Travel to Barbados, the island of relaxed time

British colony from 1627 until 1966, only in these days will Barbados obtain full independence, detaching itself definitively from Queen Elizabeth. After last year’s referendum which had established the transition to a republic, finally on November 30 the first President will take office, indeed the first President, of Barbados: Sandra Mason.

Belonging to Lesser Antilles, this small island of 430 square km is located eastward, compared to most other Caribbean islands. And this position makes it special with a coast, the one to the west, typically Caribbean and the one to the east, on the other hand, overlooking the ocean. Beaches, colors, different landscapes, but above all different souls. There West Coast is that of beach restaurants, the most luxurious hotels and villas, golden beaches and calm waters, while the East Coast it is the most contemplative, wild and loved by surfers.

There is no better or worse and neither will disappoint you, as they say… it’s a matter of taste. For those who are uncertain or do not want to give up anything, the ideal is to break the journey, sleeping a few nights here and others there.

East Coast: waves, cliffs, greenery and time for oneself

Our journey begins on the wilder and more authentic side of Barbados, that of the east coast. We sleep in Bathsheba in the parish (in all there are 11 parishes on the island) of St. Joseph, atEco & Lifestyle Lodge, a small boutique hotel with a few rooms overlooking the garden and the Atlantic Ocean, which as the name suggests has made sustainability its flag and which interprets this side of the island very well. The sea here is almost always rough and different from what you see in postcards (or Instagram posts!) Coming from the Caribbean, but you can hardly forget this view, especially at dawn. Being to the east, the Sunrise it is a sight that takes your breath away and the jet lag should help you to admire it without admiring the alarm clock!