Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Open Houses
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)

...there’s always something new to see and learn.

The Open Houses hosted by The Barbados National Trust are particularly popular with those who are interested in history or architecture. The Open Houses are steeped in history and they all have a story to tell. I’m a big fan of the Open Houses as there’s always something new to see and learn.

The Open Houses vary from year to year and showcase a variety of landmark Barbadian homes such as Ilaro Court. Ilaro Court was built in the 1920s and boasted Barbados’ first swimming pool; it’s now the official residence of the Prime Minister of Barbados.

One of the properties that I visited in January 2009 was Fisherpond Plantation House which was originally built in a simple Jacobean style. The house was extended at a later date and it is the extension which gives the house its Georgian appearance. In addition to the interesting architecture and the beautifully landscaped gardens, the houses are generally filled with interesting pieces which all have a story to tell. The dining room table at Fisherpond House was loaned to Government House for use during a state dinner in 1987 for HRH Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Barbados to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the island’s Parliament. If only the houses and their contents could talk!

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Oistins Fish Fry
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)

Oistins is a real taste of Bajan culture.

Oistins is a real taste of Bajan culture. There’s a relatively large selection of fish to choose from marlin, flying fish, kingfish, tuna and dolphin (otherwise known as mahi mahi, not flipper!) to name a few, which you can have fried or grilled. The fish is generally accompanied by traditional Bajan side dishes: coleslaw, salad, macaroni pie and rice and peas. For those who don’t like fish, there’s pork and chicken which is either deep fried or grilled.

More than anything, go for the atmosphere, Bajan’s love to party and boy do they know how. The rum flows and the music is pumping. The sound systems blare an eclectic mix of music and you can hear anything from ballroom to seventies disco to reggae and modern hip hop. Be warned, Oistins has been described as a “no frills” experience so if frills are your thing then the fish fry isn’t for you.

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Horse Racing at The Garrison Savannah
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)

...there’s nothing like the anticipation of waiting for the race to start

A day of racing at the Garrison Savannah is a great fun for everyone. The track comes alive, there are people everywhere placing bets, watching the horses egging them on whilst they gallop round the track fighting for first place. The most prestigious day of racing is the Sandy Lane Gold Cup which is held on the first Saturday of March.

I always enjoy a day at the Garrison. There’s nothing I like more than a flutter although I always manage to back losers! I tend to sit in the Grand Stand but have been lucky enough to sit in a Corporate Box a few times which has a fabulous view of paddock bend. The best thing about placing a bet at the track is that the minimum bet you can place is $1 which means that I can limit my losses. Once I’ve put my money down there’s nothing like the anticipation of waiting for the race to start and then cheering your horse on like there’s no tomorrow. Before you know it, it’s all over and most of the time I’m left out of pocket. I managed to lose all of my money when I went to the Sandy Lane Gold Cup but I certainly had a blast in the process!

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Harrison's Cave
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)

I have never tired of the cave’s natural beauty

I’ve been to Harrison’s Cave about 4 times, as a child with my parents, with school and with friends who have come to Barbados on holiday. I have never tired of the cave’s natural beauty and it still amazes me that there are these wondrous caverns beneath the surface of the island!

The educational film that visitors watch before going on the tour of the cave is interesting and gives you a bit of background on how the island was formed – I enjoyed it. The tour commences as you travel down what is known as the Boyce tunnel which is named after the individual on the construction team who first broke through the bedrock into the cave. The Boyce tunnel brings you to the top of the Great Hall where you get your first glimpse of the various formations that make the cave so beautiful. From the Great Hall, you make your way through the cave all the while taking in stalactites; stalagmites; flowstone, which resembles a frozen waterfall and other incredible formations.

I was disappointed that the tram never seemed to stop fully to allow visitors to get really crisp, clear photographs of the cave. I would have preferred if the tram had stopped for longer. I also think it would be nice if you received a brochure with a few facts about the cave included in the entrance fee as a little memento of your visit. That said, if you haven’t been to a cave before then it’s definitely worth going to!

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Golf at Royal Westmoreland
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)

....the 15th hole was the most beautiful.

I was given a tour of the Royal Westmoreland Golf Course on a busy afternoon in late February 2009 – there were golfers on every green from the 2nd to the 16th hole. The golf course is truly spectacular, filled with natural ravines and littered with bunkers. During the tour, I ran into the golf course superintendent who is also an avid golfer. He told me that the 4, par 3 holes on the course are some of the best he’s seen. He also told me that in his opinion, the 15th hole was the most beautiful.

The 11th hole, a par 4 is probably the most challenging, not only do you have to hit the ball up a relatively steep incline but you’ve also got to contend with the brisk wind that comes whistling down the hill! At the 12th hole, I managed to catch a glimpse of US Masters Champion Ian Woosnam who was on magnificent form. When you make it to the 18th hole, look for a plaque with the following quote by the course designer Robert Trent Jones Jr.: “May the wind always be at your back and your shotmaking skills tested when you play this challenging hole”.

I used to play golf but haven’t played in the last few years. I enjoyed my visit to the golf course at Royal Westmoreland so much that I’m seriously thinking about getting back out there!

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Crane Beach
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)

Another one of the island’s fabulous beaches.

Crane beach is just another one of the island’s fabulous beaches. I’d highly recommend a visit. It’s always a bit quieter mid-week as it’s popular with locals and visitors although generally speaking it’s big enough that you never feel crowded even when it’s busy. Like most of the beaches in Barbados, the size of the Crane can vary. Certain weather conditions can cause excess sand to collect at the beach which can lead to it being wider than at other times. I’ve been to the Crane when there has been little or no beach but this doesn’t last for long and it is pretty unusual.

I’ve got so many lovely memories of long, lazy summer days spent at the Crane body surfing and then taking it easy on the beach, enjoying the sunshine and the delicious breeze. My only other piece of advice is to be careful on the public access footsteps. In my experience they can be very slippery when wet!

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Cool Runnings Catamaran Sailing Cruises
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)

Snorkel and go to feed the sea turtles.

I absolutely love going for a day out on Cool Runnings! I’ve been on a few of the catamarans that operate in Barbados and in my opinion, they’re the best! The catamaran is immaculate and spacious with a shaded area for those who don’t want to be in the direct sunlight all day long. Best of all are the friendly staff who are great fun and wonderful hosts.

The cruise takes you along the west coast of Barbados where you can view the island from a totally different perspective. After about half an hour of sailing the catamaran makes its first of three stops where you don a mask and snorkel and go to feed the sea turtles. This is always my favourite stop as the sea turtles are absolutely incredible creatures – despite their cumbersome appearance they are extremely fast swimmers! The next stop takes you to Folkestone Marine Park where you can snorkel with masses of tropical fish and feed them.

Lunch is generally served when the catamaran makes its third and final stop. The traditional bajan buffet is always delicious and the drinks flow freely. One word of advice….the rum punch is a lot stronger than it tastes!!!

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Bathsheba
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)

A visit to Bathsheba refreshes the soul.

A visit to Bathsheba refreshes the soul. The strong north easterly breeze is distinctly salty and gives you an instant feeling of wellbeing and the sound of the waves crashing on the sand provides instant relaxation. It’s a popular holiday spot with Bajans and is always much busier during the summer months.

If you’ve been for a walk and fancy cooling down then it’s worthwhile having a dip in one of the Bathsheba pools. They’re a few feet deep and each wave causes the water to swirl around like a natural whirlpool. However, beware of crabs – the last time I went for a dip I accidentally stepped on one and it pinched my toe! I nearly leapt out of my skin! I’d give swimming a miss as the sea is incredibly rough and at certain times of the year the sea is filled with man-of-war jellyfish.

If you’ve got time for a beer and a bite to eat then drop in at Bonito’s, it’s rustic to say the least, but the food is 100% Bajan and absolutely delicious.

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

The Ship Inn
(Barbados - Nightlife)

The nightclub is popular with locals and tourists.

The Ship Inn has been around for years because their winning formula is simple, reasonably priced food, good service, lots of cheap booze, lots of music and lots of dancing; always a winning combination! The nightclub, which is popular with locals and tourists, starts to get busy between 11pm and midnight. The age bracket of the crowd varies but tends to be popular with young twenty somethings. The Ship Inn is a spacious open air venue. It can get busy but generally speaking the bar staff are pretty quick and give good service. Thursday nights are one of the more popular nights so if you’re in the Gap then drop in for a dance under the stars!

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

The Beach House
(Barbados - Restaurants)

Get a seaside table so you can enjoy an unimpeded view...

I went to The Beach House for dinner in late 2008 and would highly recommend a visit. By night, you dine by candlelight and can enjoy the relaxing sound of gentle waves breaking on the sand which is my idea of heaven! If you can, get a seaside table so you can enjoy an unimpeded view of the Caribbean Sea. It’s not cheap but the prices aren’t ridiculous and the atmosphere is simply wonderful. All of the staff were friendly and welcoming and took great care of us which made the evening all the more special.

If you’re not able to go for dinner, I’d highly recommend dropping into The Beach House to have a sundowner………there’s nothing quite like watching a sunset whilst enjoying a delicious cocktail!

Karly Proverbs

Trendy Traveller,

Rank: 110

Bridgetown, Barbados.

Age: 36-50

Mojo
(Barbados - Nightlife)

Mojo is a cross between a gritty bar and a friendly pub.

If you want a sleek, trendy bar then this is not the place for you. The exterior of the building looks more like a run down old house which belies its interior. Mojo is a cross between a gritty bar and a friendly pub. The music varies between the most relaxed reggae, old school rock and more modern classics. What makes Mojo fun is the bar staff, they’re always friendly and they positively encourage having one for the road. The bar is good value for money and the food isn’t too bad either. It’s always good on Monday night which is acoustic night when the vibe is totally chilled. All in all, a great budget bar with a nice crowd.