Barbados Trek to History and Yachts

 In 1630, the Dutch established the city later known as Recife, Brazil, as their capital in the New World.  Since The Netherlands allowed Jews to be open about their religion, this was the site of the first openly Jewish community in the New World.  But in 1654, Portuguese Catholics took control of the city and they allowed Jews only if they converted to Catholicism.  So most of the Jews in Recife left, including about 300 that ended in Barbados where they established what is claimed to be the oldest synagogue in the Americas, Nidhe Israel (the scattered of Israel).  Jane and I walked there from the port, paid our entrance fee and wandered the fascinating museum, the cemetery and synagogue for a few hours--the museum is nicely air-conditioned, which, after our hot walk, greatly influenced us in staying there.

Arriving at the Synagogue Historic District

From there the trek continued downhill to the Barbados Yacht Club.  Though our Venice Yacht Club does not have reciprocal privileges, the staff allowed us in.  The Barbados Yacht Club includes a beach to envy.



And a final treat from the Barbados Department of Nonstandard Orthography:


We bade farewell to Barbados after walking nearly ten miles!



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