Author: lifestylesoftheartisan

New destination channel that highlights everyday artist, fishermen, farmers, crafts people and good causes of locals people in their everyday work and service to the country and tourist alike. They are fascinating artisans with a down to earth delight in what they do.

Vintage Bajan Bus a Hit with Visitors

Bajan Bus - Driver DionIn the old days, there were no air-conditioned coaches in Barbados. The common bus was a modified flat bed truck with seats, railing, a roof and guard rails along the side. The last standing bus was the Bedford bus Vauxhall Motors, which was ultimately owned by General Motor. It was the bus owned and used by the Barbados Rocklyn Bus Co.

Open Air Buses of the Past

The old Bajan buses ran people around the island. Vendors and farmers boarded with livestock and market produce and the few adventurous tourists in those days loved the jolly rides in the open air.

Buses are not made like that now. They are closed-in vehicles with windows and in many cases, air-conditioning. Tourists for the most part do island tours in air-conditioned coaches.


Reviving the Vintage Barbados Bus

Someone had the great idea that we were missing the fun joy rides on the open air vintage buses of the past. It was a passion of Nick Rose, he had always loved the old buses and was sad to see them disappear.

Banks Holdings had a relic that had been lovingly restored in 1969. Nick teamed up with Martin Ince from the Ince Group Of Companies to buy it and test out the concept of the old time bus revival. The last standing Bedford Bus was overhauled again and updated with ice buckets and a sound system and put on the road as the #1 Bajan Bus.

Pretty soon, these entrepreneur artisans needed more buses. After looking for vintage  buses to buy they realized they would have to make them.

Made in Barbados

They bought a rolling chassis from Simpson Motors, cut off the truck cabin and added a new specially molded fibreglass front and back. All the work was done in Barbados with wood aluminum and fibreglass. Each bus would have a well-stocked ice bucket bar and top of the line surround sound.

The recipe was a huge success: They named the 3 buses after the original Barbados bus companies (Rocklyn, Elite and Progressive) and gave each one their own colour – Red, Yellow and Green, the colours of Reggae.

Reggae Coloured Bajan Buses Make a Splash

And so it began. The #1 Bajan Bus, also known as the “Reggae Buses” were soon rolling across the country carting visitors and locals to beaches, attractions, bus parties and tours. Banks beers and rum punch are on tap, kept cold in the ice bucket bus bar and all buses are equipped with sound systems so the party is always on.

Exporting to Other Island

They are now exporting buses to St. Lucia, being the first to export a Barbados-made vehicle anywhere. The second bus for St. Lucia is in the works and other islands are on the charts.

The #1 Bajan Bus is an upbeat, fun and friendly way to experience the island. The buses can carry up to 30 persons with panoramic open views as you go. All have professional and experienced drivers. The round-the-bus sound system, ice cold drinks and open plan make the drive a breeze.

Weekly Island Tours

Monday
Beautiful BEACHES TOUR from 9am – 1pm
Visit (3) stunning beaches with a historic commentary along the way.
INCLUDES: Drinks & Snacks
Tuesday
Private Tours available.
Wednesday
Private Tours and fun Group Tours available on the No.1 Vintage Open Bus.
Thursday
UNESCO Bajan HERITAGE TOUR: 9am – 12pm
Visits historical UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
INCLUDES: Drinks & Entrance Fees
Friday
The ATTRACTIONS OF BARBADOS LUNCH TOUR: 9am – 3pm
Scenic drive through the countryside and along the coastline.
INCLUDES: Drinks, Lunch & Entrance Fees
Saturday
Choose from our list of exiting Private Tours and fun Group Tours available on the No.1 Vintage Open Bus.
Sunday
The PUB HOPPING TOUR from 7pm until 11pm
Party Bus Bar Crawl to Barbados pubs. Nightlife commentary included
INCLUDES: (3) Drink Vouchers, Party favours & kicking tunes to help create the mood

Ask about the Sail and Trail Tour from 9am – 4pm
The best of both worlds…a beautiful scenic tour along with a Catamaran Cruise

More Barbados Artisans and Entrepreneurs: http://barbados.lifestylesoftheartisan.com

More Stories see WorldSagas:
https://lifestylesoftheartisan.wordpress.com/world-sagas/

VIDEO & Photography by LifestylesoftheArtisans
Road Race: Modern Life is Good

St. Lucia

PoinsettiaVillas an Artisan Retreat

St. Lucia, a truly tropical Caribbean island, is a delight place to escape and get away from the crowds with charming villa resort like Poinsettiavillas .

The island has much to discover with its rain-forests, jungles, massive tress and mountains and its excellent beaches. Artisans love St. Lucia as with its raw authenticity, arts and crafts and stunning scenery. Many hotels and vacation resorts are all inclusive but there are several small guest house and villa resort that cater to the independent traveler and the discerning artisan.


Sports & Adventure

We start of this section with Barbados World Champion Freediver Alex Davis. Alex found his passion for the ocean and diving was elevated in Barbados, because, as he says, it’s just so accessible. You and walk into the ocean from any side of the island and have something great to see. In the Alex video he goes on to explain our dolphin reflex and the power of positive – Watch the entire series for divers wisdom and adventures.

 

Halifax Nova Scotia

A unique lifestyle on the ocean. Halifax combines seafaring and fishing life with villages, towns with the great outdoors and people who love life. They prioritize work and play in a different way and mix both with a special flare.

Halifax has many unique village like areas including the historic Hydrostone neighborhood voted one of the best places to live in Canada. – see hydrostonetownhouse.com

It is the main town and business center of Nova Scotia with a large number of attractive and district town and villages around it.

Barbados

Meet the Artisans of Barbados and see them at work and play.

More like this see
http://barbados.org/people.html

Book a holiday vacation made to match with PersonaHolidays
Click Here >>>

Barbados was the first destination to use the Persona app that classifies hotel and tourism experiences using a unique psychological assessment and personal knowledge. PersonaHolidays matches travelers with options that best match their character.

ABSOLUTELY  BARBADOS

absolutlely barbadosHighly Recommended Book about Absolutely Barbados. 5 Star reviews on Amazon!

This is fun read that is beautifully written and full of insights and stories of people, place and history. The author, Julian Armfied, a retired BBC commentator, set out to document his move for the UK to Barbados, giving up the life of society for the coconut palms and beach living. He found it far more compelling than he imagined as he set out “on a mission to discover the heart and soul of a Caribbean Paradise”

– Learn more at http://barbados.org/blog/absolutelybarbados

 

Plantation Lifestyles