As well as the long sandy beaches and the warm waters, there are a variety of interesting sights and places to visit during a holiday to Barbados. Much of the architecture of the island reflects its colonial past and the influence of the sugar industry and associated plantations.
Buildings that typify the plantation influences are the chattel houses which are a unique feature of Barbados. These buildings were developed from the necessity to provide plantation workers with houses that were easily assembled and taken down so they could move from plantation to plantation. The chattel house is, in fact, perhaps the world's first true mobile home.
To find out more about the process of sugar production on the island a visit to the Sir Frank Hutson Sugar Museum and Factory will prove invaluable. Here you are able to explore the history of sugar, the refining process and how it is used to produce sweets, molasses and of course rum. The museum houses a fine collection of original machinery, inside a converted sugar boiling house, and at the end of the tour, you can sample fine sugar delicacies.
During the grinding season (February to May) you can also take a tour of the modern factory and see how sugar is processed today.
With a breathtaking location beside the white sandy beaches of Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown is the capital and the only city of Barbados. Boasting one of the most sophisticated ports in the Caribbean with excellent duty-free shopping, this bustling, modern city is also the main tourist hubs on the island.
Bordered by Carlisle Bay, the capital city proved economically important to the early British settlers. From the seventeenth century onwards, trade in sugar and using slaves as their labour force, the town thrived and the merchants grew their fortunes and built their grand warehouses along the waterfront.
Most of the great buildings of these "golden years," however, were destroyed in a series of destructive fires and hurricanes. Today only a handful survive that predate the last great fire of 1860.
Bridgetown is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean. Its rich history identifies it as the origin of colonial trading activity during the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and how it developed into the modern commercial city it is today.
The controversial statue of Admiral Nelson, erected in 1813, some twenty-seven years before the London monument, reflects the importance of Barbados as the "jewel in the crown" of British colonialism during the Imperial Age.
The statue has recently been the subject of national controversy and debate as it is thought to link Barbados too closely with its colonial heritage. First Nelson was turned around 180 degrees so that he no longer looked down Broad Street, the main shopping hub. Today he is to be removed altogether until a suitable home can be found. There is little irony in the fact that it was erected in the heart of the city's major crossroads, Trafalgar Square. Signalling the increasing awareness of Barbadian national heroes and the cultural identity of the island's people, Trafalgar Square was renamed National Heroes Square in 1999.
Compared to other Caribbean islands, violent political struggles and slave rebellions do not occupy a major part of Barbados history. However, Bridgetown became the focus of the Afro-Barbadian struggle for political and economic freedom in the first half of the twentieth century.
The architecture of Bridgetown today is an interesting blend of attractive, balconied colonial buildings, warehouses, modern department stores, brash office blocks and small chattel houses.
Though tucked away from the ultra-modern, sophisticated, and tourist-oriented commercial activity of the city, New Orleans, (also known as "De Orleans"), Pondside, and Green Fields are the distressed districts where the poor live.
However, starting in the mid-1990s, efforts have been made by the present Owen Arthur administration, to develop Bridgetown's residential districts under its Urban Development Commission. Poverty Alleviation programs has also raised the quality of life for the peoples of Bridgeton.
A picturesque center of activity is the Careenage, a berthing area for many sleek yachts and a pebble's throw from the House of Assembly. Established by Governor Henry Hawley, the House of Assembly has stood as a symbol of the island's unbroken tradition of parliamentary government and democratic traditions since 1639.
North of Bridgetown lies Tyrol Cot which was home to Grantley Adams and his son Tom- two of Barbados' leading politicians in the post-war years. The house is now managed by the Barbados National Trust and is home to a chattel-house museum, arts centre and gardens.
Further southeast is the Garrison Savannah which is where the British Empire had its Caribbean military headquarters from 1780 to 1905. Today the Savannah which used to be the parade ground is home to a racecourse and park.
Surrounding the Savannah are brightly coloured houses which now contain the Barbados Museum and the Barbados Gallery of Art, both of which deserve a visit for those who have an interest in the island's history and culture.
Whilst Barbados can not claim to have invented the Calypso (the music originated in Trinidad) it has become a mainstay in the island's musical heritage. Contrary to what many people believe, true or "purist" calypso is not just about jump-up carnival dancing but has its roots in the historical political struggle of the island. Calypso is the musician's form of political satire. Listening to the words you will hear attacks on virtually any and every thing.
Nothing is sacred in calypso and since Bajans virtually stole the calypso show in 1995, all the region's eyes are on Barbados in the calypso/soca realm. Not only has Barbados come into its own with lively beats, clever lyrics and scathing social commentary, but Barbadian kaiso men have come up with new rhythms to the calypso tempo. Beats such as 'Ring Bang', which came directly from 'Tuk', and 'Ragga soca', an invention of long-standing calypso legend, Red Plastic Bag, helped set Barbados apart from the formula calypso of other islands.
Soca, the more upbeat version to calypso, is truly in Barbados' domain, particularly with the advent of the new rhythms, which other islands now imitate and merge into their own local rhythms.
One reason the island now stands out as a beacon of high standards in this genre is the many bands and lead singers now dominating the local music scene. Many of the bands write their own music and enjoy tremendous popularity both regionally and further afield.
Another popular sound which is common on the island is the Steel Pan. Although this musical genre was invented in Trinidad, the popularity in Barbados of the instrument and quality of the music is ever-improving.
The steel pan drums were originally invented by pan men in Trinidad who 'beat out' the shape of the oil drum head to create slopes and slants on it that made notes. It is a fine art to 'beat' and 'tune' a steel pan and Trinidadians are perhaps the best in the world. However, Barbados now has its own steel bands and some schools have added steel pan bands to their curriculum. Local music also reflects the pan sound more, and it can be heard in all music forms here from the calypso, for which steel pan was originally made, to folk.
The sound of a full steel band is unlike any other musical experience. The bands range in size from 10 to 20 members to upwards of 30 in the larger competitive bands in Trinidad. This is primarily and outdoor instrument and it seems to conjure up the laid back lifestyle of Barbados perfectly.
Barbados is not just jump-up calypso soca and steel pans. There are other popular musical forms and one that is indigenous to Barbados is the sight and sound of the roving 'Tuk' band.
This small assembly of spirited roving minstrels plays a trio of rhythms using a kettle drum, bass drum and penny whistle. Playing quaint yet captivating rhythms that are unique in both format and cadence, the sequence begins with a slow waltz, then develops into a march rhythm and concludes in a frenetic African beat.
'Tuk' represents the queer amalgamation of British military and African village rhythms and instruments. 'Tuk' first began to evolve when the only drums allowed were those of the British military. African descendents used these drums, and with the British military style, fused their own instruments and rhythms to create what we now call 'Tuk'.
Often dressed in hilarious attire and accompanied by local folk characters, 'Tuk' bands are usually seen during festivals, dancing and wending their way through the crowds, especially at Crop Over time. Traditionally, 'Tuk' bands also rove neighbourhoods around Christmas and New Year'Crops Day, delighting holiday-makers with their music and antics.
As with so much of Barbadian culture the music of the island has grown out of its diverse history. Nowadays the music can be heard in homes, bars, hotels and carnivals across the island bringing enjoyment to locals and visitors alike.
African influence is readily seen in the art, craft and literary works produced on the island, as well as many of the foods and figures of speech. Bajans are a quick-witted, fun-loving people and their gift for the double entendre or turn of phrase is most visible through calypso and literature. Local festivals, particularly the island's biggest national festival, Crop Over, reflect specific elements of Bajan life. The primary driving force of the economy and lifestyle was the sugar crop. It was the island's largest income-earner from the late 1600s until the late 1980s, and remains a powerful influence in both the lifestyle and the economy. Crop Over is a celebration of this agricultural mainstay. The other prime economic influence is, of course, the fishing industry and festivals hailing this trade are also held.