A Common Wealth.

A tasty tree-t.

Bridgetown, Barbados – The rains have come, ghosting hills that once hid buccaneers argh-mateying through the islands.

The shades of grey are a far cry from the rainbow palettes we’ve seen thus far.

Bridgetown is also one of the few ports we’ve found with a free beach nearby: pink-hued talc, a pillow under toes, ushering in the clearest aquamarine lolling to shore.

This morning, though, we wandered through the historic garrison district amidst women shelling peas and cobblers hammering shoes on cobblestone streets. Small shacks sell beer. It’s a stitch in time.

Christmas trees representing all Commonwealth nations have been sewn into the scene with lazily swaying palms. They’ve been decorated with relevant ornaments made by the island’s primary school children. Styrofoam snowmen, Mounties and hockey sticks cling to Canada’s tree.

Obviously.

For some unexplained reason, China and USA are also represented.

Yes, the latter is covered in footballs and hot dogs.