I
traveled to Barbados, the easternmost of the Caribbean islands,
in late March of 2010, on an NCL Cruise. The capital Bridgetown is
quite the bustling city with an English style Parliament building and
bridge. An interesting historical fact is that George Washington
actually spent time in Bridgetown back in the 1700's, prior to U.S.
Independence.
 |
The Arawak Indians came to Barbados
sometime around 800CE. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to
arrive in Barbados in 1536. According to the Portuguese, there were no
inhabitants on the island. It may be because the Arawaks had moved off
the island or been eradicated by the more powerful Carib Indians. The
Portuguese gave the island its name Lost Barbados, meaning
"Bearded Ones" after a furry tree on the islands. The Portuguese did
not establish any settlements on the island. The first European settlers were British, who came to the island in 1625.
They claimed the island for Britain and started growing sugar cane,
which made the island relatively wealthy. Britain would rule the island
for 300 years, using it as a staging ground to colonized other islands
in the Caribbean. George Washington visited the island in 1751 and
caught smallpox while there. It is believed that this may have saved
him from getting the disease during the American Revolutionary
war. Barbados gained it's independence from Britain in 1966.
|
 |
Barbados 2010
Images of Bridgetown
Beautiful Bridgetown 2010
People and Places
George Washington's visit in 1751
Plaque noting the sacrifice of many
