A trip to local French bakery La Baguette left me speechless – with only one word to describe the quick but delightful experience…Magnifique! As I sit here demolishing the last of my delicious Almond Croissant (ok last of two! I had to have another one) Let me give you the rundown, here’s why you should visit this charming French bakery in Barbados.
Hundreds of “Little yellow” and ” Cloudless sulphur” butterflies flitted around for at least half a mile as we drove along, a drive made that much more enjoyable by the sunny, almost perfect weather. La Baguette located in Porters, Holetown, is within walking distance of the historic Porters Villa, Limegrove Lifestyle Villa, a number of Blue Sky Luxury villas and other luxury amenities. What was quite notable was the curb appeal of the property. Local foliage dotted the perimeter, with green palms positioned to the front of the building, which was painted white with a jaunty blue trim outlining the peaked roofs. Notably, there was wheelchair access and upon entry…cooling, refreshing air conditioning.
The first thing that teased the senses was the delicious scent of baked goods, now we all know that’s a hard one to beat…unless accompanied by the aroma of fresh, flavourful coffee…. yes, they also serve coffee! Having been my first time to the establishment I took a time to decide between the pain au chocolat, chocolate twist or raisin and almond croissants. I chose the almond croissant (I’m done now by the way and yes, I’d like another!) and took note of other delicious selections, such as chocolate cookies, multi grain bread or country bread…which all appeared so scrumptious! I gave the interior one last sweeping look. It is an intimate atmosphere with perfectly tiled floors and gleaming white countertops. My colleague, who knows the owners quite well, bid them Au revoir (She’s a regular, little did I know!) and we set off to another modern cafe in nearby Holetown.
Unable to wait I took my first bite of my almond croissant in the car and was blown away. Lightly sweet, perfect texture and balanced by crunchy fresh almonds. My taste buds were in heaven! Now here I am, totally in love with La Baguette and urging you to visit this amazing French Bakery in the heart of Porters, St. James. Au revoir!
Most of us can admit to the occasional social media indulgence. We are either scrolling through timelines, searching for post inspiration or curating the perfect shot. It is no wonder then that social media has become a travel buddy. After all, if you don’t post awe-inspiring shots of your island getaway, did it really happen?
With a number of jaw-dropping homes in our portfolio, perfect for Instagram photos, this week we are highlighting 5 villas that are true #InstaGoals.
Royal Westmoreland – Happy Days, Emily House and Ocean One 502 are sure to garner a double-tap and your friends will stop scrolling through their timeline once they come across photos of you at Porters Villa – a historical masterpiece. Then there is Tom Tom, an elegant holiday villa enjoying sweeping Caribbean Sea views and known to stir up feelings of wanderlust.
Check out these 5 villas that will make you the envy of your followers!
Royal Westmoreland-Happy Days – St. James
3 bedrooms | 3 ½ bathrooms | Sleeps up to 6 guests
What you’ll love:
- The instagrammable hidden oasis with the manmade lake or ocean view as your backdrop
- On site tennis courts, resort pool and fitness centre so you’ll never miss a #gymlife moment!
- Golf course in close proximity
Emily House – Christ Church
7 bedrooms | 6 ½ bathrooms | Sleeps up to 14 guests
What you’ll love:
- A place where luxury and unique details, particularly the ‘Lighthouse’ design are accentuated by gorgeous ocean views
- Shallow pools and bay just along the low cliffs from the garden
Ocean One 502 – Christ Church
3 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | Sleeps up to 6 guests
What you’ll love:
- Shared Jacuzzi and communal and children’s pool
- Stunning sea views from living areas and patio
- Find the blue that best suits you and walk from the pool to beach in seconds
Tom Tom – St. James
5 bedrooms | 5 bathrooms | Sleeps up to 10 guests
What you’ll love:
- Loads of #photooftheday options with meals by the on-site cook with a repertoire of international cuisine
- One of the most spectacular infinity-edge pools with a stunning view of the Caribbean Sea. Get your camera ready
- Two amazing gazebos for games, cocktails and breezy dinners
Porters Villa – St. James
3 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | Sleeps up to 6 guests
What you’ll love:
- Nestled on a centuries-old estate property with onsite chapel, oozing with old world charm but with modern interiors
- Foodie bliss compliments the resident cook
Crop Over is Barbados’ most colourful and popular festival. With origins dating back to the 1790’s, it is considered a summer festival during which the richest and most creative and fun aspects of Barbadian culture are on full display. Besides the gorgeously bedazzled costumes, pulsating rhythms and bountiful eats, here are 3 things you should know about Crop Over.
1. It’s Steeped in Tradition
Crop Over is considered to be the oldest festival in the Western Hemisphere. One of the earliest documented instances of Crop Over celebrations was recorded in 1798 when it represented a celebration to mark the culmination of another successful sugar season. As the sugar industry declined, so did the Crop Over festival and in the 1940’s the festival ceased. However, its value was undeniable and in 1974 Crop Over was revived.
2. It’s not Carnival…
While colourful costumes are on display during Kadooment Day, it is important to know that despite apparent similarities between Crop Over and celebrations across the Caribbean and Latin America, Crop Over is not a carnival. You’ll be forgiven for making the faux pas once or twice but it is unacceptable to refer to Crop Over as a carnival – it is the Crop Over Festival. Similar celebrations namely in Brazil and Trinidad – are referred to as carnivals but do not share the same origin as Barbados’ festival, and only appear to be the same to the untrained eye.
3. The Party Never Stops
Crop Over culminates with the most stunning spectacle on Kadooment Day, the costumed parade however, the festival offers a myriad of events at varying times of the day and across all different types of geography. Make a trek at midnight to a quarry in St. George for fun in paint and powder or get dressed up for a fun evening at a gorgeous plantation house for an all-inclusive party complete with sushi, decadent desserts and lovely chef prepared meals. Opt to celebrate Crop Over on the water with a 4 a.m. catamaran breakfast party cruise or a nighttime sail and head down to the beautiful Farley Hill National Park or the beautiful beachfront at Brandon’s Beach for musical treats.
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If you’re really ready to book your Barbados getaway, we offer some amazing Barbados homes available for occupancy within the next few weeks. Check them out here!
For any enquiries, feel free to contact us!
Speightstown, one of the four pillar towns on the island, encompasses everything from relics of British military history to contemporary fine dining restaurants. This presumably laid back town also has quite a bit to offer in terms of good shopping, banks, sidewalk vendors as well as excellent casual dining options. Not to mention Holetown, which is also a great shopping and dining area, is located just a short 15 minute drive away.
Near to this unspoilt little town is the absolutely palatial Leamington Pavilion, a stunning holiday home with all the trims and fancies to create lasting memories and Fustic House, the most prolific of these historic homes we are fortunate enough to feature in our holiday homes portfolio.
Also, another fabulous option Nelson Gay, is a Palladian-style coral stone beauty located on the outskirts of Speightstown and Schooner Bay a complex of elegant apartments within walking distance whose terraces and patios provide beautiful views over the pool and onward to the beach and Caribbean Sea!
View all of our luxurious homes: Barbados