SAVOUR EVERYTHING BARBADOS HAS TO OFFER
Barbados has it all with heritage, food and entertainment
TORONTO, ON (February 15, 2012) – Barbados is a place unlike any other on earth. Its rich heritage and welcoming people mixed with exceptional cuisine and vibrant nightlife make this Caribbean island a destination that keeps Canadians coming back for more.
For those who want to go beyond the beach, Barbados tells a rich historical story that dates back to 1625 when the Portuguese christened the island through 1627 when the British landed to 1751 when George Washington made Barbados home for his ailing brother. The UN Educational, Scientific an2d Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Bridgetown’s historical importance in 2011 when Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison was named a World Heritage Site. The capital city earned its place on the prestigious list for the role that it played in the British Empire as a commercial centre and naval post. The historic sites include landmarks and homes such as George Washington House, St. Ann’s Garrison, the Careenage and the Bridgetown Dry Dock.
Learn how Barbados developed into the nation it is today at the Barbados Museum, a former military prison in the Garrison, and the Barbados Parliament, the third oldest Parliament in the Commonwealth. Barbados boasts many rare and historic structures, including one of the oldest synagogues and two of the three remaining Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere. Participate in the Barbados National Trust’s Open House Program, which shows a different home every week, including the recently added Colleton House with an extensive African art collection. This program provides visitors with a glimpse into Barbados’ rich history through these unique tours every Wednesday until the end of March.
Barbados’ reputation as a culinary capital has resulted in its’ national dish, cou cou and flying fish, earning a spot on National Geographic’s “Top 10- National Dishes” list. Cou cou, a smooth puree of cornmeal and okra, served with freshly caught flying fish is something no visitor should miss while visiting the seaside market of Oistins for the legendary Friday night Fish Fry.
No matter what your palate craves, the diverse dining experiences in Barbados will whet any appetite. From world-renowned restaurants such as The Cliff, to local restaurants such as Brown Sugar and Atlantis where local delicacies abound to Cuz’s flying fish sandwiches on Pebble’s Beach, there is never a shortage of mouthwatering options that artfully blend traditional dishes with modern touches.
As the birthplace of rum, Barbados has produced the world’s finest rums for the past 400 years and is home to the world’s oldest rum brand, Mount Gay Rum. Barbados also boasts artisan rums like the ones produced at St. Nicholas Abbey – a 354-year-old former plantation home in the Northern parish of St. Peter. Rum remains a large part of the Bajan culture with hundreds of brightly coloured rum shops scattered across the island, each serving their own version of the island’s famous rum punch.
One of the most unforgettable elements of a stay in Barbados is the nightlife. No matter where you go on the island, you’re sure to find amazing nightlife. Mingle with visitors and locals alike on Second Street in Holetown, a hotspot lined with restaurants and lounges such as Priva and Lexy’s Piano Bar, where talented musicians from all over the world delight patrons every night. The hills come alive with the sounds of soca and calypso during Crop Over, Barbados’ biggest, loudest, most fun and most loved festival that runs from the end of May until the beginning of August. This festival celebrates the end of the sugar cane harvesting season with a vibrant and colourful extravaganza of music, masquerade, heritage and culture.