VUE

This past November, JetBlue made its first ever flight from Newark to Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. As the largest airline in the Caribbean, JetBlue teamed up with government officials and high profile Barbadians to make the island more accessible to Tri- State residents. Joined by Miss Universe Barbados, Barbados Ambassador to the UN Keith Marshall and Plainfield, NJ's own Barbadian Mayor, Adrian Mapp, VUE hopped aboard this inaugural flight on JetBlue's brand new 150-seat Airbus A320 for a closer look at what the island has to offer. One of the first things you'll notice about Barbados, other than the incredibly welcoming locals, are all the small reminders of British influence, in both customs and colonial architecture. Ironically, JetBlue's inaugural flight to Bridgetown coincided with the eve of Barbados' 50th Anniversary of Independence from Great Britain. Barbados, the easternmost island in the Caribbean, gained full independence in 1966, after having been a British territory since the 1600s. There's a real patriotism deep-rooted in every Barbadian and that extends to Mayor Mapp who was particularly ecstatic about the inaugural flight, dubbing himself "an unofficial ambassador" of Barbados. At the center of the visit was our stay at the Tamarind by Elegant Hotels, a 104-room contemporary luxury hotel set along a pristine 750-foot stretch of white sand beach. Ideal for couples, families and even large retreats, the beachfront hotel BATHSHEBA BEACH (EAST COAST) TAMARIND HOTEL V U E N J . C O M 114 VUE ON TRAVEL

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