Once ships were wrecked, he would loot the cargoes. If you value traditional courtesies combined with a warm welcome from people who know how to have a good time, then Barbados is the place for you. Come find an island steeped in history, with beaches that seem to never end, and discover some of the finest watersport opportunities in the Caribbean. The island has its very own gold coast for swimmers, named after the fabulous sands. Visitors come from all over the world to take part in windsurfing, surfing and sailboarding competitions.
Sports fans can also play golf and tennis and watch some of the world s best cricketers.
Visitors from Britain will find other reminders of home, from the wigs and robes worn in parliament, to the statue of Nelson in Trafalgar Square. The architecture in the capital of Bridgetown and second largest town, Speightstown, and names such as Brighton beach also offer many reminders of links between the two nations. The biggest annual event in Barbados is the Crop Over Festival, celebrating the harvest of sugar cane, formerly the island's main industry. The five-week summer celebration is a fiesta of colourful floats, parades and people in costume dancing and enjoying themselves to the background of music and fireworks. It also offers the opportunity to taste the finest island cuisine, including the national dish of Flyingfish and Cou-cou.