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You
may find duty-free merchandise here at
prices 20% to 40% lower than in the United
States and Canada, but you've got to be
a smart shopper to spot bargains, and
you should be familiar with prices back
in your hometown. Duty-free shops have
two prices listed on items of merchandise:
the local retail price and the local retail
price less the government-imposed tax.
Some
of the best duty-free buys include cameras,
watches, crystal, gold jewelry, bone china,
cosmetics and perfumes, and liquor (including
locally produced Barbados rum and liqueurs),
along with tobacco products and cashmere
sweaters, tweeds, and sportswear from
Britain. If you purchase items made on
Barbados,
you don't have to pay duty.
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The
quintessential Barbados
handicrafts are black-coral jewelry and clay
pottery. The latter originates at Highland Pottery,
Inc. (tel. 246/422-9818), which is worth a visit.
Potters turn out different products, some based
on designs that are centuries old. The potteries
(which are signposted) are north of Bathsheba
on the east coast, in St. Joseph Parish near
Barclay's Park. In shops across the island,
you'll also find a selection of locally made
vases, pots, pottery mugs, glazed plates, and
ornaments.
Island
craftspeople weave wall hangings from local
grasses and dried flowers, and also turn out
straw mats, baskets, and bags with raffia embroidery.
Leatherwork, particularly handbags, belts, and
sandals, is also found on Barbados.
In
Bridgetown
Cruise
passengers generally head for the cruise-ship
terminal at Bridgetown Harbour, which has some
20 duty-free shops, 13 local shops, and many
vendors.
At
Articrafts, Norman Center Mall, Broad Street
(tel. 246/427-5767), John and Roslyn Watson
have assembled an impressive display of Bajan
arts and crafts. Roslyn's distinctive wall hangings
are decorated with objects from the island,
including sea fans and coral.
The
unique Colours of De Caribbean, the Waterfront
Marina (next to the Waterfront Café,
on the Carenage; tel. 246/436-8522), carries
a limited selection of original hand-painted
and batik clothing, all made in the West Indies,
plus jewelry and decorative objects.
Cave
Shepherd, Broad Street (tel. 246/431-2121),
is the largest department store on the island
and the best place for dutyfree merchandise.
There are branches at Sunset Crest in Holetown,
Da Costas Mall, Grantley Adams Airport, and
the Bridgetown cruise-ship terminal, but if
your time is limited, try this outlet, as it
has the widest selection. The store sells perfumes,
cosmetics, fine crystal and bone china, cameras,
jewelry, swimwear, leather goods, men's designer
clothing, handcrafts, liquor, and souvenirs.
You can take a break in the cool comfort of
the Balcony, overlooking Broad Street, which
serves vegetarian dishes and has a salad bar
and beer garden.
Harrison's,
10-14 Broad St. (tel. 246/431-5500), has six
branch stores, all selling a wide variety of
duty-free merchandise, including china, crystal,
jewelry, watches, liquor, and perfumes -- all
at fair prices. Also for sale are some fine
leather products handcrafted in Colombia.
Little
Switzerland, in the Da Costas Mall, Broad Street
(tel. 246/431-0030), offers a wide selection
of watches, fine jewelry, and an array of goodies
from Waterford, Lalique, Swarovski, Baccarat,
and others.
Pelican
Crafts Centre, Harbour Road (tel. 246/426-4391),
is rather an overpriced tourist trap, hawking
craft items. In Bridgetown, go down Princess
Alice Highway to the city's Deep Water Harbour,
where you'll find this tiny colony of thatch-roofed
shops. Most of the shops here are gimmicky,
but a few interesting items can be found if
you search hard enough. Sometimes you can see
craftspeople at work.
Elsewhere
on the Island
The
Watering Hole, Highway 7, St. Lawrence Gap (tel.
246/435-6375), is not only the best place to
purchase bottles of Bajan rum at dutyfree prices,
but is also a great dive for hanging out. A
small bottle of rum (about 6 oz.) sells for
around US$7. Some locals as well as savvy visitors
come here and make an evening of it, sampling
the various rum drinks. Of course, you may need
someone to carry you back to your hotel as these
punches are lethal. Opening times vary, call
to be sure, but we've seen this place going
strong at 3am. One of the most interesting shopping
jaunts in Barbados is to Tyrol Cot Heritage
Village, Codrington Hill, St. Michael (tel.
246/424-2074), the former home of the Bajan
national hero, Sir Grantley Adams. On the grounds
of the former prime minister's estate is a colony
of artisans, who turn out an array of articles
for sale ranging from paintings to pottery,
from baskets to handmade figurines.
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Earthworks
Pottery/On the Wall Gallery, Edgehill
Heights 2, St. Thomas (tel. 246/425-0223),
is one of the artistic highlights of Barbados.
Deep in the island's central highlands,
Canadian-born Goldie Spieler and her son,
David, create whimsical ceramics in the
colors of the sea and sky; many are decorated
with Antillean-inspired swirls and zigzags.
On the premises are a studio and a showroom
that sells the output of at least half
a dozen other island potters. Purchases
can be shipped.
The
Shell Gallery "Contentment,"
Gibbes Hill, St. Peter (tel. 246/422-2593),
has the best collection of shells in the
West Indies. Also offered are shell jewelry,
and local pottery and ceramics.
Greenwich
House Antiques, Greenwich Village, Trents
Hill, St. James (tel. 246/432-1169), a
25-minute drive from Bridgetown, feels
like a genteel private home where the
objects for sale seem to have come from
the attic of your slightly dotty great
aunt. Dozens of objects fill every available
inch of display space, including Barbados
mahogany furniture
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