Barbados is the easternmost island of the West Indies. It lies east of St. Vincent in the Windward Islands comprised by the Lesser Antilles. It spans 97 square kilometers from coast to coast for a total surface of 430 square kilometers. The capital is Bridgetown.

Weather Mild tropical, smoothened by sea breezes. Annual mean temperature is 26.1 degrees Celsius.

Economy The island nation's economy has been traditionally based on sugar cane, export of refined sugar, molasses and rum. Its tourist infrastructure has developed dramatically in recent years and leisure industry's revenues have surpassed the earnings made by sugar by-products since the 1960s.

How to get there The island is outfitted with an excellent road network that stretches out for 1,600 kilometers. The international airport is located in Seawell (south). Bridgetown's manmade port was opened back in 1961.

Population The island has a population of 274,540 inhabitants (year 2000). Roughly 90 percent is black. The rest is made up of whites and members of other ethnic groups.

Official language English

Religion Over half the population is Anglican. The rest of islanders are clustered in Catholic and Protestant churches.

Currency The Central Bank was founded in 1972 as the island adopted a new currency: the Barbadian dollar (100 cents)

What to See There are many marvelous beaches and cultural centers in Barbados. Some of its highlights are: Bridgetown (Carlisle Bay, St. Michael and Christ Church). Visitors can tour the Trafalgar Square or spend a beach day at the Boatyard Carlisle Bay. The Christ Church Parish –in the southern coast- is one of the most important and embraces St. Lawrence Gap, one of the country's major tourist zones. There, travelers find such beaches as Silver Sands on the opposite side of the Silver Rock Hotel, alongside Dover Beach, St. Lawrence Gap. Other must-see foreshores are Worthing, Miami Enterprise and Accra, all in the southern coastline. The St. Michael Parish runs along the western coast and includes the island nation's capital and the so-called Statue of the Emancipation. St. James is also spotted in the western part of the country, sporting a solid tourist infrastructure and highly coveted cultural centers. This part of the island is home to one of Barbados' oldest churches. The Portobello Art Gallery is usually coming apart at the seams with artistic exhibits and samples. Also on the premises, sunbathers can find the Fitts Villa and Holetown beaches, both in the eastern coast. Baobabs Tree in Queen's Park (Bridgetown) ranks as one of Barbados' seven wonders. Want to see old cannons? Swing by the St. Michael Garrison and you'll see one of the world's oddest collections of weapons harking as far back as the 17th century. And don't miss out on the chance of visiting the Barbados Museum and Art Gallery. Last but not least, Casuarina (in Maxwell) is another eye-catching beach.

Where to Stay Dover Beach Hotel in St. Lawrence Gap. Christ Church. Phone: (246) 428-8076. Fax: (246) 428-2122

Sholan Airport, Coverly Terrace Barbados. Phone: 1 246-4280039. Fax: 1 246-4280160

Sandy Lane, Bridgetown, Saint Michael. Phone: 1 246-4321311. Fax: 1 246 4322954

Almond Beach Club, Saint James overlooking the Barbados Ocean

Grand Barbados Beach Resort, Aquatic Gap, PO Box 639, St Michael; Grand Barbados

Aquatic Gap Bay Street, St Michael. Phone: 1 246-4264000. Fax: 1 246-4292400

Hilton Barbados, Needham's Point, Bridgetown. Phone: 1 246-4260200. Fax: 1 246-4368946

Colony Club's, Saint James Beach. St. James;

Crystal Cove Hotel, in the west coast, Aookeby, St. James

Rockley Resort, in the south coast. Phone: (246) 429-5349. Fax: (246) 426-4503

Blytwood Beach Apartments, in the south coast, Worthing Christ Church. Phone: (246) 435-7712. Fax: (246) 435-6874

Cacrabank Beach Apartments, Worthing Christ Church. Phone: (246) 435-8057. Fax: 8246) 429-7267

Gentle Breeze, in the south coast, Rendezvous Christ Church. Phone: (246) 435-8952. Fax: (246) 435-8952

Royal Westmoreland, Bridgetown, St. Michael

Sandy Beach Island Resort, Worthing, Christ Church.

Where to Eat In St. James: La Terra. Phone: 432-1099 Raffles Pisces. Phone: 432-6557 Papper Champagne. Phone: 432-7549 Mins Chinese. Phone: 432-5481 Nico's Champagne. Phone: 432-6386 La Maison (Holetown). Phone: 432-1156 House Kitchen. Phone: 424-4557; Il Tempo. Phone: 432-2057

In Christ Church: Pisces, St. Lawrence Gap. Phone: 435-6564 Mile Tree. Phone: 420-5910 Masquerade, St. Lawrence. Phone: 435-6134 Mermaid. Phone: 428-4116 Luigi's. Phone: 428-9218 Josef's. Phone: 435-6541 Bellini's Trattoria, St. Lawrence Gap. Phone: (246) 435-7246

In Saint Michael: Mayflower. Phone: 426-4734 Kentucky Fried Black. Phone: 424-9268 Rock Kentucky Fried Trident. Phone: 429-8520 Brown Sugar, Aquatic Gap. Phone: (246) 426-7684

Shopping Around Barbados offers a mesh of stores where you can buy an assortment of items. Some of the most sought-after ones are Flamboya Boutiques, Hastings Plaza Shopping Mall, Christ Church, Bridgetown, Dacostas Bridgetown, Mount Gay, Monte Gay's original house (keepsakes and rum. In Holetown (St. James), the premiere shops are Mad Impulse, a fabulous boutique per le femmes located in 2 Chattel House Village; Fairfield Pottery and Gallery in Bridgetown; Cave Shepherd (clothing and apparels, jewelry, glassware and other accessories) at 2 Sunset Crest, Holetown, and a similar store under the same name at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Christ Church.

(RECUADROS)

1.- Cuisine Traditional and national dishes of Barbados: The national dish is the cou cou (made of okra and oatmeal) accompanied by flying fish or prickled cod. Islanders also love lobster, red snapper, pike, hawk-bill turtle and tuna. The most traditional homemade meals are the jug-jug (maize and peas), the pepper pot (a lovely stew) and conkies (made of oatmeal, coconut, pumpkin, grapes, potatoes and spices cooked in a banana leave).

2.- Housing: Some houses are built of cement and affect a lovely coat of pastel paint, yet many families live in takedown wooden houses stilted on coral rocks and standing one yard from the ground up to ease air circulation. The takedown houses are designed to be either assembled or disassembled very easily. The tradition goes a long way back to the time when plantation workers were bound to move from one labor area to the next. Today, these houses are built on fixed locations and are so solid that the living quarters are handed down from generation to generation.