| When visitors ask me about where to shop in | | | | by Vanita Comissiong and other major artists. |
| Barbados, my face (and mind) goes blank for a | | | | Upstairs is a fabulous lunch place, Treehouse Cafe. |
| moment. Shopping? Umm... I wouldn't call Barbados | | | | The food here is delish and the view from the |
| a shopping mecca exactly. The duty-free shops | | | | open verandah of the lush St George Valley |
| along Broad Street in Bridgetown are good for | | | | breathtaking. |
| buying designer watches and perfume (try Cave | | | | 4. Greenwich Antiques A hundred years ago, the |
| Shepherd and take your passport to get the | | | | building housing Greenwich Antiques was a genteel |
| duty-free price), but Rue de Saint-Honore it ain't. | | | | sugar plantation mansion. Today, the beautiful |
| It's best to view shopping in Barbados as part of | | | | home's rooms are filled to the brim with a range |
| your discovery of island culture instead of finding | | | | of treasures dating back to early 20th and late |
| a designer outfit. That way you won't be | | | | 19th centuries. Wander among heavy mahogany |
| disappointed. In fact, you'll be delighted, because | | | | furniture made by Barbados craftsmen, china, |
| what you find at the following is truly a piece of | | | | silver, and trinkets galore. I love going here with a |
| Barbados. My favorite places to shop and the | | | | girlfriend and taking my time sifting through the |
| places I suggest to visitors are these: | | | | organized clutter for treasures. Unless you have |
| 1. Earthworks Since 1978, Goldie Spieler and her | | | | the sort of husband who likes to wander aimlessly |
| son David have been creating whimsical and useful | | | | amongst old stuff, leave him on the beach while |
| ceramic dinnerware and serving pieces, | | | | you shop. Trents Hill, St James. |
| candlesticks, trivets, table decor, and much more, | | | | 5. Walkers World One of my very favorite stores |
| all the colors of our beautiful sea and watermelon | | | | in Barbados, Walkers World sells beautiful items |
| sunsets. Their studio is also their shop, in Edgehill | | | | for the home, some made locally and others |
| Heights, St Thomas. They ship, but it's lots of fun | | | | chosen with a good eye by owner Karin |
| to just buy a few pieces each time you visit | | | | Truedsson and imported. Two locations: St |
| Barbados and build your table collection slowly. | | | | Lawrence Gap in Christ Church and Edgehill, St |
| 246-425-0223 | | | | Thomas. |
| 2. Ins & Outs Emporium. Right next to | | | | 6. Best of Barbados Begun by famed Barbados |
| Earthworks, this little shop sells the best | | | | artist Jill Walker as a way to showcase local art, |
| marmalade (lime, grapefruit, orange, and more) | | | | Best of Barbados is today the #1 gift shop on |
| I've had anywhere in the world. The brand of the | | | | the island because of Jill's art. Jill's beautiful water |
| marmalade is called Ins & Outs and | | | | colors and oil paintings of traditional Barbados life |
| packaging is adorable; they stack three together | | | | have been reinterpreted on tea towels, pot |
| in a pretty package, making the marmalade a | | | | holders, beach towels, aprons, coffee mugs. You |
| special gift for friends. Ins & Outs also | | | | can also buy fine art prints and posters of Jill's |
| makes really great chutneys, pepper sauce, and | | | | playful street scenes of an era gone by and the |
| other food accompaniments. Be sure to pack | | | | gorgeous tropical flowers of Barbados. Several |
| what you buy in your checked luggage; I learned | | | | locations around the island, including St Lawrence |
| the hard way, by having three gifts packs of | | | | Gap and Grantley Adams International Airport. |
| marmalade (that's 9 jars!) confiscated at Grantley | | | | All of this is specialty shopping... and very special |
| Adams International Airport. I nearly cried! | | | | shopping. Every one of these spots has quality |
| 3. Also next to Earthworks is a fabulous little art | | | | items you won't find anywhere else. So who |
| gallery called On the Wall featuring gorgeous work | | | | needs Rue de Saint-Honore? |