Posts Tagged ‘heritage’

Patrick

On-Site Barbados: Oistins Fish Market By Day, Another Side to Barbados’ Best Weekly Party

Oistins Fish Market By Day, Barbados by Patrick Bennett

Visitors to Barbados who miss the weekly fish fry Friday nights (and Saturday nights too, but Friday is generally better) in Oistins are missing what has become the best weekly, open air parties on the island. But don’t be so quick to dismiss Oistins as a one trick pony. For Uncommon Caribbean travelers, a visit to Oistins any day of the week during the day offers a special, more authentic cultural experience… And as a bonus, better prices.
Before the weekly parties came along, Oistins was already a major fishing community in Barbados’ Christ Church parish. On any given day for a couple hundred years, an armada of small, traditional fishing vessels have bobbed in Oistin Bay, fishermen have weaved nets on the shore, and stands have provided fresh fish for lucky patrons.

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Steve

Uncommon Envy: My Wish for a Taste of Saba Spice

Saba Spice 2

There are uncommon destinations and then there are UNCOMMON destinations! Saba, among the smallest enclaves in all of the Caribbean, much less the decidedly Dutch part, absolutely qualifies in the ultra-bold, all-caps category. You may want to add an extra exclamation point or two for this beauty, though. Very few places better measure-up to our uncommon style of travel, with Saba Spice, the homemade dark rum liquor pictured here, representing one of the big reasons why…

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Steve

Saturday Video: Parang, the Spanish Soundtrack to a True Trini Christmas

Parang

At first listen or glance, you might think that today’s featured video was shot in Cuba, Puerto Rico, or some other corner of the Spanish Caribbean. Yes, they’re singing in Spanish, and the scene is most certainly tropical, but this joyous jam session actually depicts the quintessential Holiday Season musical tradition in Trinidad & Tobago. It’s called Parang, and like Carib, roti and Calypso, it’s Trini to de bone!

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Steve

Saturday Video: 3-Minute Culture & Heritage Guide to St. Kitts

milner

All Caribbean shores boast their own unique cultural heritage. There are similarities of course, but when you delve under the surface on your explorations throughout the region, you’re sure to be rewarded with one-of-a-kind experiences you can only have right where you are.
For a quick look at what you can expect the next time St. Kitts is where you are, check out this amazing video from UK-based filmmaker, Glen Milner.

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Steve

Uncommon Beauty: Suriname’s Star & Stripes

emaujhj via flickr

It’s never too early to start dreaming about next year’s Caribbean travel adventures, right?
Toward the end of last year, we made a case to put Dominica and Guyana at the top of our 2011 travel wish list. Unfortunately, Guyana will have to wait a bit longer, but our Dominica dreams are on-track to come true in November.
So, what other uncommon destination are we targeting for 2012? How about Suriname?
If you’ve never heard of it, don’t feel bad. Suriname is one country that is decidedly off-the-beaten-path in just about every way imaginable.
Like Guyana, Suriname is physically part of South America, though decidedly West Indian in terms of its culture, heritage, history, cuisine, music, etc.

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Steve

Uncommon Buy: The Original Crucian Hook Bracelet

me

I’m completely naked.
Not now, as far as you know, and not in the photo above either, though that would go a long way toward explaining the pained expression gracing the man in the background.
No, my nakedness is more of a figurative thing. A sad and empty condition of the soul brought on by the haphazard loss over this past weekend of one of my most prized possessions. A piece of jewelry that for me, and just about every Crucian who wears one, signifies the simple, yet magnificent awesomeness of our lickle island; our unique heritage, St. Croix‘s beauty and our home-island pride.

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Steve

Friday Happy Hour: DonQ Grand Añejo & the Quest for Rum Perfection

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Different people measure the greatness of different rums in different ways. For some, bold flavor is the key. For others, it’s a smooth finish. Still others place the greatest emphasis on the cane, distillation technique, and family bloodlines.
Me? I’m kind of partial to speed.
That is to say, the faster a particular bottle goes empty, the greater my impression of the rum.
By that measure, the squat bottle of sweetness pictured here is the best “new to me” rum I’ve tried so far this year. It’s called DonQ Grand Añejo, and it only lasted about a day-and-a-half around me over the June 11-12 weekend earlier this summer.

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