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- Destinations
- Caribbean
- Barbados
- Bridgetown
Bridgetown
Bridgetown, originally called 'Indian Bridge', is the capital
and commercial centre of Barbados, with about 80,000 inhabitants.
It is a busy port with a natural harbour inlet, known as the
Careenage, and is well utilised by pleasure craft and fishing
boats.
Bridgetown has a long and colourful history as a British
settlement from the 17th century. A bustling city with many
attractions for travellers, its mix of modern and historic
buildings are interspersed with markets, monuments, and a number of
lush gardens.
The main street, Broad Street, is where one finds banks,
department stores and duty-free shops. At the top of Broad Street
is the Parliament Building (the Barbados Parliament is the third
oldest in the Commonwealth, dating from 1639), facing National
Heroes Square. Bridgetown is home to a number of historical
buildings that will interest visitors, including the Garrison
Historic Area, which is a must-visit for military history
buffs.
Another attraction in Bridgetown is a massive Baobab tree (said
to have been brought to the island from Guinea, Africa around
1738). It takes 15 adults with outstretched arms to encircle the
trunk.
Tourists in Bridgetown will find much to see and do: cricket
games at Kensington Oval, which hosted the 2007 Cricket World Cup;
the Barbados Derby at the racetrack in the Garrison area; and many
other events and activities. A range of duty-free shops near the
harbour sell staples like Mount Gay Rum, while more colourful
shopping options include the Cheapside Market and the Swan Street
pedestrian mall. Local restaurants in the Careenage serve up fresh
lobster and fish with Caribbean flair.
Information & Facts
Climate
Bridgetown has mild and dry summers with average temperatures
reaching 86°F (30°C). Winters are mild and wet with average daytime
highs reaching 72°F (22°C). The best time for visitors to travel is
in the hotter and drier months of February to April when the
weather is still warm and humidity is low. The hot conditions are
tempered by the prevailing cool northeast tradewinds and hurricanes
usually miss Barbados, which instead sees tropical rainstorms.
These are usually short and heavy spells that dry up quickly.
Language
English is the official language in Barbados.
Money
The Barbados Dollar (BBD) is fixed to the US Dollar at a rate of
Bd$1.98 to US$1 and does not fluctuate. Its rate is relative to
other currencies fluctuations based on the particular currency's
relation to the US Dollar. US Dollars are also widely accepted on
the island, and well-known international credit cards and
travellers cheques (best carried in US dollars to avoid additional
charges) are accepted in most stores and restaurants. Banks and
ATMs are freely available and cash withdrawals can be made.
Time
Local time in Barbados is GMT -5.