Each morning in the far reaches of the Eastern Caribbean the sun’s first
rays brush the blustery Atlantic shores of Barbados, roll slowly across the
cane fields and stroke the island’s west coast before moving on to wake the
rest of the sleeping island chain. By the time the first roti has been
wrapped in Bridgetown the west coast has sprung to life – bubbling children
dressed in pressed school uniforms bounce down the roads while taxis beep
their horns and stately women make their way to market. On the
island’s
opposite shore Barbados’ east coast remains much the same throughout the day
as it has remained throughout the centuries: remote, rugged and wild. During
our recent trip to the island, Bill and I were able to visit both of these
dramatically different coasts. Barbados is famous for its fabulous west
coast beaches, but don’t overlook the wild east coast. The contrast between
the two sides of Barbados is one of the many charms this enchanting island
has to offer.
Getting there
Hidden among the many reasons to choose a Barbados villa vacation is a
luxury that should never be overlooked: Non-stop flights to the island from
New York and other cities. From JFK, one can take off in the middle of
winter and touch down in the tropics in three and a half hours. We flew
non-stop from Philadelphia to Barbados’ international airport and were
greeted by a fresh sea breeze and a cheerful steel band. The coast area
around the airport is a maze of motion and color and the newly-arrived can
easily become disoriented. WIMCO makes arrangements for visitors to be
greeted at the airport and driven directly to their villa. Rental car agents
can then meet up with visitors in the comfort of the villa. On the same
note, I highly recommend arranging dinner at the villa the first night. I
had been offered the same advice and decided against it, striking out from
our villa in the late afternoon and driving into town for a sundown drink
and a scrumptious meal. Darkness arrives quickly in the tropics and although
I headed back to the villa just after dinner, I
became disoriented by the
dozens of roads leading off the main road. I turned down half a dozen and
was greeted by beautiful villas at each turn. Unfortunately, none of the
villas was the one I was staying at! Lesson learned. Take advantage of the
superb villa staff and order in the first night! Give yourself a day or two
to grasp the left-handed driving and the maze of roads, and at the same time
enjoy a unique benefit of a Barbados villa vacation – the truly unbeatable
villa staffs.
