| The word Caribbean evokes images of hot tropic | | | | British Military Prison. There a set of comprehensive |
| lands, colourful cultures, buried treasure and fabulous | | | | displays trace the island's development from |
| beaches - in short, the perfect vacation destination. | | | | prehistoric times to the present day. Displays include |
| One was to see into the heart of a country is by | | | | natural history including the local coral structure, |
| exploring museums, those treasure houses of a | | | | Amerindian culture, Barbadian history, and African and |
| country's past. Here we'll look into the Caribbean | | | | European decorative arts. Especially notable are the |
| world through unique museums in the Bahamas, | | | | collections of West Indian maps. |
| Barbados and Jamaica. | | | | Finally we look at the seductive islands of Jamaica. |
| First, we'll visit the Bahamas, an archipelago of 700 | | | | And what more fitting museum in the home of |
| islands and cays. In 1783 the Bahamas became a | | | | reggae than a shrine to its founder and high priest, |
| British colony, a status it was to maintain until 1973 | | | | Bob Marley? Located in the singer's former home in |
| when it gained independence. | | | | the capital Kingston, the Bob Marley Museum is the |
| One of the major themes of the Caribbean is of | | | | city's most popular site for visitors. |
| course pirates and the Bahamas was one of their | | | | The museum is housed in a simple clapboard building |
| lairs. This area was once the stomping ground of | | | | was not only Bob Marley's house but also his |
| such buccaneers as Captains Morgan and Kidd who | | | | recording studio until his death in 1981. And it was the |
| grew rich from the spoils of looting ships. If you want | | | | headquarters of Tuff Gong, the record label founded |
| a glimpse into this murky world you can visit the | | | | by Marley and his band The Wailers in 1970. The |
| Pirates of Nassau museum which recreates the | | | | museum also features an 80-seat theatre. |
| golden age of piracy (1690-1720). | | | | Reggae fans can feast their eyes on Marley |
| At the Pirates of Nassau museum you can stroll | | | | memorabilia such as his star-shaped guitar by the bed |
| through the body of a pirate ship eavesdropping on | | | | in his bedroom. You can also see the bullet holes that |
| the buccaneers as they plot their next attack. The | | | | tore through the rear wall during an assassination |
| museum is staffed with pirate impersonators and | | | | attempt in 1976 in which Marley was wounded. |
| features its own pub called the Malborough Arms. It's | | | | So when you take your Caribbean vacation, don't |
| especially great for kids. | | | | neglect the museums. Not only do they bring alive |
| Next is Barbados, an island that's part of the Lesser | | | | the history of a place, they're your conduit into the |
| Antilles located northeast of Venezuela. With its | | | | heart of a country, culture and people. Before |
| tropical climate, pink and white sand beaches, | | | | travelling to Jamaica, make sure that the hotel |
| sugarcane plantations and vibrant West Indian culture, | | | | reservations are in place. Hotels in Barbados and |
| Barbados is a deservedly popular tourist destination. | | | | hotels in Bahamas can easily be booked in advance |
| To get to know Barbados, head for the Barbados | | | | through the Internet, and then you will be able to |
| Museum, located at St Ann's Garrison, a former | | | | enjoy Jamaica at the best. |