From: paul.graveline@travel.com (Paul Graveline) 
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: CARIBBEAN TRAVEL ROUNDUP4
Date: 31 Dec 92 01:03:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Travel Online / St. Louis Online - St. Louis, MO
Reply-To: paul.graveline@travel.com (Paul Graveline) 

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In   1990,  the  Environmental  Unit  of  the  National  Conservation  
Commission  upgraded the underwater reserve and began to purchase and  
install  a  new  buoyage  system.  In  addition, the commission began  
upgrading the reserve's museum. 

The  museum  at  Folkestone  is  currently  being  transformed into a  
modern  Marine  and  Coastal Interpretive Center, designed to provide  
information  about  the  underwater  environment  of  Barbados.  Some  
themes  the  Interpretive  Center will illustrate are the problems of  
pollution,  erosion,  coral  reef  destruction and over exploitation.  
The  center will also be designed for use in environmental studies by  
students and scientists with several interactive displays.  

Barbados    continues    its   conservation   efforts   by   actively  
participating  in  world-wide  projects  and  conferences designed to  
help protect the environment. 

B.   Barbados   realizes   the  importance  of  national  efforts  in  
conservation  and  has  been  actively working to save its endangered  
species  of flora and fauna. The Natural Areas Conservation Committee  
was  established  in  September  1991  to  identify  key  terrestrial  
ecosystems  in  Barbados which are most threatened by non-sustainable  
development  practices.  In  addition, the committee examines ways to  
conserve  ecosystems  while making it possible for them to strengthen  
economic development. 

The  committee's  first  project site is Graeme Hall Swamp located in  
southern  Barbados.  Graeme  Hall  was  chosen  for  its  outstanding  
diversity  of  species,  as  well  as  its  potential  for  use  as a  
recreational, education and scientific research site.  

Plans  for  Graeme  Hall  include conservation and restoration of its  
functional  and  aesthetic  value.  This will be done by developing a  
legal   framework   to   ensure   conservation  policies;  furthering  
diversification   of  the  tourist  product;  establishing  "activity  
zones"  in  the wetlands for recreational, educational and scientific  
use  and  providing visitor amenities such as an interpretive center,  
nature  trails and bird watching facilities. The plans will establish  
the reserve as an economically self sustaining entity. 

C.  It's  exciting, competitive, fast moving and a favorite spectator  
sport  of visitors to Barbados. What is it? The unusual sport of road  
tennis, of course 

For  those who don't know, road tennis is a cross between lawn tennis  
and  ping  pong.  Played  with an 8.5 inch wooded net, wooden rackets  
slightly  larger than pin pong paddles and a skinned tennis ball, the  
sport originated in Barbados in the 1950s. 

By  1976  it  had  become  so  popular  that  it  was recognized as a  
national   sport   and  the  Barbados  Road  Tennis  Association  was  
established to organize national tournaments. 

In  its  early  days  road tennis was strictly played on the streets.  
Today,  it  is  played in schools and community sports complexes with  
hard  courts, but visitors can still catch games being played on side  
streets throughout the island. 

Road  tennis  was  thought  to  be played only in Barbados but it has  
recently  acquired a following on other Caribbean islands and even in  
New  York.  Friendly  games with other countries have been played and  
the   Association  is  currently  working  to  organize  a  Caribbean  
tournament.  

British Virgin Island Report from Carmen Fondell 
------------------------------------------------  
We  did  not stay at any luxurious resort. We had a bareboat sailboat  
charter.  When  I  first  stepped  off  the  plane at St. Thomas, and  
looked  around  at the high, green rolling hills, my mouth fell open.  
It  was  awesome.  Florida is so flat, these new surroundings made me  
wide-eyed.  We  went  into  the airport. The first thing we saw was a  
stand,  much like the little Kool Ade stand we all used to have, only  
this one had "Free Liquor Samples". Very different.  

We  got  a  taxi  to  the ferry dock. No problem. Just pile in with 8  
other  people.  Arrived at ferry dock. Small problem. One "sales rep"  
for  the  Native  Son cornered my husband, and one from Bomba Charger  
got  me. Somehow, each of us agreed to go with their respective ferry  
line,  which started a big fight between them. "Man want Native Son".  
"Lady  want  Bomba  Charger".  The  more dominant one won out, and we  
were  ushered to the Native Son. After they loaded furniture, bags of  
cement,  and  miscellaneous  items  on the front of the boat, luggage  
and  passengers were boarded. I tried not to look in the direction of  
the  four  huge  cruise  ships  lurking  in the harbor of St. Thomas,  
hoping  I would not see them again. The trip to Tortola was beautiful  
at  sunset.  Around  came  a  young man with a plastic glass of fruit  
punch, followed by his helper with rum to spice up the drink.  

When  we  arrived  at  Tortola,  we had to go through Customs. We had  
passports,  and  had  little  trouble passing through. The only thing  
they  wanted to look in was our small cooler. Next came the taxi ride  
to  Nanny  Cay,  where our charter boat was moored. We got Ashley. He  
was  great.  He  explained  to us that he could only go 20 mph. If he  
went  faster, he would get a ticket. If he was sassy to the judge, he  
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