Afternoon Tea in Barbados:
An English Tradition Lives on in This Isle Known Affectionately as "Little
England" by Marcia Niles
 Its
colonial past is long gone, but there is still a British air about Barbados.
The fact that England predominately ruled this island in the sun when other
European powers were battling it out for possession of neighboring colonies,
might explain the lingering affects of British rule. But not to be mistaken
-- on this land of pristine beauty and charm, you'll find a nation with
a culture uniquely its own. Taking a break for afternoon tea is a tradition
bajans enjoy. When visiting Barbados, you can expect to be served tea,
unless of course, you prefer the other dark stuff.
In the capital city of Bridgetown,
on Trafalgar Square, (renamed Heroes Square, a tribute to Barbadian heroes,)
there is a statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson, the English naval commander.
The statue was erected in 1813 here, many years before England had her
own.
 Many
places in Barbados bear British names: Worthing, Oxford, Brighton, Queen
Mary Road, Queen Victoria Road, Prince Alfred Street, Plymouth Square,
Yorkshire, and Bath, just to name a few.
The game of cricket is by
far the most notable of English customs, and Barbados has produced one
of the greatest who ever played the sport: Sir Garfield Sobers -- Regarded
as the world's greatest all-rounder, he rose to international acclaim as
captain of the West Indies team. Shortly after retiring in 1974, he was
knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at the Garrison Savannah in Barbados. He
is among the 10 Barbados National Heroes.
In the spring of 2007, Barbados
and other Caribbean nations hosted World Cup Cricket. For more on this
event, visit http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/events/worldcup/
On Barbados, English is the
official language, but bajan dialect is commonly spoken. Bajans are often
told that there is a hint of the British accent in their speech. The literacy
rate in Barbados is around 97% which ranks third in the world. With a highly
educated workforce, and stable economy, it's one of the most prosperous
nations in the Caribbean.
top
For accommodation in Barbados,
visit All World
Vacation Station
Resources : Copyright
2007. Island Living Digest Magazine. Marcia Niles is the Editor/Publisher
of Island Living
Digest Magazine, an online publication that celebrates the beauty and
charm of the Caribbean.
Keywords : caribbean islands,
caribbean travel |
