Caribbean Recipes | Dominica Photos | Classified Ads | Search Jobs | Advertise here!

Purely Dominica

Purely Dominica

Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’


Ruins Rock Cafe in Roseau, DominicaPhoto by:TKpics616 via flickr.com

If sampling local and exotic Caribbean rums is your uncommon idea of a Caribbean vacation? Then The Ruins Rock Cafe in Roseau, Dominica welcomes you to try-out the best Rum punch, best Rum Selections, and ‘weirdest rums on the island…Try the Hi Rise!

God only knows how many different types of local rum-concoctions there are around the island; you can well imagine that there exist many excellent places round island where one can enjoy the quintessential ‘natural’ spirit.

Just remember, too drink responsibly!

Share this Dominica article with your friends:

Facebook Twitter Google Buzz Google Bookmarks Digg Reddit delicious Technorati Slashdot Yahoo My Web



Related Post

Dominica’s nickname is the Nature Island and for very good reason. Among the many gorgeous Caribbean islands Dominica stands alone as one of the most remarkably pristine. It offers breathtaking panoramas and sparkling turquoise waters at every turn.

Dominica is a haven for serious divers and many people also enjoy snorkeling and whale watching here. It is also home to a boiling lake, 365 rivers and numerous national parks. In every respect Dominica is an ideal destination for nature lovers and those who want to explore unspoiled beauty.

But Dominica should also be celebrated for its beautiful architecture and historic buildings. Many buildings demonstrate the diverse cultures that have shaped the area. They may display a distinctly Caribbean feel, but many of the historical buildings also show the influence of the English, French and even Spanish. Many older structures that date from the Colonial Period still exist and help visitors to discover the rich history of this island culture. Several of these surviving buildings served a military or religious purpose. Others were utilized by the local government. Visitors to the area will also find breathtakingly beautiful plantation houses that demonstrate a prosperous and gracious style of living. Still other older buildings were once bustling mills that helped bolster the local economy and helped shape the island to become what it is today.

Photo:The Historic Noorwood House in Roseau, Dominica

One of the best places to explore the historic architecture of the island is in the city of Roseau. Most streets are lined with gorgeous examples of old architecture and to truly appreciate the many structures it is best to traverse the city on foot. Roseau boasts many old mercantile type buildings that helpfully illustrate the history of trade and commerce in the city and across the island. The Roseau Public Library is a gorgeous example of relatively early architecture. It was completed in 1906 with the help of American Andrew Carnegie. Today it is still a graceful and imposing example of the best architecture on Dominica.

Visitors should also make the time to visit a few examples of Ti Kaz. These are wood framed houses traditionally occupied by Carib natives. Many of these are seen at the Carib Reserve. Seeing such structures really gives visitors a feeling for the lifestyle of the island’s natives.

Photo:The Historic barracoon Building in Roseau, Dominica

Many of the buildings on Dominica feature stone masonry bases – excellent for protecting the building in the event of a hurricane. Many historical buildings also feature sturdy timber boarding. One of the most distinctive and beautiful components of most Dominica buildings are the hurricane and jalousie shutters. Many of the most memorable buildings also favor steeply pitched roofs with gables that resist the wind. The really eye catching feature of most buildings that visitors love are the long, sleek verandas. Not only are these architectural features beautiful, but they are also the perfect place to sit and catch the scented evening breeze.

Photo of Dominica's Architectural houses in Roseau

Dormer windows are highly popular in Dominica as they allow additional light and enhanced air flow. This keeps the rooms cooler and very comfortable. Nearly all of the structures on Dominica are built with the island’s terrain and climate in mind. This enhances their longevity and also their livability. However, the people who have built on the island have also kept aesthetics in the forefront of their plans. This accounts for the many beautiful buildings in Roseau, Portsmouth and across the remainder of the island.

Any visit to Dominica would have to include an exploration of the island’s natural beauty, but should include discovering the island’s many historical buildings as well. Discovering how people have lived and worked on Dominica through the years highlights the history and culture of the many people who have called Dominica home. It is a singularly beautiful island, ideal for explorers and romantics. With gorgeous colonial architecture framed by spectacular tropical rainforests this is one unforgettable destination for visitors from every corner of the globe.

Kathleen Hubert is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites. Check out more of her work at led tv.

Share this Dominica article with your friends:

Facebook Twitter Google Buzz Google Bookmarks Digg Reddit delicious Technorati Slashdot Yahoo My Web

Tagged with: ,

Related Post

One of the quickest ways to get to know a community, or culture, with which one is unfamiliar, is to dance with them. In the case of Dominica Island’s vibrant cultural history, a great deal can be learned through dance.

Works of music, art, and dance, and the compositions, forms, and styles created by the peoples of Dominica are a tactile and experiential representation of the peoples that collided and melted together to create the island culture of today.

If you’re a tourist, don’t be confused. Dominica is not the Dominican Republic. Dominica Island lies between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Caribbean Sea. This geographic information is important for understanding how Dominica Island’s artistic styles developed, and how this development influenced the dance coming out of the country in particular.

Photo of Dominica Quadrille dance

The location of Dominica Island made it an ideal location for settlement, which of course meant that just about every European nation attempted, or succeeded, in overrunning the indigenous community and colonizing it at some point between the early 1600s, and Dominica’s independence from the UK in 1978. Though this aspect of Dominica’s history is not particularly different from the history of other island communities, what sets Dominica apart is the fact that the indigenous population, the Carib Indians, were able to maintain there own identity and retain their cultural traditions. Their movement traditions, combined with the traditions brought by peoples stolen from Africa by the British and French for slave labor, and the movement traditions of the British and French themselves, created dance forms as mixed as the linguistic customs of the island.

There are a number of traditional dances whose mixed ethnic heritage is apparent in their sequences and rhythmic structure. Some hew more closely to a particular region’s dance traditions than others, but all are stamped with a distinctly Dominican flavor. The Mazook, is perhaps the most widely recognizable. As the population of Dominica has moved to other parts of the world, it is the dance most often performed, taught, and presented to the rest of the world. Based on the Polish Mazurka, which was adopted by the French and then passed on to the mixed population of the island, Mazooka utilizes a base step of glide, shuffle, glide, cross step return, in combination with many more complicated steps as dictated by the music. The Heel and Toe Mazooka is also a popular variation that has a similar feel to the polka

.

The Quadrille and Lancers are two dance forms that share a similar structure. Both are square dances, though the former is rooted in the French tradition, and the latter in the British. The Quadrille is danced with four couples that dance as couples, and exchange partners throughout the dance. The sequence for exchanging partners is quite lengthy as each set is made up of five figures. Lancers is a British quadrille and is actually a combination of English country-dances and reels from Ireland and Scotland. The male part of the dance has a more military quality than its French counterpart. Both of these dances found their way to Dominica and were also absorbed and subtly adjusted to fit the music and the people of the island.

Bele is believed by many to be the oldest dance of the island movement traditions. It is the form most rooted in African movement structures, as opposed to European. The dance is very tied to the music that accompanies it, which is created entirely by the tambou drum. It is performed by a couple surrounded by a larger group and is a dance of courtship. It’s comprised of a sequence of “call-and-response” movements, in which the male half of the couple dances showing strength, and the female half responds by dancing her interest. The male half of the couple again dances to show his interest, and finally the two dance together. The movement is recognizable for being quite energetic, and the group surrounding the two dancers, sings.

For tourists seeking an opportunity to get off of that reclining sofa in the hotel and gain instruction in the traditional dances, the forms are performed at cultural events on the island throughout the year, including the Dominica Carnival, the World Creole Music Festival, Jazz n’ Creole, and Creole in the Park. More formal classes in the traditional dances can be found at the Health and Wellness Expo held each May, or by contacting academic institutions on the island, many of which offer strong performance programs to their students, as part of the regular academic schedule.

Share this Dominica article with your friends:

Facebook Twitter Google Buzz Google Bookmarks Digg Reddit delicious Technorati Slashdot Yahoo My Web

Tagged with: ,

Related Post




Business Key Top Sites