Carriacou's Carnival February 15-16

Carnival in the Caribbean derives its origins from colonial times with the mimicking of plantation life. The age old custom of "masking" on the street overstepped social boundaries of color, allowing participation by all.
Developed over the entire Caribbean region in one form or another, it was often considered a pagan celebration with the devil mass or "Jab-Jab" portraying slavery in chains and the asking of money to the buy freedom.
In Carriacou, Carnival is a pre-Lenten celebration starting the weekend before Ash Wednesday. Sunday night is called Can-boulay meaning "burning wood".
In the old days cornstalks were burned as a bonfire to create lighting for night time Kalenda stick-fighting. "Pierrots", a prominent figure in our Carnival, originated from disguised entertainers during French colonialism.
Their roles have evolved over the generations to roving bands competing between their villages/plantations in literature reciting, mostly Shakespeare.
Today Shakespeare Mas competitors pair off face to face; one recites while the other listens. Missed lines are rewarded with a stroke from a rod, but colorful, heavily padded and masked head dresses offer protection and the flowing paper lined capes add theatrical loud noises when the stick hits its mark. This event is unique to Carriacou and is a must to see on Tuesday morning. Troops start from Mt Royal and make their way down through the villages performing, stopping for rum in between rounds, until the event culminates in Hillsborough for the final showdown. A lively calypso competition, Dimarche Gras, on Sunday night lasts until the wee hours of Monday, Jouvert Morning, where everyone spills out onto the streets to dance and celebrate. Watch out for the Jab-Jab! On Monday, the Parade of the Bands features Mas Players sporting colorful costumes with imaginative themes, accompanied by rhythmic soca music. The last lap is on Tuesday where the Carnival winds down, leaving Hillsborough a veritable ghost town on Wednesday morning.

Keys open doors...

Double click photos to enlarge

THE INDIAN DOORS at VILLA SANKOFA, CARRIACOU

WANTING TO FIND AN ELEGANT AND UNIQUE ENTRY, WE WENT SEARCHING AT MALABAR IMPORTERS IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA. THERE WE FOUND THEM, OUR DOORS, REMNANTS FROM AN ABANDONED CHURCH IN GOA. WE BOUGHT THE INDIAN DOORS AND THOUGHT TO USE THEM AS THE ENTRANCE TO OUR FRONT GARDEN IN LOS ANGELES, BUT PLANS CHANGED. FRUSTRATED TRYING TO RENOVATE THE LOS ANGELES HOUSE, WE DECIDED THE NEXT YEAR TO BUILD OUR A HOME ON THE BEAUTIFUL ISLE OF CARRIACOU, A PARADISE WE HAD RECOGNIZED TWENTY FIVE YEARS EARLIER. WHILE BUILDING VILLA SANKOFA, OUR ARCHITECT, BRYAN BULLEN, ASKED ABOUT OUR ENTRY. VILLA SANKOFA HAS A COMBINED AFRICAN / ASIAN MOTIF, SO WE IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT TO SHIP THE DOORS FROM LOS ANGELES TO CARRIACOU. DELICATELY CARVED, THE FRAME INTERPRETS ST GEORGE SLAYING THE DRAGON. THE LOCAL BUILDERS, WITH MUCH ADMIRATION FOR THE DOORS’ INTRICATE WORKMANSHIP, INSTALLED THEM WITH LOVING CARE. AFTER THE DOORS WERE SET AND WE ALL LOOKED AT THE ENTRANCE WITH PRIDE, THE QUESTION AROSE, WHAT KIND OF DOOR SHOULD BE PUT OPPOSITE THEM? OUR GRENADINE BUILDERS REPLIED, “WE CAN CREATE A DOOR TO COMPLEMENT THEM.” AND THEY DID.

FURNITURE PIECES at VILLA SANKOFA, CARRIACOU

GRANARY LADDER and CHAISE from BURKINA FASSO

IN BURKINA FASSO, MALI, AND OTHER WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, GRAIN IS STORED IN LARGE CLAY POTS. THE POTTERY IS AT LEAST ONE STORY ABOVE THE GROUND. TO REACH THE GRAIN, FARMERS CONSTRUCT GRANARY LADDERS FROM TREE TRUNKS. CECIL WAS IN OUAGADOUGOU AND PURCHASED THE LADDER AND CHAISE. THE CHAISE IS CARVED FROM ONE PIECE OF WOOD IN THE SHAPE OF A STYLIZED ANTELOPE. THE VILLAGE ELDERS RECLINE ON CHAISES UNDER BROAD SHADE TREES.

WATER VESSEL HOLDER AND TENT STAKE from MALI

IN TIMBUCTOU, WE TOURED THE VERY INTERESTING MUSEUM. THERE WE PURCHASED THE WATER VESSEL HOLDER. IT IS DESIGNED TO HOLD A LARGE CALABASH WHICH WOULD HOLD THE DRINKING WATER OR MILK. ITS POINTED BOTTOM FIRMLY PLANTED IN THE SAND, KEEPS THE HOLDER SECURE. WE ALSO THE TENT STAKE WHICH IS USED TO TIE DOWN AND SECURE THE TAUREG TENTS IN THE SAHARA DESERT.

TRADITIONAL ASHANTI STOOLS from GHANA

WHILE ATTENDING THE CORONATION OF THE ASANTEHENE IN KUMASI, WE TOURED A NEARBY VILLAGE, FAMOUS FOR ITS HANDMADE STOOLS. USING A VERY SOFT WOOD, THE YOUNG MEN SWIFTLY AND ACCURATELY CARVE INTRICATELY DESIGNED STOOLS IN A VARIETY OF TRADITIONAL PATTERNS. WE ORDERED STOOLS IN EVERY PATTERN AND WERE ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO FIND A STOOL THAT SHOWS THE SANKOFA PATTERN.

FRANKLYN BETHEL / HOLLINGSWORTH COLLABORATIONS from CARRIACOU

INDIAN CHAISE COUCHES, TABLE, AND CABINET

ALL COUNTRIES HAVE THEIR NATIONAL TREASURES AND GRENADA IS BLESSED WITH THE ARTISTRY OF FRANKLYN BETHEL. HE TAKES A FINE PIECE OF WOOD AND SHAPES IT INTO AN EXQUISITE PIECE OF FURNITURE. NOT ENOUGH FAMILY CHAISE COUCHES FOR ME TO INHERIT, I ASKED MR. BETHEL TO CREATE TWO REPLICAS FROM A PICTURE OF AN ANTIQUE INDIAN COUCH. THE MAHOGANY AND CAINE COUCHES WERE SIZED TO SUIT OUR ROOM’S DIMENSIONS. MR. BETHEL AND HIS SON, RON, DID ALL FREE HAND THE DELICATE CARVING. WE NEEDED A TABLE BETWEEN THE TWO COUCHES. I DESIGNED A DUAL EATING AND COFFEE TABLE. ITS HEIGHT IS ADJUSTABLE. EASILY RAISED FOR DINING, THE DROP LEAVES AND TABLE ALSO EASILY LOWER TO MAKE A COFFEE TABLE. TO COMPLEMENT THIS LIVING AREA WE NEEDED A CABINET TO STORE CASES OF DRINKS AND DINING EQUIPMENT. MR. BETHEL CREATED A SIMPLE BUT ELEGANT CABINET TO PERFORM THESE FUNCTIONS.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM VILLA SANKOFA!

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Carriacou Silver Diving

Diving around Carriacou has been praised for years by tourists, journalists, researchers & tour operators for its unique marine life and unspoiled reefs. In fact Carriacou strictly translated means "island of reefs" and is the biggest island of the Grenadines being part of the tri-island state.

In contrast to touristically well developed destinations as e.g. Bonaire, Carriacou’s underwater landscape will not offer shore diving, but delightfully short boat rides of only 10 to 15 minutes to the majority of the dive sites.

That gives divers the comfort of not having to spend the whole day on the boat...single tank diving in small groups with a lunch break to unwind is the rule here unless business demands differently.

The diving experience the visitor finds around Carriacou is inimitable in the encounter of the U/W-World: Forests of soft corals with up to 10 feet in height and underwater fauna ranging from the tiny critter of a Flamingo Tongue to a 10 feet long Reef or Nurse shark; Giant Green or juvenile Golden-brown Moray eels, turtles, Eagle and Sting rays and whole lobster colonies in sizes from ‘youngsters’ to ‘elders’.

Reef tops and reef edges are located at a depth of about 7 meters (20 feet) to 9 meters (30 feet) and the maximum depth at the dive-sites varies from app. 22 meters (70 feet) to 40 meters (130 feet) – ideal dive profiles for sport diving.

Carriacou Silver Diving, together with local agencies and other partners is working presently in establishing a marine park for the destination as a commitment to preserve its U/W- world for the coming generations and to create new attractions, like artificial reefs

Our friends Claudia and Max run an excellent PADI 5* dive resort and offer single or multi package dives as well as certified dive courses.

Click here for their website

Below is just a taste of what to expect off the waters of beautiful Carriacou

Nurse shark

Redband parrotfish

Coral garden

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Carriacou's Regatta festival

Carriacou Regatta Festival started in 1965 as a mere boat racing event in Hillsborough Bay, Carriacou. Carriacou Regatta festival has now grown to become the biggest summer festival in the region. Held over the Emancipation weekend each year, it now includes a large number of Sporting and Cultural activity. The Regatta Race events focus mainly on the locally built ‘Workboats' with some twelve different classes of boats ranging from 14 to 35 feet in length and participation from Tobago, Grenada, Canouan, Mayreau, Bequia(Grenadines), Petite Martinique, Antigua and Carriacou. Other aspects of the festival includes: donkey racing, greasy pole, Miss Wet T-shirt, Miss Aquaval Queen Show with participation from Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, Canouan, Union Island and host Carriacou; road races and much more.

form more info click here

Here are a 2 photos of the regatta from villa Sankofa's veranda

The village of Windward is home to the descendent of a group of Scottish boat builders who settled here in the 19th century. The Scottish names and boatbuilding skills have been passed down through the generations. Many locally built boats from small fishing sloops to large trading schooners are seen in the Carriacou waters.

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Coastal Living Magazine Villa Sankofa Cover Story

If you harbor a passion for life on the water, Coastal Living is your ultimate must-have resource. You'll find it all here: decorating ideas that bring a breath of the shore inside your home; local color from your favorite waterfront communities; dream destinations; tempting seafood and other recipes; the best in coastal news, products, and events; and much more.

With 10 issues published each year, Coastal Living introduces readers to homes, destinations, activities, and people along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf shores of North America. Hawaii, Alaska, coastal Canada and Mexico, as well as the multi-national Caribbean islands and U.S. Great Lakes, are included in their scope.

We had the honor of being featured on the cover story of this years Island issue. The article on villa Sankofa is below.

For more on our house in Coastal Living magazine click here

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Full moon during dawn @ villa Sankofa

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