The Market! 11-17-13

Saturday is officially "Market Day".

This is when you get up early and go to the market and purchase all your provisions for the week. Are there supermarkets? Sure, but the tradition of "Market Day" is still alive and well in Barbados.

The vendors are inundated with questions by the patrons. The primary question: "Is this local?" Bajan want local produce raised and grown in the clean Bajan soil without chemicals and byproducts. Not to mention that imported foods and expensive and most of the time, not as flavorful as what is grown locally.

In our perusal of the market we found a vendor selling passion fruits. Risee and I bought the whole box! We also found a vendor selling 30 eggs for 10 BDS which amounts to $5 USD. We didn't need 30 eggs, but for that price we bought and shared with ppl we knew could use them. We also encountered pure "Bajan Hospitality" when we inquired about purchasing just "2 hot peppers" instead of a full bag. The gentleman beckoned to open our basket, placed the peppers in and said "Guh long sweetheart." Followed by a beautiful smile. If that happens in the States, it has never happened to me.

Later we went to the next market to get our spices and natural essences. Flavorful vanilla and almond essences were purchased. In addition to the essences I picked up some cinnamon, wholes cloves, and spice to take back to NYC with me.

The market finds were numerous and surprisingly affordable. Once again proving to myself that Barbados is not as expensive as people keep saying. Buy local and eat whole foods and you will be just fine in this island paradise 

Barbados Wednesday. Sweets for the sweet! 11-13-13

The CoconutBaby is in complete vacation mode.

I sat on the veranda enjoying the cool November breeze and watching island life go by. 
Young children in pressed uniforms on thier way to school, the coconut vendor gathering his product from a nearby tree to sell at the beach, and locals on thier way to work or to town. Every person that passed giving a "Good Morning" as they pass. It doesn't matterif they know you, if you are there, they have to speak. One of the many awesome attributes of Island life.

Food for today consisted of leftovers from yesterday. Waste not, want not.
This evening though, I wanted something sweet so I took a walk to the local Haagen Daz for a bite. Even though we have Haagen Daz in the states, I wanted to see what they have and whether or not they would have flavors that I haven't seen in NYC. I wasnt disappointed. I was introduced to a flavor called Caramel Biscuits & Cream.

Ohhhh sweet ambrosia... It was awesome and gone before the walk back home ended. 
Once again, the ladies in the establishment took great care of me. They were attentive and super helpful. It is always great to meet people that take pride in thier job and always do their job to the best of thier ability. This trait seems to be engrained in the Bajan culture across the board. No wonder people never want to leave this island paradise. 

#icecreamdream #BarbadosLove #LocalLife #sweetsFORtheSWEET #HaagenDaz