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blog https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/ Christmas in the Caribbean https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/christmas-in-the-caribbean/ While each region has its own Christmas traditions, many date back to the Colonial era. So expect rich foods, yuletide masks and elaborate costumes - and a great-sounding rendition of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer on steel pans. 
Yuletide traditions vary throughout the Caribbean, with many of the Lesser Antilles celebrating different Christmas customs to the Greater Antilles and its neighbouring isles. Sure, they all tend to have the same catchy Calypso versions of festive songs that you’ll find throughout the region and like elsewhere in the Caribbean, the people on each island also go into cleaning mode in readiness for the hospitality and togetherness of Christmastime. With some European influences, certain similarities exist in regards to the festivities, yet the Caribbean boasts a very distinct feel and flavour.
In Grenada, one of the most beloved Christmas traditions is the Christmas masquerades: the famous costumed parades, colourful dances and celebratory street parties that typify the festive season. In readiness for the season, the masquerade bands save a special repertoire of interactive music and dance to perform. Each is named after the traditional masks they wear, including the Wild Cow (with prominent horns), the Horse Head (an equine mask), the Policeman, the Devil, and other weird and wonderful characters. 
During colour-rich, musical processions, the wearers of the masks prance around like crazy people, scaring children, and whooping and hollering to rouse the crowds that line the streets. After dancing to the cheers, theleader of the pack will hold his hat out for money (or a tot of rum). This sparks up a collective chant from onlookers: “Christmas come but once a year, and every man must have his share. Only poor Willy in the jail, drinking sour ginger beer!” 
On Carriacou, in addition to the masquerades, the locals have another proud musical tradition at Christmas, known as Parang. This beguiling ritual is a style of Christmas carols sung in groups and the annual Parang Festival has been a huge event in the run-up to Christmas since 1977. 
In Trinidad and Tobago, the islanders have their own parang culture, singing a less uptempo repertoire of Christmas songs that all have Spanish lyrics and without the Carriacou’s drums, string instruments, maracas, tambourine and saxophone. However at all the islands, the parang are enjoyed by children who clap along with the music, dreaming of the sweets and toys they will receive on Christmas Day. 
In Barbados,their are some special Christmas foods that are enjoyed by the islanders, and while they may look similar to many of those enjoyed on other Caribbean islands, the recipes are flavoured with a distinctly different spice mix. Slices of dark black cake served on Christmas Day are made from dried fruit soaked in generous quantities of local rum and heavily spiced with nutmeg with every member of each family taking a turn to stir the mix. 
When a festive meal is served in anAntiguan home, the aromas of garlic, roast pork, pepper and the spices mingle gloriously with the smells of polished wood, varnish, fresh paint and scrubbed floor tiles – the unmistakable scent of Christmas in a house proud island expecting plenty of visiting neighbours, family and friends. 
In the Cayman Islands you’ll hear plenty of renditions of Jingle Bells with a reggae beat during the annual tree lighting festival when a 40ft tree becomes a dazzling spectacle at the end of The Paseo on The Crescent by the bay. Local choirs, bands, foods and crafts make this a truly cherished time of the year. 
In Trinidad and Tobago, a highly spiced ginger beer and port are served freely throughout Christmas Day as a reward for abstinence on Christmas Eve, when the menfolk traditionally embark on a gruelling trek into the forest to find the perfect Christmas tree. When they find a suitable specimen, they chop it down with an axe and haul it all the way home for a hero’s welcome. Christmas mealsare typically apples and grapes, sorrel, ponche-de-creme (a version of egg nog), ham, turkey, homemade bread, pastelles (a version of Spanish tamales) and a local-recipefruitcake. 
Families in St Lucia gather for a dinner-time feast on Christmas Day, joining friends and family around a large communal table.Making the meal is an all-hands-on-deck affair with multiple island dishes and seasonal foods that range from roast lamb and turkey, locally harvested yams and plantains to and plates of oven-baked sweet potatoes. Tue, 03 Dec 2019 07:07:54 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/christmas-in-the-caribbean/ EASTER IN THE CARIBBEAN https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/easter-in-the-caribbean/ The Caribbean is an egg-cellent place to celebrate Easter, so you’ve cracked if you plan to be on palm-trimmed shores this spring.
Every individual Caribbean isle has its own unique way of celebrating Easter. Some are influenced by Spanish Catholic traditions. Others bear the telltale signs Portuguese, Dutch and Indian cultural sway. All mix Christian beliefs, with pagan folklore and sun-filled frivolity.
As the second-biggest religious celebration in the annual calendar, Easter is a big-deal across the Caribbean where a church, chapel or cathedral denotes every village, town and city. Vivid bursts of colour typify each and every Easter celebration in the Caribbean, from the imaginative pepper-scattered fish dishes that grace every table in St Lucia on Good Friday to the posh hats worn to church on Easter Sunday in Jamaica; elaborate tropical floral displays found everywhere in Tobago and Easter lambs that gambol over Barbados’s wild-flower pasture. After the joyous hedonism and revelry of Carnival that signifies the beginning of the Lenten season, Good Friday – the day of Christ’s crucifixion - is a much more solemn affair. Families spend time together, attend Mass and refrain from eating meat: a symbolic act of abstinence in recognition of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Local islanders also stay away from the beach on Good Friday due a Caribbean-wide superstition that to do so brings bad luck. Take a dip at your peril, they warn, as it is sure to see you develop a rainbow of scales and turn into a fish.
By Easter Sunday, events take on a more jubilant air, as Christian believers celebrate the Resurrection. With the Easter weekend falling in the dry season in the Caribbean, the weather is always hot and breezy so after church everyone heads outside to picnic and fly a kite. In the Caribbean, kite-flying is synonymous with Easter with Sunday the day that islanders in Grenada, St Lucia, Trinidad &amp; Tobago, Barbados and Antigua unveil their home-spun creations to cheering crowds. By lunchtime the skies are filled with billowing bright-coloured kite designs that range from beautiful to bizarre. Expect anything from butterflies to pug-faced politicians, oversized pop queens and cruel effigies of Judas Iscariot – the villain who betrayed Christ. Families gather to gossip on the beach with the tradition breaking of the egg at precisely midday on Good Friday a popular topic of conversation. The shape of the egg white in a water-filled glass is said to determine your destiny - and everyone enjoys speculating on what the next year holds in terms of love, marriage and wealth. Other Easter superstitions include cutting a knife into the bark of a native tree to purge the crimson sap – a purging ritual in memory of the blood of Jesus. Some folk trap snakes over Easter in order to try to see their feet – though nobody seems to know why! Yet the single shared Easter tradition is food – and plenty of it. Easter dishes include stuffed shrimp, marinated fish with buttered vegetables in Grenada and seasoned lobster with rice and curried mango in St Lucia while in Jamaica local bakers struggle to keep up with the national demand for Bun and Cheese at Easter-time: a sweet, spicy, raisin filled bun cooked with the locally famous Tastee Cheese that is sold packaged in decorative boxes. In Trinidad and Tobago, entire communities spend weeks planning what they are going to wear to church on Good Friday and Easter Sunday – everyone attends in immaculate attire with the women topping off their outfits with grand hats. In Barbados, traditionalists still prefer to dress in black-and-white while in Antigua the Easter holiday is characterised by colourful street parades, sailing and boat racing regattas. Everyone is early welcomed to these family-friendly events – so make an Easter bonnet, fly a kite, go to Sunday Mass, eat well-spiced succulent fish, buy buns from the bakery and crack an egg into a glass of water in the warm islands of the Caribbean. You’re certain to have a cracking Easter! Tue, 03 Dec 2019 07:06:19 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/easter-in-the-caribbean/ Cycling in the Caribbean https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/cycling-in-the-caribbean/ From gentle family cycling trips, pedal-pounding biking tours and fun-filled leisurely bike excursions to thrilling mountain bike adventures through bird-filled rainforests - the Caribbean has them all. 
Two-wheeling in the Caribbean is a rewarding way to sightsee and appreciate the beauty of each island. Quiet roads, cool breezes and numerous route options offer everything from self-guided bike hire to well-organized trips.There are an array of bike routes to suit every ability and age with itineraries that range from short, leisurely family tours to gruelling slogs up mountain peaks. Unbeatable views of rain-forests, plantations and palm-fringed shores ensure the miles slip effortlessly by, and off plenty of “wow” while you’re in the saddle. 
In BARBADOS choose from daily coastline and culture cycling, panoramic cross-country mountain biking, or upscale cycling packages designed for holiday-makers. These come with a professional tour guide, airport meet-and-greet and hotel transfers and are organized to soak up the scenery of back-country roads with bike rental is available. Most cycle tour guides stick to the quieter east coast routes where you’ll spot wildlife grazing at the side of the road. See: <a href="http://www.barbados.org/">www.barbados.org</a>. 
Cycling in ST LUCIA is typically along roughshod mountain biking trails that are graded to suit all cyclists from beginner to seasoned pro. Delve into dense rainforest along mulch-sawdust cycle paths that weave up-and-down hills or trace the island’s shoreline on anti-clockwise loop. A round-island trip offers natural challenges for experienced riders, basic trails for beginners, and single track intermediate level loops for advanced bikers with long but gradual uphills and steep, fast downhills. The most Soufrière to Vieux Fort is less grueling with plenty of time for a slow-paced pat of the pedals in order to admire the views. See: <a href="http://www.bikestlucia.com/">www.bikestlucia.com</a> 
With its British colonial past, JAMAICA boasts a long cycling history so there are plenty of bike rental and tour operators across the island. Several cycling guides offer trips out across a nice mix of gentle terrain, forested mountains, coastal routes and rolling green hills. Thrill seekers will enjoy the more challenging hairpin bends, blood-pumping ascents and hair-raising free-wheeling downhill routes that characterize the Blue Mountains cycle trails. Check out the Jamaica By Bike website <a href="http://www.jamaicabybike.com/">www.jamaicabybike.com</a> for cycling events for all the family, including rides through the scenic Bog Walk Gorge, traversing the historic Flat Bridge along the banks of the Rio Cobre river to Bog Walk followed by a gradual climb over Mount Rosser to Ocho Rios, a spellbinding two-wheeled adventure! See: <a href="http://www.jamaicacycling.com/">www.jamaicacycling.com</a> 
Fantastic scenery is a contact companion on the cycle routes of GRENADA along miles of old mule trails and dirt tracks are perfect for mountain bikers. Bike rentals, repairs (potholes can swallow you whole!) and spare parts are available across the island. For a genteel meander in the saddle try the peaceful route between Sauteurs and Victoria while the ride through the Grand Étang is a five to six hour cycling challenge up steep hills to a beautiful forest reserve. See Grenada Cycling on Facebook. 
ANTIGUA is a great place to sightsee in-the-saddle as the island is small, the hills are negotiable and generally not too steep, the scenery varied. Villages are better appreciated from a slow moving bicycle than from a speeding car - and as you pass through friendly communities you will be greeted by waves and smiles!The island has some good bike shops, a local cycle club and more than a dozen cycling routes (five in the Falmouth area and nine across the rest of Antigua). Pack a cycle repair kit on these thorn-scattered roads as they are as sharp as steel needles! Local guide Ira Fabian - a road bike racer, cycle trainer, Olympian (he represented Antigua in Seoul in 1988) and tourist guide with more than 30 years of cycling under his belt. With Ira, you’ll see Antigua from the best seat in the house — a bike saddle. See: <a href="http://www.antiguacycling.com/">www.antiguacycling.com</a> 
TRINIDAD &amp; TOBAGO - in Port of Spain, an excellent bicycle shop is owned by a retired professional cyclist who repairs and rents bikes with a passion. In Carnbee, you’ll find a thriving cycle scene with Tobagan riders happy to swap tips, trails and routes - a favourite is the trail between L'Anse Fourni and Charlotteville. See: <a href="http://www.ttcyclingfederation.org/">www.ttcyclingfederation.org</a> Tue, 03 Dec 2019 07:05:17 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/cycling-in-the-caribbean/ FAIRWAYS TO HEAVEN https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/fairways-to-heaven/ The golf courses of the Caribbean offer perfect manicured greens and sweeping fairways bunkered by white sands - with panoramic views the only distraction. 
With its idyllic palm-trimmed powdery beaches, fabulous sunshine, cloudless skies and lengthy golf pedigree, the Caribbean is considered a golfing utopia by golfers used to cooler climes. Conditions are near-perfect, with rich, green fairways and impeccable hibiscus-lined greens with plenty to do well away from the greens for non-golfing spouses or family. Jaw-dropping views ensure that every player, from novice hackers to scratch golfers, relish the experience and have a good time.And, should a ball stray off the straight and narrow, it’s fun to watch the lizards scurry under coconuts and foliage. There’s no worry about the weather, thanks to 360 days of sunshine - the only ice you’ll find is in a drink at the 19th.
The promise of warm Caribbean sun on the greens each morning remains as seductive as ever with all of the main golfing destinations home to a recognized course, from(A-to-Z) Anguilla to Turks &amp; Caicos. Many golf facilities are linked to hotels or residential communities, with the remaining facilities standalone, ensuring an interesting mix of styles and layouts, many built by pro golfers such as Tom Lazio and Colin Montgomery. According to the recent reports there are nine new courses in development with an additional 21 now at the planning phase and earmarked to open before 2025.
Some of the newest facilities include the Baha Mar set on Nassau’s famous Cable Beach in the Bahamas.Five ritzy hotels, a villa designed by rock star Lenny Kravitz, a 30,000 sq ft luxury spa, 40 restaurants and a casino of epic proportions has been built at a cost of well over $3.5billion but has redefined top-notch golfing holidays in the Caribbean.A state-of-the-art Tournament Players Club (TPC) facility - the first ever in the Bahamas - boasts a Jack Nicklaus signature design with tournament-hosting capabilities. Offering “two courses in one,” a dramatic front nine is framed by ocean views and other water features while the back nine meanders through inland forest. The Baha Mar’s 16th hole has an Island Green deserving of a sharp intake of breath.
Other notable developments in the Caribbean include a doubling of the number of golf courses in St Kitts &amp; Nevis with the addition of a Tom Fazio course at the Christoph Harbour Resort and an 18-hole course at Kittittian Hill.Other lesser-known gems include a club in The Out islands that has “Sip Sip’ comfort stations after the 4th and 16th greens and the 12th tee - Bahamian-style lounges equipped with washrooms and well-stocked shelves of candies, cookies, cocktails and other treats.On Great Guana Cay, the Baker's Bay course is the recipient of rave reviews and, at a touch over 7,327 yards, this Tom Fazio designed Par 72 is notable for its dramatic water views from 11 of the 18 holes. The Out Islands, loosely defined as everything excluding Nassau and Grand Bahama, welcomed the opening of Baker’s Bay in 2010. Watch out for the 18th - it’s an oceanside par-five dramatic finisher with a prevailing winter wind that belches the ball out to sea. Green fees: £65-£75, <a href="http://www.bakersbayclub.com/">www.bakersbayclub.com</a> The volcanic island of Saint Lucia is characterized by the two Piton Mountains on its western side and has a trio of golf facilities that offer a total of 45 holes. The 9-hole par 33 La TOC course at Sandals Regency Resort is undoubtedly the most fun holiday course. Hotel guests can play unlimited rounds without paying green fees with priceless views from high on the bluff over the bay. Fees are highly competitive off-peak. Green fees: All inclusive, <a href="http://www.sandals.co.uk/">www.sandals.co.uk</a> The original 9-holes at the Cedar Valley Golf Course opened in 1970 with a further nine added in 1977. Today, as Antigua’s only 18-hole championship golf course, this par-70 tropical layout renowned through the Caribbean region for its classical design. Stretching 6,157 yards through mature bird-filled woodlands, and offering gasp-inducing hilltop views across the Caribbean Sea, the Cedar Valley is a nature-lovers delight - but as it sits in an airless valley players here should be prepared for sauna-like sweltering heat.Green fees: £55-£65<a href="http://cvgolfantigua.com/">http://cvgolfantigua.com</a> Of all of the courses in Barbados, it is Tom Fazio's modern marvel The Green Monkey that steals the limelight in its commanding location in the parklands of the island’s most famous five-star resort - the Sandy Lane Country Club. Five lakes and three par 5s and three par 3s on the back nine characterize this lush tropical layout: a 72 par, 7,343-yard course carved from an old limestone quarry that creeps along the shore. Other-worldly exposed rock faces form dramatic contrasts to the lush, rolling greens of the fairways and offer tremendous elevation change - a heady, one-in-a-lifetime golfing thrill.Green fees: £75 - £155. <a href="http://www.sandylane.com/">www.sandylane.com</a> Tue, 03 Dec 2019 07:03:33 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/fairways-to-heaven/ LOVE all https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/love-all/ Year-round sunshine in the Caribbean ensures plenty of first-class tennis courts and academies for avid tennis fans for those whose island lifestyle isn't just about flopping out on the beach. 
The Caribbean's mix of warm, sunny weather and top-notch resorts are oh-so pleasing to discerning tennis players from colder climates used to braving chilly winds and monitoring cloud-filled skies. Numerous islands offer incredible facilities, such as tennis academiesand well-cared-for clay courts. Tennis is big in the Caribbean, where games can be as competitive or as social as you want them to be - with first-class pros on hand to help perfect your backhand.
Most Caribbean gated communities, resort based villages and islands have tennis facilities - great news for anyone keen to grab a game. Islands with established expatriate communities often have pairingschemes for out-and-out fanatics - and will connect you with other singles or doubles partners for a fiercely-fought match. Some Caribbean islands have invested in public courts, which are playable free-of-charge but may need to be pre-booked via the local authority. Several islands play host to numerous tennis tournaments that invite guest entries so with a bit of advance planning it may be possible to attend or play. There are a large number of tennis associations in the Caribbean and post their events, medal matches, training sessions and invitationals online. As with everything in the Caribbean, it is advisable to do everything requiring exertion in the coolest parts of the day - between daybreak and 10am or after 5pm is best. Floodlit courts are commonplace, as nighttime is a popular time to thrash it out on the courts under starlit skies and electric illumination.
At Antigua's Curtain Bluff Resort - the host venue of Antigua Tennis Week in both May and in December - four fully-lit championship courts are some of the finest in the region. What’s more, this small, select boutique resort is run by folk who truly love tennis - courts are set in a low-lying valley and are beautifully maintained while daily tennis clinics promise to pep up a forehand in minutes. There are also nine superb courts at palm-trimmed Carlisle Bay and an enviable array of tennis facilities at the prestigious St James Club, including four hard courts lighted for night play and a formidable onsite tennis pro called Bennett.
Jamaica has a strong, British-based affinity for tennis and several top-notch resorts boast tennis courts and coaching amenities, including the Half Moon Club in Montego Bay where seven of the thirteen all-weather Laykold courts are lit for nighttime play. Guests play free of charge with non-guests charged $40(USD) for a tennis day pass, which includes access to the tennis facilities, pro shop and pro on-site academy on a resort that sprawls over hundreds of acres. Lessons are available from Half Moon pros for $50(USD) an hour and up.Also in Montego Bay are the nine hard-surface courts at the Tryall Club Jamaica, three of them with floodlights. Guests play free of charge but must pay $20(USD) an hour for nighttime lighting. Non-guests are charged $30(USD) an hour to play (reservations essential). Hour-long lessons start at $40(USD). In Ochos Rios, the Sandals Grande resort has three clay courts and three hard-surface ones, all of them lit. Formerly part of the Beaches Grand Sport complex, the courts play host to several guest tournaments throughout the year. Guests always play free, whether day or night. Tennis clinics offer 1:1 tuition for players of all skill levels from $30(USD) per person. 
In St Lucia, tennis fans are also spoilt for choice at The Landings Tennis Club where two floodlit courts and an on-site pro offers a dozen hour-long bookable sessions each day (8am-8pm) for both private and group tuition.Guests can use the tennis courts free of charge and hire rackets without charge - with tennis balls sold at $10(USD) per sleeve. Keen to play as a non-guest? No problem - just call and book the fee is a very reasonable $10.00 per hour. 
Upscale tennis is the name of the game in Barbados where holidaymakers can choose from from the David and John Lloyd Tennis Village at Sugar Hill - a trusted name in tennis - or the swanky floodlight facilities (9 courts) at the star-studded Sandy Lane Hotel. Be prepared to rub shoulders with an A-list roll-call of starlets, sporting celebs and movie moguls on the courts at latter - guests that have wielded rackets there include Tiger Woods, The Clintons, Cliff Richard, Kate Moss and Simon Cowell.
 
Contacts: 
Antigua: 
Curtain Bluff, Antigua
Tel: 268 462 8400
<a href="http://www.curtainbluff.com/">www.curtainbluff.com</a>
 
Carlisle Bay, Antigua
Tel: 268 484 0000
<a href="http://www.carlisle-bay.com/">www.carlisle-bay.com</a>
 
St.James’s Club, Antigua
Tel: 01245 45 99 06 (UK enquiries)
<a href="http://www.eliteislandresorts.com/">www.eliteislandresorts.com</a>
 
Jamaica: 
Half Moon Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Tel: 876 953 2211
<a href="http://halfmoon.rockresorts.com/">http://halfmoon.rockresorts.com</a>
 
Tryall Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Tel: 876 956-5660
<a href="http://www.tryallclub.com/">www.tryallclub.com</a>
 
St Lucia: 
The Landings
Tel: (866) 252-0689
<a href="http://www.landingsstlucia.com/">www.landingsstlucia.com</a>
 
Barbados: 
David and John Lloyd Tennis Village at Sugar Hill, Barbados
Tel: 246 432 1159
<a href="http://www.jalbarbados.com/david-john-lloyd-tennis-village">www.jalbarbados.com/david-john-lloyd-tennis-village</a>
 
Sandy Lane Hotel, Barbados
Tel: 866 444-4080
<a href="http://www.sandylane.com/">www.sandylane.com</a> Tue, 03 Dec 2019 07:01:58 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/love-all/ Setting Sail https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/setting-sail/ Many of us dream of having a yacht in the Caribbean, but what does it take to turn the dream into a reality (other than a bulging bank balance)?
Sailing conditions in the Caribbean lend themselves to smooth sailing, which is why the region is blessed with state-of-the-art marinas and berthing – with several more planned. The calm waters and sunny weather conjure up fabulous visions of a glorious life spent searching out new palm-fringed sandy islets. What could be better, than you, a boat and the warm, open waters of the Caribbean Sea?
Buying a yacht is a big decision. Whether buying new or second hand, power or sail, the initial outlay and ongoing costs are significant. So it is important to be realistic about one of the biggest and most important investment decisions you are ever likely to make.
For those who have the budget, congratulations – you are about to embark on an exciting and fulfilling experience!Few things are as exhilarating as the satisfaction and pride of owning your own vessel. Life will have new meaning now, so prepare to have some new adventures and lots of fun.
But first you need to purchase the right boat. Boat shows are a good first step as they are full of <a href="http://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/luxury-yacht-design-interiors/inspiring-yacht-concepts--25605">inspiring yacht concepts</a>. Don’t allow the boundary-pushing designers blow your mind with their tech talk – be sure to attend a boat show with a specification for the type of boat you want, or more importantly perhaps, need. Do this by doing lots of homework, or engaging a broker or consultant to help nail things down. Otherwise you’ll be talked into purchasing a <a href="http://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/the-register/top-20-fastest-yachts--25053">super-fast yacht</a> with technical capabilities you’ll never use.
The Monaco Yacht Show, the London Boat Show in Southampton, the Gibralta Boat Show and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show all have plenty of choice for first-time buyers and seasoned buyers alike. You may, of course prefer to buy second hand and undertake a refit - if the price is right, then this is an excellent option for someone who wants to put their mark on a boat that isn’t a stranger to the seas. Either way, you’ll need to partner with designers or other yachting specialists who will have a huge impact on your yacht choice, or design. When you engage someone, it is crucial to find someone who listens and wants to collaborate – only then will they know exactly what you want and understand your taste and needs.
Regardless of if you plan to buy a <a href="http://www.boatinternational.com/charter/luxury-yacht-charter-advice/regatta-ready-luxury-yacht-charters--28255">regatta-ready charter yacht or design a brand new vessel, </a>it is vital to be realistic about what you intend to use the boat for. If you plan to do a bit of gentle cruising with your partner, occasionally when the weather is perfect, you won’t need a mammoth triple-deck vessel with umpteen bedrooms and a kitchen large enough for large-scale catering. Many a first-time boat buyer who has snapped up their dream vessel only to realise, in truth, that it is way too big.
<img src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/Sail-2.jpeg" width="600" height="359" alt="" title=""/>
Consider these top ten tips for buying your boat. 
<ul><li>
<h5>The type of boat.</h5>
The first thing to decide is what type of boat you would like to buy - consider what you want to achieve with your vessel and how you think you will use it. Will you day sail or stay on board for many days? Will you island hop or undertake long ocean passages? By being realistic about the usage, you will able to identify a boat type that will meet your needs the best.
</li>
<li>
<h5>Nail the budget.</h5>
Whatever your budget, nail it – being sure to allow for the purchase price, storage, maintenance and running costs. As a rough rule of thumb a boat will likely cost at least 10% of the purchase price every year in maintenance and storage. 
</li>
<li>
<h5>Book a test ride</h5>
Be sure to test the boat our after viewing it – there is no substitute for trying before you buy. It is a big decision and any understanding owner or broker will be delighted to take you out for a test sail. 
</li>
<li>
<h5>Owner’s delight! </h5>
Congratulations – you are now officially a boat owner!! Time to enjoy your boat and get the best from it. If you intend to captain the boat yourself, it may be worth booking some private tuition to improve your skills, confidence and knowledge of the Caribbean sailing conditions. Join a yacht club if you can to get involved with social activities and cruises – you’ll meet like-minded people and will benefit from local know-how.
</li>
</ul> Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:43:00 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/setting-sail/ Investing in Caribbean Art https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/investing-in-caribbean-art/ Buying Caribbean Art Art in the Caribbean reflects thousands of years of history, from the indigenous peoples to immigration and waves of colonisation. It is a powerful art; diverse and proud, and led by artists who use their talent to tell the stories of Caribbean.
<img src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/_resampled/resizedimage414600-CaribbeanArt-2.jpeg" width="414" height="600" align="right" alt="" title=""/>Caribbean artists often cite the beautiful nature of their homeland as inspiration for their craft.Certainly, many of the <a href="https://www.widewalls.ch/contemporary-watercolor-artists/">watercolours</a>, sketches, <a href="https://www.widewalls.ch/what-is-a-mural-the-history-and-meaning/">muralsand oil paintings</a> which adorn the walls of galleries across the Caribbean region contain the shapes and shades of nature. From lush green rainforests, and the pastel-coloured coral gardens of underwater, to the Caribbean’s idyllic waves and beaches: Caribbean art captures this and more. It is eclectic and versatile, and a mix of high art and popular artwith no clear major trends and styles. It often depicts its African heritage, and celebrates the region’s cultural diversity. It is also growing in popularity as the surge in art fairs, in the region bears out.
For a wide array of artists and styles head to the Fine Art Fair in Barbados, where sales are brisk and access to Caribbean artists relatively easier at workshop events and talks. At the Jamaican Biennalethe focus is on home-spun Jamaican creative talent, though there are also some strong new emerging artists featured from all across the Caribbean. CafaFair is a showcase for newer artists that is increasingly attracting young talent.The diversity of galleries is also growing locally to provide a retail outlet for all sorts of art, not just that they please the tourist. Subjects are broader, and tackle the burning issues of the day –be it poverty or political corruption. At most larger exhibitions, galleries and art fairs you’ll find mention of the most famous artists from the Caribbean, namely Wilfredo Lam, Edouard Preston, Archibald Lochar, ThimoléonDéjoie, NumaDesroches and PetionSavain. MarithouLatortueDupoux, Pascal Moin, OdilleLatortueand EssudFungcap characterise the upcoming talent.
The earliest forms of art in the Caribbean were body painting and rock art by the indigenous Taino and Arawak tribes. Modern art became prominent in many Caribbean countries when they gained independence from the governing bodies occupying the islands. Due to the economic, historical and social differences across the Caribbean countries, a diverse array of art forms and styles exist. Jamaican art, in particular, has been sought after by overseas investors – and the works of Ebony G. Patterson are often celebrated in galleries across the world. Recently named on the Huffington Post Top 30 black artists under 40, Patterson is hailed as across a variety of art disciplines with her subjects deeply rooted in <a href="https://www.widewalls.ch/art-and-politics-for-freedoms/">political concerns</a>. Also important is Barrington Watson who is seen to stand at the forefront of Jamaican art since the post-independence era of the 1960’s.
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<h5>Top Tips for Investing in Caribbean Art
<ul><li>Around 70-billion dollars-worth of art is bought each year. About half of the market is accounted for by sales through dealers, either directly from the artist’s studio (the “primary market”) or by reselling a work that has already been bought once (the “secondary market”)</li>
</ul><ul><li>Seek advice on the authenticity of a Caribbean art piece, if you are unsure. Authenticity and value are inextricably linked. </li>
</ul><ul><li>It could take hours to work through a gallery or fair, so it is important to do research ahead of attending exhibitions. It helps to nurture relationships with Caribbean art dealers beforehand so that they can see you are a serious collector. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Once you have found a Caribbean artist you’d like to invest in, try to meet the artist. It helps to get a better understanding of where an artwork comes from, and who is responsible for creating it, and this can add value. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Big names in art aren’t everything –it does not always guarantee a high resale value. Artists experiment a lot, so choose from their body of work. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Be sure to store your art away from anything that could cause potential damage, such as flooding, fire, harsh sunlight and damp. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Theft in the art world is a reality, so choose a registry so that your piece is logged just in case it become stolen work. You can also check a registry before purchasing. You must insure your art. </li>
</ul></h5>
Remember, there is a non-financial value of art – an essential, emotion that can transfix and lifta person out of themselves. Perhaps this is its truest value? Tue, 17 Sep 2019 13:35:04 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/investing-in-caribbean-art/ Hosting a Caribbean Party https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/hosting-a-caribbean-party/ Entertaining Caribbean style Few dinner dates or leisurely lunch parties enjoy the luxury of sunny, blue skies and the sound of a gentle surf crashing in the distance. Entertaining in your Caribbean home is all about sensory pleasure: delectable food served in a beautiful setting with the only distraction the lullaby pulsations of steel drums. 
Depending on the style of your group, and the time of day they are arriving, you can choose to make this a serene, tropical dinner or a hot, hot, hot island lunch.
Choose a setting that will relax your guests and offer them maximum comfort. Plan this in advance so that you can check on the position of the sun to be sure that guests aren’t exposed to searing heat without shade. If you are hosting multiple tables, create a table plan using table names that reflect the Caribbean – such as spices, fruits, local cocktails or musicians. Mix your guests into unfamiliar groups to encourage new friendships and introductions. To break the ice, suggest your guests tell the person next to them little known fact about themselves – mid-way through the courses, it may be fun to ask your tables what they have learned about their fellow diners!
<h5>First, consider the menu and the availability of the local produce in season.
<ul><li>Plan the music, will you opt for a CD with natural surf sounds in the background or book a local Calypso singer? </li>
</ul><ul><li>Play around with themes for the event: coastal decorations can work really well with seashell-filled glass vases as centre pieces, raffia-tied linen napkins and natural fabric placemats. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Create mini menus for your guests: again these can be decorated with tiny sea shells. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Decide if you are cooking yourself, or if you will be hiring a chef or a BBQ master. </li>
</ul><ul><li>You can keep the coastal theme for wine glass charms too. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Create a playlist of higher tempo reggae and steel drum band music as the soundtrack for after the lunch or dinner – if your guests want to seriously party, at least you are prepared! </li>
</ul></h5>
Sample 5 course lunch menu
Hibiscus infused Champagne cocktail and shrimp canapes
Ceviche
Gourmet surf and turf (fillet steak with fresh lobster)
Mango sorbet
Chocolate pots with rum and chilli
Sample 7 course dinner menu
Guava margaritas
Ceviche
Fresh lobster with Champagne sauce
Trio of jerk chicken
Hibiscus sorbet
Coconut ice cream with chocolate rum sauce
Blue Mountain coffee with handmade chocolates 
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<h5>Top Tips for Hosting a Great Party
<ul><li>Make a Plan: Enter time frames, budgetary considerations, possible suppliers and recommendations. Now is the time to opt for asit-down dinner or decide on a small cocktail party instead. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Create YOUR Menu. Consider yourself first. What do you like? Include it! This is chance for your guests to get know more about you. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Now Think of Others: Consider who you have invited and what their needs are. Any allergies? What fresh produce is in season in the Caribbean.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Take time on the details, or work with a party planner to help you. It’s the little things that often leave a lasting impression with party guests. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Be relaxed and hospitable. Be sure to have the time to spend time with your guests. </li>
</ul></h5>
Be sure thank everyone for coming, not when they leave but mid-way through the courses – find an excuse to raise a toast. Tue, 17 Sep 2019 13:33:09 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/hosting-a-caribbean-party/ Creating a Tropical Garden https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/creating-a-tropical-garden/ With proper planning and careful planting, your Caribbean home can have stunning gardens full of sweet-smelling shrubs and shade-giving palms. 
For a resplendent year-round array of stunning texture and colour, choose plants that have a range of heights such as trees, scrubs and herbaceous ground cover with climbing plants helping to tie these all together.
One of the favourite Caribbean flowers is Jasmine, for the sweet aromatic nectar inside – in most islands the bloom is bright red flower with glossy foliage, although it is often found in pink, orange or yellow. Flowering throughout the year, Jasmine adds an evocative scent at sunset and offer alluring colours that can be enjoyed all year long. 
Tropical gardensare colour-filled, fragrant and visually magnificent and, by rights, should always have orchids at their heart. There are more than 25,000 documented species of orchids in the Caribbean with several hundred native to the Caribbean islands. Though they are often considered a little high maintenance, if they are planted and positioned with care they really only need watering 5-12 days or so – anymore will kill your orchid.
Add hibiscus for its lovely and attractive foliage and blooms – a must in any tropical garden. Not only can you pick the flower for water displays, but you can also leave it to dry out and use it to make a delicious herbal tea infusion.
Fill any gaps with cute yellow allamanda (otherwise known as yellow bell, golden trumpet and buttercup) - a popular ornamental plant with a soft and fruity scent. As a cultivated wild flower, the allamanda grows readily and easily without watering or pruning. Similarly as low maintenance is the bougainvillea: a strong, robust flowering bush can be seen growing wild in a variety of colours including red, pink, yellow, orange and lilac. Bougainvillea is actually a vine with very thick branches and they make beautiful decoration for inside the home and even on balconies.
At the other end of the scale, is the beautiful heliconia, which comes in a variety of species and size. Fully grown, some don’t some will reach over 25 feet in height, while others will struggle to exceed 2ft tall. Famous for their brilliant array of colours that last all year long; pink, red, yellow, green, white and orange, heliconias need to have plenty of water, light and space.
Palms are extremely useful for given a garden shade and privacy and the coconut is found all over the Caribbean islands. There are actually two different groups of the coconut palm: niukafa and niuvai. The niukafa has a more angular-shaped fruit, with a thick husk and thin flesh. The niuvai is oppositely adorned with a thin husk and thick flesh, but is spherical in shape. Set aside trees husks for use in compost. Another tropical garden favourite is the crab’s claw (sometimes referred to as the wild banana): a striking plant with paddle-shaped leaves that have red-orangeflower holders, called bracts, that look like crab claws, hence the name! There are more than 40 species in the Caribbean area, with different sized bracts and varying colours of orange, red-orange and yellow – a great plant to add vivid colour. Though it originates from South Africa, many Caribbean gardens have bird of paradise growing naturally - plants have a large white bloom with a hint of a blue tinge and grows up to 15 feet.
Use raised decking, paved patios and terraces, balconies and tiered garden areas to give your tropical garden varied levels for added interest. Water features, a pool, a hot tub, or outside bar and kitchen area are all commonly found in beautifully landscaped Caribbean gardens, which also often have beautifully-laid-out dining rooms and lounge spaces al fresco. 
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<h5>Top Tips for Designing a Caribbean Garden</h5>
<h5>
<ul><li>Create pathways that aren’t a tight squeeze: ideally, allow enough room for two people to walk side-by-side. Keep in mind that the taller the plantings or structures that flank your walkway, the wider the path needs to be.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Outdoor steps and stairways should ascend gently; otherwise, they are liable to seem daunting, especially in a tropical climate where steps can be slippery. A rise of 6 inches or less are the most comfortable. Landings should be at least as deep as the stairs are wide. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Create interesting levels for outdoor entertaining - patios and decks are perfect spaces. Plan for enough room to accommodate dining and mingling by considering how many guests you intend to host at once and allowing for at least 4 square feet of space per person. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Check paving regularly to ensure it is providing secure footing. Avoid slick surfaces or loosely set pavers that wobble and any materials like polished granite or smooth outdoor tile that will become dangerously slippery when wet and humid. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Leave plenty of headroom under archways, arbours, and pergolas – 7ft is a good minimum to work to, as there are likely to be trailing plants growing over the structure </li>
</ul><ul><li>Give your plants room to grow and ignore the temptation to plant a dense, full landscape right away as this will become too crowded quite quickly.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Place any plants more than 30 to 36 inches tall at least 2 to 3 feet back from walkway and patio edges; otherwise, these spaces may feel unduly cramped and crowded. Avoid planting thorny too close to paths. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Resist the temptation to recreate a British-style lawn in the Caribbean: it’s costly, labour intensive and uses lots of water (often a precious commodity). Stick to native gardens full of local species and styles. </li>
</ul><ul><li>While flowers are a highly attractive attribute, many plants offer more than just blooms. Look past the flowers and use foliage, fruit, and bark for year-long colour, form, and texture – palms can look stunning in a simple garden, where the trees themselves are the stars of the show. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Be sure to check the rules and regulations regarding major works to your garden – don’t be tempted to dismiss building codes for outdoor structures and also take the time to consult your neighbours of any changes that may affect them. </li>
</ul></h5>
<ul>Be sure to check the rules and regulations regarding major works to your garden – don’t be tempted to dismiss building codes for outdoor structures and also take the time to consult your neighbours of any changes that may affect them. 
</ul> Tue, 17 Sep 2019 13:28:33 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/creating-a-tropical-garden/ Caribbean Dinner Party https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/caribbean-dinner-party/ We asked tropical food experts Grace Foods to give us their suggestions for the ideal dinner party to bring a taste of the islands to your table.
<h2>Pre-dinner Canapés &amp; Cocktails</h2>
<ul><li>Jerk Rosti with Coconut Prawns</li>
<li>Serves: 20 people (makes 20 canapes)</li>
<li>Preparation Time: 20 mins</li>
<li>Cooking Time: 20 mins</li>
</ul><h2>Ingredients</h2>
<ul><li>2 large white potatoes</li>
<li>2 tsp of Dunns River Jerk Seasoning Powder</li>
<li>2 tbsp vegetable oil</li>
<li>450 grams prawns - peeled and deveined</li>
<li>1 medium onion, sliced</li>
<li>3 cloves garlic, sliced finely</li>
<li>1 tbsp grated fresh ginger root</li>
<li>3 tbsps butter</li>
<li>2 tsps ground coriander</li>
<li>1 tsp turmeric</li>
<li>1 tsp chilli powder</li>
<li>1/2 tsp salt</li>
<li>1/2 tsp black pepper</li>
<li>2 tbsps white cane vinegar</li>
<li>2 tbsp tomato ketchup</li>
<li>250ml Grace Coconut Milk</li>
<li>1 lime</li>
<li>Handful of coriander leaves, chopped</li>
</ul><div>
<h2>To make the Jerk rosti</h2>
<ol><li>Peel and grate potato.</li>
<li>Spread grated potato onto a clean tea towel. Gather up tea towel and squeeze, to remove some but not all the water from the potato.</li>
<li>Open tea towel and season potato with Dunns River Jerk Seasoning.</li>
<li>Heat oil in a frying pan over a moderate heat.</li>
<li>Take marble size portions of potato mix and squeeze gently together. Place potato ball in pan and pat down to form disc.</li>
<li>Gently fry, until golden brown on edges. Turn over and repeat.</li>
<li>Once cooked remove, and keep warm.</li>
</ol><div>
<h2>To make the Coconut prawns</h2>
<ol><li>Heat butter in a heavy saucepan, add onion and garlic, stir gently until soft.</li>
<li>Mix spices and seasoning to a paste with vinegar and tomato ketchup.</li>
<li>Add mixture to the pan and fry for 3 minutes, stirring continuously.</li>
<li>Stir in Grace coconut milk and simmer for 10 minutes. Add prawns and allow to cook in sauce for 5 minutes.</li>
</ol><h2>To assemble</h2>
Take each rosti and top with one single prawn, coat with a little of the sauce, a squeeze of lime and top with fresh coriander leaf. Th is dish can be eaten warm or cold.
<h2>Pre-dinner Canapés &amp; Cocktails</h2>
<ul><li>Caribbean Pimms</li>
<li>Serves: 6 people</li>
<li>Preparation Time: 10 mins</li>
<li>Cooking Time: 0 mins</li>
</ul><h2>Ingredients:</h2>
<ul><li>250ml Pimms No 1™</li>
<li>4 cans Grace Ginger Beer</li>
<li>1/2 cucumber, chopped</li>
<li>1 apple, cored and chopped</li>
<li>1 orange, sliced</li>
<li>3 strawberries, sliced</li>
<li>Handful fresh mint leaves</li>
</ul><h2>Optional ingredients</h2>
<ul><li>1/2 lime, sliced</li>
<li>1/2 lemon, sliced</li>
<li>2-3 fresh pineapple, chopped into chunks</li>
</ul><div>
<h2>Method</h2>
<ul><li>Mix all ingredients together in a large glass pitcher.</li>
<li>Serve chilled or over ice, but it’s better chilled.</li>
</ul>Starters
<ul><li>Spicy Caribbean Pumpkin Soup</li>
<li>Serves: 4 people</li>
<li>Preparation Time: 20 mins</li>
<li>Cooking Time: 45 mins</li>
</ul><h2>Ingredients</h2>
<ul><li>50g (2oz) butter</li>
<li>1kg (2.2lbs) pumpkin, peeled and diced</li>
<li>2 onions, chopped</li>
<li>2 tbs Encona West Indian Original Hot Pepper Sauce</li>
<li>2 beef tomatoes, chopped</li>
<li>1.1 litre (2 pints) vegetable stock</li>
<li>Crème fraîche or Grace Premium Thai Coconut Milk, to serve</li>
</ul><h2>Method</h2>
<ul><li>Melt the butter in a large saucepan and fry the pumpkin and onions for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and S cook for 3-4 minutes.</li>
<li>Stir in the stock and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes, until the pumpkin is tender and breaks down.</li>
<li>Allow to cool slightly, then purée with a food processor, liquidizer or hand blender. Do not over fill blender.</li>
<li>Return to clean pan, heat through and season to taste.</li>
<li>Top with a blob of crème fraîche or coconut cream. Great to serve outdoors at bonfi res or on Halloween with crusty bread.</li>
</ul><h2>Main Courses</h2>
<ul><li>Jamaican Jerk Chicken served with Rice &amp; Peas</li>
<li>Serves: 4 people</li>
<li>Preparation Time: 30 mins – plus marinating time</li>
<li>Cooking Time: 30 mins</li>
</ul><h2><img class="center" src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/_resampled/resizedimage600410-Screenshot-2014-06-06-15.46.10.png" width="600" height="410" alt="" title=""/></h2>
<h2>Ingredients</h2>
For the Jerk Chicken:
<ul><li>4 chicken thighs and 4 chicken drumsticks</li>
<li>1 bottle of 142ml Encona Jamaican Jerk BBQ Sauce</li>
<li>1 tbsp parsley, chopped for the rice</li>
<li>200g long grain rice, soaked for 10 minutes then rinsed and drained</li>
<li>1 onion, finely chopped</li>
<li>400ml Dunns River Coconut Milk</li>
<li>300ml chicken stock</li>
<li>1 tin of Dunns River Red Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained</li>
<li>3 bay leaves</li>
<li>1 lemon grass stalk, root slightly crushed Salt and milled black pepper.</li>
</ul><h2><img class="right" src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/_resampled/resizedimage300333-Screenshot-2014-06-06-15.46.15.png" width="300" height="333" alt="" title=""/></h2>
<h2>Method</h2>
<ol><li>Wash and dry the chicken pieces.</li>
<li>Make 3-4 slashes across the skin-side of the chicken about 1cm deep. Place the chicken into a bowl and pour over the Encona Jamaican Jerk BBQ Sauce, chopped parsley and mix well.</li>
<li>Cover the chicken with clingfilm and ideally leave to marinate overnight in the fridge or for a minimum of 2 hours.</li>
<li>Cook the chicken over a medium heated barbecue or under a grill for 25-30 minutes, turning occasionally and brushing with any left over marinade.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, to make the rice, add the onion, coconut milk, chicken stock, bay leaves and lemon grass to a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the rice and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.</li>
<li>After 15 minutes, add the red kidney beans, parsley and season with salt and pepper. </li>
<li>When the rice has softened, transfer to a serving bowl and serve with the Jerk chicken. Enjoy!</li>
</ol><div>
<h2>Desserts</h2>
<ul><li>Coconut Panna Cotta served with seasonal fruits</li>
<li>Serves: 6 people</li>
<li>Preparation Time: 15 mins</li>
<li>Cooking Time: 2 hours – includes chilling time</li>
</ul><h2>Ingredients</h2>
<ul><li>2 x 400ml cans Grace or Dunn’s River Coconut Milk</li>
<li>400ml whole milk</li>
<li>100g caster sugar</li>
<li>½ tsp grated nutmeg</li>
<li>6 sheets fi ne-leaf gelatine or 2 x 12g sachets powdered, unfl avoured gelatine</li>
</ul><h2>Method</h2>
<ol><li>Pour the coconut milk and milk into a medium sized saucepan, add sugar and nutmeg.</li>
<li>Bring to the boil for 5 mins then remove from the heat.</li>
<li>Soak gelatine in cold water for 5 minutes or until soft . Add the gelatine and whisk into the mixture until dissolved. (Powdered gelatine can be added directly to the mixture). If you have difficulty dissolving the gelatine, return the mixture to a gentle heat for 1-2 mins.</li>
<li>Pour equally into 6 dessert dishes and place in the fridge for at least 2 hrs until fi rm with a slight wobble.</li>
<li>Serve with chopped pineapples or strawberries. This dish can be made the day before.</li>
</ol></div>
</div>
</div>
</div> Thu, 22 May 2014 15:18:01 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/caribbean-dinner-party/ The Caribbean in a Glass https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/the-caribbean-in-a-glass/ They are synonymous with the Caribbean isles; full of colour, vibrant spirit and topped with an elaborate sprig, fruit or flower. Sarah Woods discovers the wonderful world of cocktails. 
Though any alcoholic drink can be called a cocktail, most mixologists will declare a true cocktail as one made of a liquor, water, sugar, and bitters. In the USA, an early definition of a cocktail came from a New York newspaper, which printed a reference to the cocktail as “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind of sugar, water, and bitters—it is vulgarly called "bittered sling." This New York chapter in the history of the cocktail is an important part of its story, for the joys of cocktail drinking went on to spread around the world.
As a drinking culture, Western Europe - especially Britain – had a tradition of serving drinks and mingling on a social level. This began originally with punch, drinks made of a variety of liquors, sweet fruit juices, and bright flavours like lemon. However, by the 19th century, use of the term “cocktail” was made in British society, due to the drink being brought over by well-heeled Americans mixing with British high society. Many British aristocrats scoffed at the concept of a cocktail, little knowing that it would spread in popularity, and have longevity as a beverage that would transcend decades,so that one could order it anywhere in the world
Today the Caribbean has made the cocktail its own, using the freshest locally grown ingredients to full effect. It is very much at home in the Caribbean, with its bountiful crops of tropical fruit, freshly squeezed exotic juices and locally produced rum. Many establishments have created their own signature cocktails, complete with memorable name or ingredients – so that the Caribbean, and its cocktails, create a lasting impression. This works especially well in the age of social media, where the kaleidoscopic colours of a giant-size glass of potent punch topped with guava, mango and pineapple creates a photogenic buzz. 
Feeling thirsty? Then check out these recipes for cocktails from our friends in the islands. 
These first two have been lovingly created for Antigua’s Mango festival by the bartenders and cocktail mixologists at Antigua’s Jolly Beach Resort &amp; Spa – enjoy! 
<img class="left" src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/CW-Glass-1.jpg" width="191" height="191" alt="" title=""/>Smooth Runnings
<h6>
<ul><li>1 mango</li>
</ul><ul><li>½ oz Peach Schnapps</li>
</ul><ul><li>½ oz Passion Fruit Drink</li>
</ul><ul><li>1 oz Dark Rum</li>
</ul></h6>
Blend with ice and garnish
 
 
<img class="left" src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/CW-Glass-2.jpg" width="183" height="244" alt="" title=""/>Mango Maniac
<h6>
<ul><li>1 mango</li>
</ul><ul><li>1 oz passion fruit syrup</li>
</ul><ul><li>2 drops freshly squeezed lime</li>
</ul><ul><li>2 drops of angostura bitters</li>
</ul></h6>
Blend with ice and garnish
 
 
 
Feeling fruity? Then pucker up to savour the delectable flavours in these next two delicious cocktails, courtesy of the Barbados Tourist Board. Cheers! 
<img class="left" src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/CW-Glass-3.jpg" width="145" height="217" alt="" title=""/>Sky Martini
<h6>
<ul><li>1 oz vodka</li>
</ul><ul><li>¼ oz sweet vermouth</li>
</ul><ul><li>¼ oz Blue Curaçao</li>
</ul><ul><li>Stuffed green olives</li>
</ul></h6>
Fill a mixing glass with ice. Pour in vodka and sweet vermouth. Stir (or shake) and strain into a martini glass.
Splash with blue Curaçao. Garnish with 3 green cherries.
 
<img class="left" src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/CW-Glass-4.jpg" width="241" height="158" alt="" title=""/>STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI
<h6>
<ul><li>6 cups ice</li>
</ul><ul><li>½ cup white sugar</li>
</ul><ul><li>4 ounces frozen strawberries</li>
</ul><ul><li>1/8 cup lime juice</li>
</ul><ul><li>½ cup lemon juice</li>
</ul><ul><li>¾ cup rum</li>
</ul><ul><li>¼ cup lemon-lime flavoured carbonated beverage</li>
</ul></h6>
In a blender, combine ice, sugar and strawberries. Pour in lime juice, lemon juice, rum and lemon-lime soda. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.
Thank you to the cocktail gurus at the Marriot and Renaissance Caribbean and Mexico Resorts, for the next two recipes – magnificent margaritas, muyrico! 
 
<img class="left" src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/CW-Glass-5.jpg" width="128" height="193" alt="" title=""/>Margarita of Horchata
<h6>
<ul><li>2 oz Aged Tequila</li>
</ul><ul><li>1 ½ oz Controy (Mexican Orange Liqueur) or Cointreau</li>
</ul><ul><li>3 oz Horchata Concentrate (Horchata is a concentrate mix</li>
</ul><ul><li>of milk, rice and cinnamon)</li>
</ul><ul><li>½ oz Natural Sweet Syrup</li>
</ul></h6>
Blend all ingredients with ice and serve.
 
 <img class="left" src="https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/assets/CW-Glass-6.jpg" width="136" height="183" alt="" title=""/>Margarita of Hibiscus
<h6>
<ul><li>2 oz Aged Tequila</li>
</ul><ul><li>1 ½ oz Controy (Mexican Orange Liqueur) or Cointreau</li>
</ul><ul><li>3 oz Hibiscus Concentrate (You can do your own with</li>
</ul><ul><li>hibiscus flower infusion)</li>
</ul><ul><li>½ oz Natural Sweet Syrup</li>
</ul><ul><li>Drops of lemon juice</li>
</ul></h6>
Blend all ingredients with ice and serve. Thu, 22 May 2014 13:30:11 +0000 https://www.caribbeanworld-magazine.com/real-estate/caribbean-living/the-caribbean-in-a-glass/