Tuesday, October 24, 2017

But Where Is The Rum?

A question often asked by Captain Jack Sparrow, whose priorities are as follows: 

1. rum 
2. the Black Pearl 
3. debauchery 
4. more rum, you scabberous dogs!

Returning again today to the Ottawa Welcomes The World embassy series, today I'm presenting the nation of Barbados, which had an event in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne. I like the look of their flag. 


There were tourism displays, and panels with extensive information on the history, culture, and geography of the island, situated east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean. I was surprised to learn that tradition states that rum found its origins here. 


Musicians were also on stage as I toured the building, playing something with an island beat. Barbados style items were on sale, and the decor and flowers certainly gave things a tropical feeling. Tomorrow we'll look at another event here, something from a completely different part of the world.


Going in a different direction, this is a shot taken on the weekend. Last week, Canada lost one of its finest creative talents- musician, writer, and humanitarian Gord Downie, lead singer of the band The Tragically Hip- to a brain tumour. Gord touched a great many lives with his music, spirit, and exceptional courage and grace in the face of a terminal illness. An artist did a chalk rendition of him in the Byward Market.

38 comments:

  1. I don't know why but that flag looks like it belongs on one of the student dorms at Hogwarts. Very nice portrait of Gord Downie.

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  2. I would be interested in the flowers. Well drawn portrait of Gord Downie!

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  3. That flag really makes a statement.

    Janis
    GDP

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  4. A lot of flowers exposed, nice portrait too.

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  5. ...I was in Barbados once, it sure was hot.

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  6. When I think of Barbados I think exactly this, vibrant, colourful and full of life! Brilliant portrait of the late Mr Downie ..

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  7. @Kay: it's the trident. It's quite an eye catching flag.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Nancy: there were a good many of them.

    @Janis: it does!

    @Marianne: I thought so.

    @Tom: it must be!

    @Karl: thanks!

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  8. Yelp Barbados Jamaica and places like that are where the rum comes from!

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  9. I am inclined to associate Barbados with pirates and rum!

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  10. Hello, where is the rum? The chalk art is awesome. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

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  11. Barbados makes things lively and exciting.

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  12. Nice display. I like their flag too!

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  13. @Grace: it was quite an event.

    @Cloudia: definitely!

    @Christine: a bit of both!

    @Sharon: when I was in, they were sampling some island tonic, mixed with ginger ale.

    @Eileen: thank you!

    @Red: it does.

    @Marleen: indeed.

    @Lois: I do as well.

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  14. Rum ~ or Trick or Trick ~ very informative post ~ ^_^

    Love and light,

    A ShutterBug Explores ~ aka ~ (A Creative Harbor)

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  15. Barbados. Now that's somewhere i haven't been. Rum, colour, warm , beaches mmmmmmm

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  16. that is so wild. my comment disappeared. i will try again. google .... not sure what is going on? any who. i like rum. fave is vodka though. we have bourbon in the frig ... but whatever makes your tongue (taste buds) happy, right!! ( ;

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  17. That is a great portrait of Gord Downie. It is going to take people a long time to get over the loss of him.
    I haven't been to Barbados but I've heard that it is beautiful.

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  18. I never been to Barbados but I've had some good rum from there. I never heard of Gord Downie until he died but heard some of his music online and I did like what I heard. That is a nice portrait of him. Too many great music people seem to be passing lately.

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  19. @Carol: thanks!

    @Fun60: I wouldn't mind visiting it one day.

    @Beth: that sometimes happens with Blogger. I'll doublecheck in the spam folder- I've seen comments turn up there when they shouldn't be there.

    @Maywyn: it certainly is.

    @RedPat: it felt like we've lost a friend.

    @Bill: the Hip have had a much stronger presence here in Canada, but his death has brought attention to them beyond our borders. They're a terrific band.

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  20. Light shows are magical, looked special with important themes. Then, the Caribean legends, my relative was booked for a cruise there in January but it was just cancelled, bit insensitive going there considering the recent damage on the other hand tourists bring helpful business

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  21. I have read about Gord Downies death. I like the music performed by the Tragically Hip, I think they have toured overhere several times. 53 years ... he passed away so soon, really tragically.

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  22. I read where Barbados narrowly escaped this year's hurricanes.

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  23. Tweeted. I had to look up the history. Barbados does seem to have the edge, but Brazil would like to claim it as their invention. The flowers were striking.

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  24. I've never been to Barbados but I consumed a lot of rum in my (much) younger days.

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  25. Interesting exhibit....and amazing chalk portrait.

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  26. Never been to Barbados, but visited Bahamas several times. Always a great welcome at the airport with the steel drum bands. Did a tour of a rum factory there too. Even the air in the factory was thick with sugar cane being processed. We get a lot of use out of the phrase "why is the rum always gone!"

    So sad about Gord Downie, it seems such a shame to lose someone who was doing such good. That's a wonderful chalk drawing. I think he would approve.
    Wendy

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  27. I enjoy memorials that highlight an individual's contribution to the person's field of endeavour.

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  28. Nice and colorful exhibit and I admit that after your lead-in, William, I was looking for the rum and/or Capt Jack Sparrow. A very nice tribute to Gord Downie.

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  29. Talking about rum ... when in my late teens and early twenties I used to drink 'Bacardi'... haven't had any in years and years...
    That chalk art is amazing.

    All the best Jan

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  30. A loving tribute to Gord Downie, and Barbados!

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  31. Ah, Barbados. I'd love to visit that place one day... And taste rum... Interesting post.

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  32. @Julia: it's a dilemma- do you go to such a place after a hurricane or not? On the one hand, they don't need gawkers. On the other, they need tourism dollars.

    @Jan: it's still a loss a year later that many people feel.

    @Revrunner: they got lucky that time.

    @Mari: thank you.

    @Catalyst: hah!

    @Janey: I agree.

    @Wendy: he was one of a kind.

    @Kate: so do I.

    @Lorelei: admittedly I don't drink.

    @Beatrice: Captain Jack slipped out before we could catch him.

    @Jan: Bacardi's available here.

    @Jennifer: I thought so!

    @Klara: I'd like to see it.

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