But, visiting the island doesn’t mean trading in modern conveniences. Barbados boasts island-wide telecommunications and infrastructure, so it’ll be easy to tease your friends on the wintry mainland with tropical emails and "wish you were here" photos. Definitely plan some shopping during your trip, too. The favorable exchange rate – roughly two Barbadian dollars for each American dollar – means bargains abound.
At just 166 square miles, the relatively tiny island is situated east of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Atlantic Ocean. Barbados, with its long-standing Christian history, is divided into 11 parishes all named for saints with the exception of the southern-most parish, Christ Church.
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| Photo: flagspot.net |
Barbados was a British colony till its independence in 1966. The country’s official language is British English, which is used in all formal and written communication, but the Bajan dialect is frequently spoken in casual settings. (Better brush up on your reading, writing and arithmetic before you visit there, too. Barbados takes great pride in its free educational system and 97% literacy rate.) The Barbadian flag, designed by Grantley Prescod, features blue border panels representing the sky on the left and the sea on the right, and a center gold panel represents sand. The broken Neptune's trident in the middle symbolizes Barbados' break from its British colonial status.
America has some culturally significant ties to Barbadian history. South Carolina reportedly was first settled by Barbadians. Also, an American named Irving Burgie wrote the lyrics to the Barbados national anthem as a tribute to his mother's heritage.
African and West Indian influences are also evident in the island’s cultural heritage, traditions, arts and – especially pertinent to my endeavors – its cuisine. Not surprisingly, seafood is a dietary mainstay, especially flying fish, which is abundant in local supply. Pair flying fish with a traditional dish made with cornmeal and okra and you’ve made cou cou, the national dish of Barbados. (Certainly, cou cou is a recipe I should prepare as part of my Bajan cookery but, respecting my wife’s deep aversion to okra, I scratched it off my list.) And, of course, tropical fruits like breadfruit, papaya, pawpaw, mango and cassava feature prominently, as well.
Perhaps, though, Barbados is most famous among Westerners for being the purported birthplace of rum. Widely considered the world’s oldest distilled spirit, it was first made 370 years ago from the island’s copious sugar cane crop. According to legend, returning English sailors flaunted their Barbados rum as evidence they’d successfully crossed the Atlantic. Mount Gay Rum, the oldest existing brand, was first distilled in 1703.
So, prepare a traditional rum punch and toast this wonderful island nation. You’ll need to blend the right amounts of sour, sweet, strong and weak to brew the best rum punch. Here’s a good place to start: Add a dash of bitters to 1 part lime juice, 2 parts simple syrup, 3 parts Barbados rum, and 4 parts water or shaved ice.
Cheers!
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