Barbados Local Customs

  Oistens New fish fry night area
by joanj
 
  • Oistens New fish fry night area
      Oistens New fish fry night area
    by joanj
  • Oistens vendors huts on main thoroughfare
      Oistens vendors huts on main...
    by joanj
  • seating area for fish fry
      seating area for fish fry
    by joanj
  • Area at the fish fry for the Very loud music
      Area at the fish fry for the Very loud...
    by joanj
  •   Local Customs
    by henri123
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Fish Fry Night

by joanj

An update for you all - Oistens has been refurbishing the area for Fish Fry nights, and I have now included some photographs to show you the refurbishment. It really has tidied up the area, and the vendors stalls are so colourful. All in all Oistens has been regenerated in this area. Do go to Oistens on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night to sample local food at its best, Friday night is noisy, with loud music, so much finger lickin' food to choose from, and colourful locals to watch reggae, or dance in their own inimitable way. Do not miss this , it is fun. Just get the bus to Oistens cooking starts when the sun goes down. Enjoy. Thursday nights are crowd free, and you can obtain your food almost immediately, there is no music, but still good food.The photo shows the two slate roof buildings which houses the catch of the day and the locals who clean the fish ready for sale. Please be...

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Photographer

by Rachael71

Our wedding photographer, Eleanor, was just superb. She is highly in demand for weddings across the island and has links with many of the hotels so is very experienced at making the perfect record of the day (in fact, she recently took the pictures when Tiger Woods was married at the Sandy Lane Hotel!) Her package prices are extremely reasonable (from $BDS850 for 36 photos, plus album and all negatives), especially compared to the cost of photography for a UK wedding. Eleanor mounts the pictures in an album and delivers them to you before the end of the holiday. She has a wonderful way with people too, which is so important. The only gripe i have is that she took so many great pictures, we are having trouble deciding which ones to have framed now that we're back home!

Hairdresser

by Rachael71

I wasn't too sure where to post this tip, so 'local customs' will have to do!I had a wonderful hairdresser, Valerie, for my big day. She has her own salon at the main shopping centre in Holetown, and the package we booked with her included a hair trial at the salon the day before, with Valerie coming to the villa we stayed at a few hours before the wedding itself to transform us. I was so pleased with what she did - I have very straight and very thick hair that is difficult to work with, but she transformed it into a wonderful 'up' do of curls and ringlets, with my tiara fitting perfectly. If like me you are not sure what you would like and what will suit you, Valerie will make a perfect recommendation. The picture shows my sister, who had fresh flowers from the garden worked into her hair.I really did feel like a princess, and would recommend her very highly to anybody looking for a...

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Marrying in Barbados

by Rachael71

We had a lot of help in organising our marriage in Barbados, but one thing we did have to do ourselves was purchase the marriage licence. Take your passport and birth certificates (and, if relevant, decree absolute or death certificate of your previous spouse) to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is near the General Post Office in Bridgetown. You will also need a BDS$25 postage stamp, and BDS$100 for the marriage licence. Then it is just a matter of completing some forms, and swearing an oath on the Bible that all the information you have given is true and accurate (at that point we did begin to wonder if we would be leving the Ministry as a married couple with the ceremony the followng day being a mere formaility!)The process is fairly quick, but be prepared to queue if you are getting married at a popular time of year.

Chattel Houses - Keeping up a tradition.

by joanj

These few pictures show a Chattel house on the St. Lawrence Road, Christchurch that was in desperate need of repair. The first picture shows the beginning of the wooden structure, the foundation having been left.The next two pictures show the nearly completed outside of the property. Pictures 1 and 2 were taken about a week apart, and picture 3 only a few days later.Chattel Houses were used by early African Plantation workers. They were built on cement blocks, and so could be dismantled easily and moved to other pantations. They were able to move them because the workers did not own the land they were built on.As their income improved, they were able to add on to the house.Sometimes these little houses have many family members all living together. They are small but compact.Today, many Chattel Houses are used as craft shops, notably in Holetown, St. James on the West Coast, and St....

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Hurricane Shelters

by joanj

You will find dotted about the island, Hurricane Shelters in the form of the local Church. This particular photograph is of the St. Lawrence Church which was consecrated on 5th November 1839, and established a Parish on 15th January 1977.As the Church is the centre of the Community, it makes sense to have them as the gathering place in an Emergency.

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Sundays are religious days

by claire1011

If you want to see the locals dressed up get a bus on a Sunday and just go for a ride on it, the ladies wear grand dresses,hats and shoes to match, bless um. The guys are in suits and look very posh, its a pleasure to see them and they know they look good too even if they are about 20yrs out of date!!!!!

Legendary Friday Nights

by TexasDave

If you are in Barbados on a Friday you must make it to Oistins, on the South shore, for the fish fry put on by the locals. The different grilled fish fillets are offered by about a dozen or more vendors, but almost all offer flying fish, the local speciality. Walk around first and check different one out; most offer free samples. Prices are good, mostly about US$ 8-10 per plate.Don't get there too early, because once it gets dark live island music is played for all to hear. There are also several trinket vendors offering different styles of jewelry and other handicrafts.

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Cricket

by Hewer

Bajans have a habit of taking something English and making it their own - cricket is a good example. The sport was first played here by the colonists and remains hugely popular. During the annual international home matches (usually March to June), everyone is talking cricket. You'll see old men with transistor radios, taxi drivers will have it on the radio and you'll see it in the press. One image I'll never forget is entering a supermarket in Worthing and seeing a bunch of men gathered around a TV showing the cricket while their significant others looked after the shopping.Barbados has won the regional championship (currently called the Carib Cub) a record 18 times, although they finished last in 2005. I'm sure they'll bounce back! This is the undisputed national passtime.

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Look closely at the pavers..

by Hewer

In many of the older buildings in the country, you can see inscriptions on the pavers and bricks used both in the foundations or in the construction of the surrounding walkways and gardens.These bricks were used as ballast in the old sugar freighters and then reused in construction after the freighters left with their cargo. The names refer to ships or trading companies.

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Local traditions and culture in Barbados

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Has anyone used Drive Barbados for car hire? They have quite reasonable rates but can't find any reviews anywhere and aren't... 

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A: We had a car in Barbados but it was from Top Hat. Keep in mind that you have to get a Bajan license and that will be extra. Depending on the season you go, I wouldn't... 

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