Live in Barbados

Justine Picardie has a nice piece in the Telegraph on Barbados’ colonial past, the Coral Reef Club, St. Nicholas Abbey, Fisherpond and Miss Marple…

There is much about Barbados that has changed since its day as a British colony, but as the gin and tonics clink, you can still see why the island became known as Little England, or Bimshire (the origins of which are obscure). Unlike other Caribbean isles, fought over by a variety of invaders, Barbados was under uninterrupted British control from the first landing of sailors in 1625 until the coming of independence in 1966. There seems to be an even greater concentration of cricket pitches and polo fields here than in the Home Counties, and the place names, like the architecture, are testament to its colonial past (Chancery Lane, Clapham, Hastings, Scarborough).

via Barbados: Sun, sea and G&T – Telegraph.

In this video, Andrew Rapson, owner of Fishy Bizness, talks us through the preparations of Sea Cat (similar to an Octopus). Fishy Bizness supply some of the freshest fish on Barbados and have a reputation for supplying the highest quality only. Whilst Fishy Bizness do supply commercially to establishments such as The Cliff and Daphne’s, they also supply to private homes. Feel free to contact Andrew on +1 246 232 9180!

Barbados’s rum shops are the perfect distillation of the island’s warmth, flavour and spirit. There are 1200 or so around the island, mostly housed in old, brightly painted chattel houses, and they are much more than simply local bars.

First licensed on the island in 1652, shortly after rum was first manufactured, rum shops have often been family owned for generations and they perform many functions: as well as serving alcohol, they are part grocery shop, restaurant, beach cafe, music venue, meeting place and community centre.

Rum is a definitively social drink in the Caribbean, and in rum shops you buy the spirit in different sized bottles, not by the glass, to make it easier for sharing. The atmosphere is at once friendly, laid-back and egalitarian. This is where the fisherman hangs out with the local police chief, the electrician with a national politician.

Like in any good bar or pub, conversation is paramount, with talk often turning to the major issues of the day. Cricket and politics are rum shop staples; debates are respectful though often passionate and lively. It’s fun to just stand by and listen.

My favourite place to drink rum on Barbados is John Moore’s bar in Weston in the west coast parish of St James.

One of the oldest rum shops on the island, the bar is located just along the beach from a fish market that supplies its small kitchen with fresh flying fish, snapper and kingfish. You can’t miss it; the shop is emblazoned in the red and white colours of its commercial sponsor – ironically enough, Smirnoff vodka.

John Moore has a convivial front bar that serves the island’s local Banks beer as well as fine rums such as Foursquare’s Old Brigand, Cockspur Five Star and Mount Gay Extra Old. The staff here also mix a mean rum punch.

There is almost always a good mix of regulars, locals, travellers and visitors. So popular was the bar with former Barbadian prime minister Owen Arthur that at weekends, rather than staying in his official residence in Bridgetown, he often used to hang out here.

The menu includes local dishes such as pepper pot, cou-cou, salt fish, split peas and rice and sweet potatoes. John Moore also occasionally serves “pudding and souse”, a traditional Bajan dish comprising the head and trotters of a pig that are boiled and then pickled with onion, cucumber and pepper.

Caribbean games such as draughts, warri, and especially dominoes are played in the back room. You’ll know if a game of dominoes is in full swing; counters are slapped down onto vinyl-topped tables like exploding firecrackers.

Philip Watson, contributing editor, Esquire, London

Many people visit Barbados and seem to miss out on experiencing Speightstown, which is on its own accord one of the most beautiful towns on the island. The best part of Speightstown, in my opinion,  is the stretch along the coast, where you will find cafes, banks, shopping stores, pubs, friendly people and super friendly fruit and veggie vendors.  It’s where I shop for my fruit and veggies every week!

Most people don’t need much edging when it comes to the utopian plusses of living on a Caribbean island, but Barbados may be one of the most ideal for expat living. We recommend the quaint Speightstown, which is the second largest town on the island behind Bridgetown.

The city is named after William Speight, a member of Barbados’ first Assembly during the colonial years as well as the former land owner where the city is located. Many historic buildings dating from colonial times, including Arlington House, still remain standing in the town and can be seen mostly along Queen Street, Church Street and Orange Street.

Source: www.expatify.com

For those of you interested in some Barbados culture, you should join in on one of the many festivities that run from early July into the first week of August, known as ‘Crop Over’ or ‘Kadooment’ to some. There’s lots of dancing, incredible beaded costumes, calypsonian competitions and much more.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Barbados is gearing up for another action-packed year with the unveiling of its 2009 Calendar of Festivals & Events. With lively music, performing arts, film and culinary festivals, as well as exciting surfing, polo, cricket, domino, golf and horse racing tournaments throughout the year, there has never been a better reason to visit Barbados. 

Source: www.articlearchives.com