Barbados is renowned as being an island paradise where sun, sea
and sand create the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday. There
are stunning golf courses and restaurants dotted around the island
and a variety of different activities for couples and families make
it the ideal location to jet off to. However in recent times other
aspects of the island have been attracting media attention and the
stereotypical Barbadian holiday may be evolving to include a
greater interest in the culture and heritage of the country.
A notable example of the growing popularity of cultural events
on the island is the annual Food & Wine and Rum Festival which
attracts many of the top chefs from around the globe along with
local chefs to promote the quality of the nation's produce and
cuisine. With events ranging from gourmet experiences on yachts or
in the island's finest restaurants to interactive cooking class
given by renowned chefs, there is something for everyone during the
festival which is now a firm favourite on the gastronomic
calendar.
Sporting events have always been highlights of the Barbadian
social calendar. Almost everyone on the island is an avid cricket
fan and Test Matches often create a carnival like atmosphere around
the Kensington Oval Ground. The Cricket Legends of Barbados
International Cup (CLOBI Cup) is an annual series contested in
November between veterans of the sport from both the West Indies
and around the world. Music, food and a crowd creating a festival
mood combine to make this a fun event for all the family. ITC
Sports run an annual tour to the cricket and report that it is not
to be missed! In an equally entertaining event, this year brought
with it the inaugural British Airways Football Legends Invitational
Tournament which saw legends such as Dwight Yorke, Gianfranco Zola
and strangely Brian Lara take to the field.
There are few things done better in Barbados than a Festival,
and in particular the annual celebration of the sugar cane harvest.
The fiesta's highlight is the amazing final procession with
everyone wearing sequined clothes and feather headdresses. The
thousands of participants wearing a myriad of colours show
perfectly, how to party in a truly Caribbean style.
ITC Classics offers a wide range of properties on the island,
from the luxury of Sandy Lane to the secluded location of the
Colony Club, all of which are perfect for a relaxing break.
However, next time you try Barbados; why not venture into the towns
and sample the customs of island life?
