taxi from west coast to go to Baxters Road. But if you rent a
car, you can pass there on your way home from Oistins or somewhere else. It
is not a big street, but there are women selling fish fried over open fire,
small rum shops and places like that. My kind of places....
You also have another lively and even more special street in Bridgetown at
night. Nelson Street. Well... what can I say. You find a lot of small bars,
but if you go there, make sure you dont bring any children, or neither your
wife. It is not a street to recommend. But if you are looking for something
really really different... you can take a walk up the street in day time,
and get a small idea of what it is like. It is very very different. And not
so clean.
Eating in Bridgetown: most tourists find their way to Waterfront cafe. It is
a nice place. But actually, if you want the best of local food, just take a
trip upstairs in the mall called Cave Sheperd. Not that fancy place to sit,
but I mean: The food is exellent and cheap. no wonder why there are long
lines there when the locals have lunch. Cave Sheperd is the largest mall in
Bridgetonw and is easy to find. Note that outside that mall is the most
popular place to stand and watch people go by. Sometimes I feel there is as
many people standing outside to see who is going in, as it actually is
inside the mall...
Not far outside Bridgetown you will find Carlisle Bay, the bay between
Bridgetown and Hilton. There are lots of govermental buildings, and if you
see a statue with a man, you will see the stone that the fundament is made
from shine in a very special way. It is a unique stone, only found one place
in the world. And that place is about 15 minutes drive from where I live
here in Norway. That stone is to find also other places in Barbados, among
those, on one of the bridges in town. You will se "the pledge" written in
the same stone type. Larvikitt as we call it. From Larvik Norway.
Carlisle bay is a good place to go swimming, and you will find some wrecks
located in the bay on shallow water. You will also find Barbados smallest
bar (must be) across the road. It has seat for two persons and standing
place for one more.
you will also find a building in that neighbourhood called George Washington
Building. George Washington was only overseas once, and that was when he
were ill, and someone recommended him to to to Barbados, because the climate
there had a healing effect. Washington went, and got better....
Walk a little further away from Bridgetown, and you have the horse race
track on your right. Take in that road, and you have Barbados Museum on the
back of it. I like the museum, but must admit that it is a long time since
last time I was there.
One funny thing about Barbados, and the local neighbourhoods, is that some
people sell things from their home. May be you dont see it so clear from
outside, but it is fine to go to those "shops" and buy stuff. One of those
shops I have found, is near the race track. Next to the stables, there is a
rum shop painted in Heineken colors. Just opposite the heineken bar, there
is a small house. If you knock on their window, you can buy fresh baked
round breads!
No signs that they sell things, but they do.
I have found another shop like that not so far away. In St Mathias Gap.
Follow the main road and pass hastings Police station. There will be a
church on your left side after some few hundred meters. I was once walking
in that street, seing a sign on a house saying "obey your thirst - sprite".
I knocked the window and asked if I could have a beer. Out of the window
came a cold banks beer, and the price was low. hehehe. Funny things, right?
Walking in neighbourhoods is one of my favorite things to do. You see people
you dont meet on the beach. They are very eager to talk, and always
welcoming you. You walk and hear things, see things, and experience bajans
life in a different way. I recommend to do that. Walk a place where people
live close to each other. It is so cool!
I have cycled around most of Barbados, and where I have not been with my
bicycle, I have walked by foot. I know every corner of the island. And I
have been met with open arms all places I have been. The real bajans are
very nice and friendly.
Oistins on a friday night is a must. Lots of good food, drinks, partying
and fun. Lots of loud music also. You can go to Oistins also other nights,
it will be more quiet there then.
>
> I am glad to hear more (if you don't mind) because, like you, we lenjoy
> things that are NOT always the tourist stuff. For example, one of my
> biggest regrets my last trip was NOT seeing the caves. I think they
> day we were going to go it was raining.
>
The caves is a must in my opinion. If your tour guides name is Hyacint,
please tell her hello from Life, her white boyfriend from Norway. hehehe.
> I recall seeing a beautifully landscaped seminary of sorts (theological
> school?)
That is Cordrington College, yes.
- I loved driving up the coast of Bathsheba and exploring some
> of the older churches etc.
Yes, churches is a nice place to visit. You probably passed St.Johns church.
The one with the beautiful scenery. I walked to that one from Farley Hill
once. Farley Hill is also a very nice place. Just across the street of
Barbados Wildlife Reserve. Farley Hill was an old plantation house. The man
that built it brought a lot of floweres and trees to the island and planted
them there. The place is today a reserve, opened by the queen of england.
The plantation house itself has burned down, and only the ruins are left.
But it is a nice place to stop and admire the view. You will notice that the
heat are not that bad in the height. you will be about 275 meters over sea
level if I remember right. Stunning views over the east coast and the
scottish landscape as they call it.
My favorite viewpoint is Cherry Tree hill. not that far drive from Farley
Hill. Go a little towards the west coast, and take the road in to right
after a couple minutes drive. There is a sign there saying cherry tree hill.
I am just as amazed every time I come out of that forest and seing the view
from the top there. Spectacular!
You had stayed at Sam Lords, right? Then you probably know the history of
that place, and also the beaches in the area. Plenty nice beaches like
Bottom Bay, Crane Beach and so on. Beautiful places...
Oh well.... I could talk and talk and talk... But one time I have to end it.
And since its after midnight, I guess its time to end it now.
Wish you a good trip. And I hope you will enjoy it a lot.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Leif Arild
Norway
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