Barbados
I think you hit the nail spot on about the mix of developed and undeveloped in Barbados. It’s actually one of the things I like the most about it here. And yes, unlike most places the ‘nice’ areas and ‘less nice’ areas here are really quite interspersed. I can’t think of any ‘nice’ area where you can’t walk 5 minutes and end up in ‘village’. Which is good I think.
I’m going to totally play into the stereotype of Bajaness and say, I haven’t been to the Beach in ages. At least 3 months - not as bad as a year! But I can swim. It’s true that most Bajans can’t swim, alot are even afraid of the idea of swimming. I wonder what the History behind that is. There’s the Caribbean folklore that if you go swimming on Good Friday that you’ll turn into a Fish.. or drown. But I doubt that excuses the other 364 days.
Q:Hey I just thought I'd send another reply here since I blogged the first one - can you recommend some places to visit? Someone recommended North Point so I'm going to head up there this weekend.
Yeah I just saw your post.
North Point is rugged and beautiful. Enjoy!
by Seth Teeters
As far as what else to do it really depends what sort of thing your looking for.
We love the east coast generally.
A walk down Cattlewash/Bathsheba beach is the definition of natural relaxation to me. It’s not the tourist version of Barbados, it’s all rock pools and surf spots, but it’s got a certain appeal. One of the rock pools is called the ‘Barbados Pool’ because it’s shaped somewhat like Barbados…I guess. Rumour has it back in the 70s or so people took some dynamite to the reef and blew it out so they’d have a bigger pool to swim in..so I’ve been told anyway.
by Seth Teeters
This rock is well known by the creative name, “round rock”. At some point long before I was around some skilled person put a bench on top the rock (at one point someone also put a Bus Stop sign). So it’s a common thing to climb to the top and take in the view. I’m terrified of heights but some friends convinced me to do it a couple years ago and it was totally worth it. It’s really not a big deal…I’m just a wuss.. kid’s do it.
If your into nature Grenade Hall/Forest trail is nice, with a high probability of coming face to face with some monkeys. My husband took this pic when we went a couple summer’s ago with a friend 
We had to wait for him to decide to get off the path.
I think they have a $15Bds entry fee or something though, which includes the trail and going up into the signal Station. In the 1800s after a slave revolt they set up 5 Signal stations across the island so they could let the military know quickly as soon there were any more attempts.
Not sure what else to suggest sight-seeing wise. Things like Harrison’s Cave are pricey and exist elsewhere, even though it’s enjoyable.
If you’re into history visiting some of the old plantation houses is feasible as well, although again, an entrance fee is involved. There’s also the museum.
St. Nicholas Abbey built in 1648
And yeah - I’m out of ideas. As a Barbadian I constantly feel like everything there is to do here costs money. Which I suppose is true of most places, but for paradise it sometimes gets a little boring unless you find events to go to or know people that make simple things exciting.
Let me know if you end up going to North point and how you enjoy it (or not, depending).
You can also check out this site, Uncommon Caribbean, under Barbados where they explore the island in a less ‘hotels and tourists’ kind of way.
