Recently the trend has been to develop areas for Condo/ townhouse complexes, most of which are located within short distances of the beaches and amenities.
The “Los” was subsequently dropped and the island became known only as Barbados. The capital city is Bridgetown, located on the south-western coast in the parish of St. Michael where the third-oldest Parliament in the world dating from 1639 can be found.
It is a beautiful coral & limestone island located 13 degrees north by 59 degrees west and the most easterly of the Caribbean islands. Relatively flat, its highest point is Mount Hillaby in the Scotland District in the parish of St. Andrew, at 336 metres (1,115 sq ft) above sea level.
The best beaches are found on the western and south western coasts with relative calm seas most of the year. The Northern and the South-eastern coasts are mostly cliffs and rough seas. Nice beaches are on the East Coast, but the seas are notoriously rough and not advisable for bathing. The East Coast is where you would also find the world famous surfing spot – ‘Soup Bowl of Bathsheba’.
Climate
The island is blessed with almost constant North-east trade winds which keep it relatively cool, (by tropical standards), most of the year with temperatures ranging between 21-30 degrees Celsius (70 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit).
There is a wet season from June to December; however it rains periodically throughout the year.
Language & Currency
- English, but a national dialect called Bajan is mostly spoken.
- We have our own currency - $2 Barbados dollars equivalent to $1 U.S. dollar.
- Notes are issued in denominations of $100, $50, $20, $10, $5 & $2.
- Coins are issued in denominations of $1 and 25,10, 5 and 1 cents.
- Traveler’s Cheques and most major credit cards are widely accepted.