Ins & Outs of Barbados 2020

Early Attractions of Barbados By Karl Watson We think of tourism as a recent phenomenon, but travellers have been voyaging for millennia, sating their curiosity about aspects of the cultural landscapes and geological formations of the regions they were visiting. Barbados was no exception to this and from the seventeenth century, travellers were visiting sites on the island that are still popular with visitors today. Two of the most visited sites were the Animal Flower Cave in St. Lucy and Coles Cave, St. Thomas, which is connected to the well known Harrison’s Cave of today via an underwater cavern. A third attraction of yesteryear, now defunct today, was the Boiling Spring in Turner’s Hall Woods, St. Andrew. We can get an idea of the difficulties and rewards involved in visiting these sites from the accounts of two visitors, Dr. Robert Poole (1748) and Sir Henry Fitzherbert (1825). Poole spent three months on Barbados, making very detailed observations in his journal on all aspects of Barbados’ social and natural history. Sir Henry was here for six weeks, his first visit to the island where he owned Turner’s Hall Plantation. His journal is equally fascinating, but gives a more detailed account of island society, as he had well placed relatives on the island, his great grandmother Judith Alleyne being a member of the most prominent planter family of Barbados. Explore A Walk on the Wild Side If you ever fancy a hike with a difference, you might like to try walking - and close to the end scrambling/ climbing - to the top of Chalky Mount overlooking the East Coast. Your target will be the cross at the summit, which was erected in memory of Keith Laurie, a renowned Barbadian agriculturalist. It’s not an easy walk, but not overly demanding either. And it’s well worth the effort when you get there, offering one of the best 360 degree scenic views in Barbados. You can either take the longer route by starting down on the East Coast Road, or the more popular shorter version that starts from the village of Chalky Mount, which itself is worth visiting. Be sure to wear proper walking or exercise shoes and a hat. View of Long Pond and Walker’s Beach, St. Andrew Photo: Brian Carrington Peep hole view on Chalky Mount Photo: Brian Carrington 172  EXPLORE INS&