EXPLORE THE ISLAND BY BUS
Three things To Do In BaRBADOS BY BUS
Many visitors to Coconut Court come just for our beautiful shaded beach and warm hospitality, but Barbados has plenty to satisfy anyone with a sense of adventure. There’s lots within easy reach of the hotel for the curious - the island’s efficient public transport system make it very easy to explore.
Local buses – blue yellow or the route taxis (ZRs) stop outside the hotel and are very cheap if you don’t have a car. And feel free to ask directions if you’re lost. Bajans are usually more than happy to help.
Monument to the early space age
The HARP gun is well worth a visit if you want to stretch your legs. The Sam Lord’s Castle blue bus, heading east from outside Coconut Court, takes you to within a 15 minute walk of this huge monument to early space-age technology. And much of that walk is along a cliff top path with spectacular views of the Atlantic. Ballistics engineer Gerald Bull was in Barbados during the 1960s to develop gun-fired satellites and the High Altitude Research Project (HARP) set a world gun-reached altitude record of 92km (58 miles). Much later in his career, Bull went on to work for Saddam Hussein, helping the Iraqi dictator develop the long range Scud missiles. Bull was gunned down in 1990. No one has admitted responsibility for his death and his assassins have never been brought to justice… Today, the huge gun sits rusting on the cliff top, pointing out to sea. It’s best avoided on weekends as it is occasionally used as a paintball venue.
A riot of colour
For something to do on a Saturday, why not visit Cheapside Market?
It’s a bustling riot of colour and noise, full of interesting characters selling all sorts of produce, most of it local.
Cheapside Market is great for photos of people (although ask permission first). There are also herbs, teas and strange local drinks to try, as well as souvenirs and gifts.
Visit the Bridgetown synagogue
If your trip to Bridgetown is mid-week, visit the Nidhe Israel Synagogue and Museum, open weekdays. There’s currently a guide working from 10am to 3pm who is happy to show visitors around. The synagogue was built in 1654 and is the earliest temple of its kind in the western hemisphere. It houses a recently discovered mikvah (a ritual bath house) which has been fully restored.
Directions:
The HARP gun: The Sam Lord’s Castle bus (12A) stops outside the hotel and will drop you just after a red rum shop at Gemswick. Then on foot, take a right turn, follow the road round to the left and take first right. Carry on until you reach an old rum shop. Turn right on track until you reach a house ahead and walk down slope. Turn right – the gun is on cliff top a short walk away. By car: Keep the airport on your right then turn right at a red rum shop. Then follow directions above.
Cheapside Market: From outside Coconut Court take any blue bus to Princess Alice station, Bridgetown, and follow Wharf Road with the catamarans and fishing boats on your left until you reach the new immigration office. Cheapside market is one block north.
The Nidhe Israel Synagogue and Museum: Bus to Princess Alice again and walk down Broad Street, before heading north (right) after the Republican Bank for about 200 metres.