The British have long had an affinity with Barbados where cricket, racing and polo can still be enjoyed. The island, first inhabited by the Arawak and Carib Indians and later developed by the English, has long been regarded as the gem of the Caribbean Sea. Although independent since 1966, much of the Britishness remains, not only in place names, buildings and monuments, but also in the culture of the island. The island is surrounded by coral reefs and its pristine white sandy beaches are sandwiched between clear turquoise waters and the green vegetation onshore.
The calm West Coast contrasts dramatically with the pounding waves of the East Coast, which offers outstanding rock formations and is a popular picnic location. The Capital is bustling Bridgetown, an old colonial town where the Careenage brings the Caribbean Sea right up into the heart of the commercial centre alongside Heroes Square with the imposing Parliament Buildings nearby. Barbados has a good economy and is becoming much more accessible to many more people. The currency is linked to the United States of America Dollar and has not devalued since independence.
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