...In Plenty And In Time Of Need...

The tropical, pear-shaped island of Barbados is approximately 167 square miles, has a flawless climate and about 100 white and pink sandy beaches!

It is believed that Barbados ("The Bearded Ones" or Isla de los Barbados) was named by the Portuguese or the Spanish, depending on whom you ask, sometime before 1605. Other occupants included the Caribs, Arawaks and the British. The British arrived in the mid 1600s and ruled until Barbados became an independent nation November 30, 1966.

"The Bearded Ones" could have been a reference to long hanging roots of the indigenous bearded fig-tree, however no-one knows for certain.

There are eleven administrative Parishes in Barbados. Bridgetown, in the Parish of St. Michael, is the capital and largest city.

Barbados, nicknamed "Little England" has retained many British traditions, including the sport (or game) of cricket, playing of tennis on grass, judges wearing wigs, horse guards and bands.

Black slaves were brought to Barbados during the rule of the British and slavery continued until 1840. Scots and Irish were also brought to the island where they worked as servants.

Undeveloped areas of the island are made up of swamps, rainforests and marshes.

Barbados, a part of the Lesser Antilles, is approximately 270 miles north east of Venezuela in South America. It 'sits alone' just east of the Windward Island of St. Vincent in the Atlantic Ocean. As well as St. Vincent, the closest island neighbours include St. Lucia, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago.

To work on your tan (not a good thing anymore!), head for the West Coast or Caribbean side, to places called Paradise, Folkstone and Holetown. Swimming and surfing is on the South Coast. Surfing is on the East Coast or Atlantic side of the island.

Barbados offers everything you could ever want on your vacation, so start planning your trip. You could soon be lying on a soft, sandy beach.