Barbados Culture

Cultural monument to 22 years? Yes you can. Since winning gold in 110 meter hurdles at the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin (2009), young Ryan has become the darling of Barbadians and the symbol of their commitment to international recognition.

On the day of his return to the island, the schools were closed early for the whole population can go to the airport to welcome him! A ceremony followed, led by Prime Minister strongly red carpet, dances, songs and poems ...
Finally a successor to Obadele Thompson, the first Olympic medalist in the history of Barbados?

Chattel houses

This is a typical Barbadian home. The Chattel house, typical of the late nineteenth century, is a wooden house originally inhabited the plantation workers of sugar cane. Can be fired at any time, condemned to homelessness, they conceived of shacks completely removed and reinstalled! Small, they were made to the economy: the parts did not exceed the length of these American pine boards used to build ...

Gradually, the Chattel houses were offered for architectural and decorative elements inspired by those of the Georgian mansions of the planters: a central door flanked by symmetrical windows, friezes ornamental wooden boxes like Reunion. When the family grew, they built a lean-to side, then two, then three ... Often carried away by the fire, chattel houses have survived in numbers in Speightstown, on the northwest coast.

Great houses

They, often, that inspired the decoration of chattel houses. These large colonial mansions, reinforced to withstand tropical storms, inspired by the architectural lines of mainstream English: Georgia especially, but also to Jacobean older, as the planting of St Nicholas Abbey.

Cricket

Introduced to Barbados by the British in the late nineteenth century, cricket was originally reserved for settlers. It spreads slowly in the rest of society, but each class and 'racial' had its own team. The Wanderers and Pickwicks represented the upper middle class white and officials of His Majesty stationed on the island, the Carlton and YMPC, the lower middle class and white workers. The first club was that of Black Spartans.

According to his story, the local cricket has given many great players, starting with "W 3", all three ennobled for their sport - Sir Frank Worrell (the first black captain of the team of the Lesser Antilles), Sir Everton Weekes and Sir Clyde Walcott. Another "knight" of cricket, Garfield (Gary) Sobers is a true national hero. It is considered by experts as the best all-rounder of all time. Basically, a versatile player who could also be a drummer launcher.

We should also mention Charlie Griffith, so powerful that it fractured the skull of one day a receiver (!) And Wes Hall, now sports minister and pastor. It was he who got the organization in Barbados and other Caribbean islands in the 2007 World Cup. If you want to watch a game, go to the Kensington Oval. You can visit, close to the Cricket Legends of Barbados Museum. Proof, if needed, the importance given to the sport on the island!

The great houses were built of brick ballast and coral blocks, which provided excellent insulation against the summer heat. To cool off, they were most often high, thus affirming a social vision as domination. Awnings, blinds and conservatory allowed to keep the heat away from the shadows by providing and promoting air circulation.

Lime

No, we do not speak lime ... To file, Caribbean English is fun, hanging out with friends or girlfriends - one, two, three, the number does not count, as we have fun.

So what's a Good file? A trip to the restaurant, canned, the rum shop, a glass and presto, you're done. Especially not to party. There, you have to plan, book, dress ... the galley, you know. Even a Good meragosses open file, once or twice a week: a herd of kids, the gossip with friends, and always a glass in hand. Cheers!