* Carnival - "The Greatest Show on Earth", the whole country shuts down for a massive street party that cannot be adequately described in print! Go!
* Maracas Bay - The most gorgeous beach in Trinidad is nestled
in a sheltered bay between two arms of a mountain range that stretch
down into the sea. A half hour ride up a tiny, winding mountain
road rewards the traveler with the prettiest beach you may ever
see. The waves are high, but the scenery is fabulous. There are
life guards, rest rooms and food stands here, unlike some other
Trini beaches. Stop at the overlook before you reach Maracas and
you may be serenaded by a calypsonian who makes up a song on the
spot (extempo) about the size of your head or how sexy your lady
is, for a small raise (tip) of course.
*Las Cuevas beach is almost as gorgeous as Maracas Bay, but not nearly as crowded, being ten minutes further down the road. The surf is not as rough here as Maracas and there are life guards, rest rooms, showers ($1.00 TT) and food stands. Like Maracas and other Trini beaches, there are flags marking the areas that are safe to swim in; you should obey these flags.
* Other beaches - include Blanchisseuse, Chaguaramas, Mayaro Bay,
Saline Bay, Manzanilla, Toco and Balandra Bay; swimming can be
dangerous on some of these beaches; check with locals about the
current undertow before wading out. Unlike Maracas, which can
get crowded near Carnival, you may be alone on one of these gorgeous
coconut palm-lined beaches which stretch for miles.
* Pitch Lake - Much of the world's asphalt (including the streets
of your city) comes from this natural lake of pitch (tar) in southern
Trinidad that continues to fill up no matter how much is pumped
out. Plan a picnic sitting on the surface of the lake for half
an hour; when you stand up you'll leave a cool 6" deep impression
of your butt!
* Caroni Swamp - Is the home of the Scarlet Ibis, a magnificently
colored bird that flies in great red flocks from South America
every night to nest. Plan an afternoon trip to see them, they're
slowly being wiped out. The swamp also boasts tree climbing frogs,
crocodiles and all kinds of wildlife.
* Devil's Woodyard - If you go to Hawaii or even St. Lucia, you'll
see raging volcanoes with boiling lava and sulfur vents. Trini
volcanoes, like everything else in the country, are pretty laid
back; they are less than three feet high and made out of mud .
. . which bubbles occasionally . . . say every few minutes . .
. per bubble. If you can find it, which is not easy to do, it
has a neat sign outside, "Take nothing but photographs, Leave
nothing but footprints . . ." (The Trini mud volcanoes did
erupt a few years ago, flooding nearby streets and homes with
mud).
* Port of Spain - The capitol of Trinidad and Tobago, is a bustling
urban center with the Parliament, President's Home, large parks
and cathedrals. It is the business and political center of the
twin island nation and the center of carnival activity.
* Red House / Woodford Square - The Red House is a huge, red Victorian
building which houses the T & T Parliament. Outside is the
park where Trinbago's first Prime Minister, Eric Williams, used
to lecture to large crowds before independence in what became
known as the "University of Woodford Square".
* Lara Promenade - Formerly known as Independence Square, and
before that "Maureen" (Marine) Square, the Promenade
has recently been remodeled and renamed for cricket superstar
Brian Lara. A remnant of architecture left over from Port of Spain's
days as a Spanish colonial capital, the square is dominated on
one end by an ornate Catholic cathedral. The square is now surrounded
by seedy office buildings, rum shops, offices and the downtown
KFC.
* Frederick Street - The main commercial drag in Port of Spain
runs from Lara Promenade past the Red House and Woodford Square
to the Queen's Park Savannah. Lots of interesting shops and restaurants
along the way.
* Fort George - A colonial fort with cannons built on the highest
point of land in Port of Spain. After braving a harrowing trip
up a steep access road, you will be rewarded by a sweeping, panoramic
view of the capitol Port of Spain, as well as the Bocas (Dragon's
Teeth Islands) and South America (Venezuela) a few miles away.
* Queen's Park Savannah - A huge park in the center of Port of
Spain used for cricket, horse racing, jogging and of course, carnival.
The DiManche Gras Show is held here, as is the judging for the
parade of bands on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
* Lady Young Road Overlook - The best panoramic view of Port of Spain (even better than Ft. George) can be had at this overlook. It's about a mile up the hill from the Trinidad Hilton; if you're driving be careful when pulling in to the parking lot (it's on an uphill curve, making aproaching traffic difficult to see). A morning visit gives the best light for photography, in the afternoon the sun is in your face.
*Movie Towne - A modern 10 theatre multiplex recently opened in Invaders Bay west of Port of Spain. It's surrounded by shops, restaurants and the PriceSmart Warehouse store. A Marriott hotel is now being constructed next door, due to open for Carnival 2005. This bayside complex is a wonderful place to lose yourself for a few hours.
*St. James - Known to locals as the "City That Never Sleeps", this eight block hamlet just outside Port of Spain is noted for it's nightlife. Drive through in the middle of the night and you'll find crowds of Trini's "limin'" or hanging out, at dozens of bars, restaurants, quaint shops and even food vending carts.
*Ariapita Avenue - on the western outskirts of Port of Spain is turning into an upscale St. James, with toney bars, restaurants and casinos.
*Casinos - have popped up in dozens of places in Trinidad. Since non-government sponsored gambling is illegal in Trinidad, these operate as "private membership clubs". Don't worry, these are legal, tax paying "private membership clubs", just walk in, sign a book and start playing. They are much smaller than casinos in Vegas or Atlantic City, usually one large room, but they offer some of the latest slots and a variety of table games.
* Sangre Grande - Known as Sandy Grandy to the locals, Sangre
Grande is a major town in northeast Trinidad whose name means
"Great Blood", after a Spanish slaughter of Amerindians
there hundreds of years ago.
* San Juan - A commercial center along the Eastern Main Road from
Port of Spain to Sangre Grande known locally as "Sawa",
San Juan has a colorful farmers market reminiscent of the "Old
Caribbean" which thrives before noon on Saturday.
* Chaguanas - This central city is home to many Trini East Indians and the site of many Indian cultural and religious centers. A 70 foot tall statue of the Hindu God Lord Hanuman (half man / half monkey), a 50 foot statue of a Hindu Pundit and many beautiful temples and mosques can be found in the area. Great shopping malls alternate with sleepy villages. Not far away is the Point Lisas petroleum and LNG processing plants.
* San Fernando - Sando is the major Trini city in the southern
part of the island, a bustling commercial center with its own
carnival celebrations. In the center of the city is a steep hill
crowned with a park overlooking the Gulf of Paria.
* Other Cities - You get a taste of everyday life in a small Caribbean
town passing through Trini towns and villages with great names
like St. James, Tunapuna, Tacarigua, Arouca, Fyzabad, Mayaro,
Blanchisseuse, California, Siparia and Toco. There are even two
villages, First Company and Second Company, founded by ex-American
slaves, black U.S. Revolutionary War veterans who emigrated to
Trinidad in the 1860's looking for a new life after the war.
© 2004 Afrique Publications
E-mail: webmail@afriqueonline.com . . . Web: http://www.afriqueonline.com