Site purpose & inspiration
This site was created as a learning experience for the author, and for prospective first-time visitors to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with time to spare to identify interesting things to do, see, eat and experience.

Links to Cultural Events, Places to Visit, Transport, Where to Stay, Useful Links, Acknowledgements, Copyright & Database Rights.

Cultural Events
Carnival This is the main event for which Trinidad (like Rio de Janeiro in Brazil) is internationally renowned. If Carnival is not actually taking place, then there'll be a lot of people getting ready for it at "Mas camps", unless you're in Lent. In that case you just missed it! Thousands of residents and visitors dress in flamboyant, startling and often skimpy costumes, to parade and dance around the streets of Port of Spain, and some other main towns to the sounds of music from discos on trucks, brass and steel bands. Mas is an Carnival costume 2002
abbreviation of masquerading. Many of the costumes are professionally made, and can be surprisingly expensive, but that don't mean there won't be strong competition to secure the most desirable! Each Carnival band has a unique king (see picture for example) queen, and section leaders costumes, with different sections comprised of masqueraders all wearing less splendid, but matching, costumes.
Steel Band concerts, competitions or rehearsals A steel band is composed of players of instruments derived from the humble oil drum. The sound is unique, and vibrant, guaranteed to get everone dancing, or at least foot-tapping. The bands assemble and practice at their "pan-yards" all year round. There are various concerts and competitions, culminating in the weeks leading up to Carnival, and amongst the revelers on the streets.
Calypso is a tradition of music making with humourous, whitty topical or preferably scandalous lyrics. Sometimes the performance is ad lib, but the great calypsos and their exponents are found in the Calypso Monarch competitions in the run up to Carnival. Among the best all time great calypos are "Jean and Dinah", "Rum and Coca-cola", and the more recent "Pan in A Minor". Stop your car at a view point, and you may be treated to a one-off personalized performance by a man with a cuatro or a guitar. Kaiso is an old word for Calypso that has come back into fashion.
Diwali is the Hindu festival in October celebrating the goddess of light and spiritual wealth. Thousands of flickering oil lamps are to be seen in and around celebrants households.
Hosay is a festival to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hosein in Mecca, in the formative times of the Muslim religion. Spectacular night time processions with decorated tombs called tadjahs and drumming are held. One of the best places to see this is the Port of Spain suburb of St James. The tadjahs end up in the sea.
Parang is traditional Christmas music performed by roving players who seranade the occupants of private households to the accompaniment of cuatros.
Sport can be worth watching at the Queen's Park cricket Oval, the National Stadium, horse race track, and many a green space or street corner. Great Race is an annual power-boat race from Chaguaramas which is west of Port of Spain, to Tobago, on 1 August, the day on which abolition of slavery is commemorated.
Theatre check what might be on at the Queen's Hall, close to the Savannah and Hilton Hotel.
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Places to Visit
Port of Spain is the bustling capital. It has a scattering of interesting old colonial and administrative buildings, ranging from the lighthouse in Tragrete Road, by the port, to the Red House next to Woodford Square, the Prison in Frederick Street, which looks like a very good reason to stay outa trouble, the grand houses ("Magnificent Seven") and President's House next to the Queen's Park Savannah, and Fort George or Fort Picton on hilltops overlooking it all. The Savannah is something of a focal point; the pavement around it is the place to promenade or jog, see and be seen, and indulge in delicacies such as doubles, pilori, or a coconut water. Take care or avoid crossing the Savannah after dark.
Beaches of Tobago are magnificent. Store Bay is walking distance from the airport at Crown Point. Pigeon Point is a little more exclusive, and the jetty there is picture postcard material. There are hotels with private beaches, and many more, often deserted the length of the island to Charlotteville.
In Trinidad, Maracas Bay on the North coast is the most popular. Beyond that there are others at Tyrico and Las Cuevas and Blanchisseuse, but beware the currents and waves which have a dangerous undertow. West of Port of Spain Carenage and Chaguaramas are not really recommended for swimming, but Macqueripe Bay on the North coast was once popular, and was monopolised by the US military when they had a base in this area. More remote beaches such as Matura and Grand Riviere Bay are the nesting places for turtles, which come ashore on certain nights. As on many Caribbean islands, the beaches of the East coast, such as Manzanilla and Myaro seem to take a constant pounding of Atlantic waves. At times there are things that bite and sting in these waters. Beware of jellyfish, and you may encounter the almost invisible "sea ants" which can sting, though these are not dangerous.
Coral Reefs are found around Tobago. Buccoo Reef is the most accessible to tourists, but much of the coral appears badly damaged by failure to manage the anchoring of tour boats. The diving at Speyside and Charlotteville is said to be spectacular.
Down the Islands is where the "well to do" used to go every weekend and holiday. The shores of half a dozen small islands off the North-West tip of Trinidad are lined with private weekend cottages accessible only by boat. These are places for quiet contemplation, reading, bathing and fishing, or serious feasting, drinking card-games and partying, though the odd satellite dish admits contemporary pastimes.Island landing stage
Noel Coward wrote an eponymous play while he stayed at Point Baleine, when there was a hotel there. Boatmen can be found to ferry you over to your destination island at "Stobles" past Chaguaramas, or you can rent a small boat not far away (check the phone book). You could rent a cottage at Bombshell Bay on Gasparee Island, or privately elsewhere. Visit the caves and gun emplacements near Point Baleine. Take a picnic and swim at Scotland Bay or a longer trip to the former leper colony on Chacachacare, where you can climb to the lighthouse, and take a refreshing swim before you leave - with the dolphins if you're lucky. The wildlife is interesting here with dolphins, manta rays, pelicans, parrots, frigate birds, fishing and other bats, and the odd jelly fish or two in season. For more click wildlife.
Caroni Swamp reserve where you can take an afternoon boat trip to see the famous Scarlet Ibis and other birds come in to roost at sunset. Don't forget a supply of drinks and nibbles, and plenty of mosquito repellent.
Asa Wright Nature Centre is a former plantation house in the Northern Range which has become world renowned among enthusiasts as the place to see and photograph Trinidad's rich variety of bird life.
Pitch Lake at La Brea is similar to the tar pit in Los Angeles, California, and car parks the world over. Black pitch naturally occurs here at the land surface. It forms a crust, and you can walk on it, but the odd animal skeleton that comes to light testifies that you can also get stuck and sink in. The tar was valued by early navigators who used it with oakum to caulk their ships. More recently it was canned for export. The Mall in front to Buckingham Palace, London is reputedly surfaced with the stuff, because it makes such a fine surface. So are most of Trinidad's roads, demonstrating that use of even the finest materials is no guarantee of perfection. This exploitation resulted in a lowering of the surface of the pitch lake relative to the surrounding ground. In turn this causes rain water to accumulate on it, which has to be pumped away.
The tar in the lake is in motion, with areas welling up, and others evidently sinking like a slowly boiling pot. Water gathers over the areas of subduction, and visitors need to take their shoes and socks off to paddle around. There are even some spots where the water is deep enough to bathe, but you can be almost certain you'll get tar on your bathing suit when you bathe here. A visitor centre has exhibits of the history of the lake, refreshments, souvenirs, guides and picnic facilities. Pitch lake with visitors © Steve Mason 2002
Mud Volcanos are where natural gases spontaneously bubble from the ground. Don't make a special trip, but have a look if your passing one in South Western Trinidad. There's one called "the Devil's Woodyard".
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Transport
Buses, taxis & shared taxis all exist, but as a short stay visitor, stick to taxi's or
Car hire Some of the well known international hire firms are obtainable, or I can recommend Mr Roopnarine, if you can find his number.

Boats can be chartered. Enquire at the powerboat club known as "Powerboats", or for something grander, try the Trinidad & Tobago Yacht Club. For a sailing boat enquire at "Yachting". All these clubs are along the road to Chaguaramas, west of Port of Spain.Boats at TTYC
Inter Island ferries ply daily between Port of Spain and Scarborough, Tobago, but unless you're comfortable with rough passages, or need to take your car, you might prefer the alternative of the short flight.
Rail The last train to San Fernando was in the 1960's I believe. There was an old calypso about it. The tracks have been torn up, but I believe a locomotive survives in a park somewhere.
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Where to Stay
International Hotels The Trinidad Hilton is close to the Savannah in Port of Spain, and worth a visit if only for a Pina Colada, but you may find it expensive to stay. It is unusual in that the entrance as at the top, and lifts take you down to the rooms. The pool terrace has cultural dinner shows, and the pool is the shape of Trinidad. The Holiday Inn is "down town" Post of Spain, with a revolving restaurant on top. The old time favourite Queen's Park art deco Hotel closed, and has been replaced by the new offices of British Gas.
Local Hotels are plenty and reasonable. I liked Sundeck Apartments in Picton Street, Crown Point appartments Tobago, and also tried Bergerac in Maraval. Here is a link for some more hotels and restaurants.
Rent through an agent.
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Useful Links
For a list of links to other sites about Trinidad and Tobago:
www.caribinfo.com/island_info.html
and here's a site with some pictures:
members.tripod.com/berdina/pictures.htm
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Acknowledgements
Webford Version 2.01 by Jonathan Walsh © 1996, 1997, was used to create this site, see wkweb4.cableinet.co.uk/jwalsh/webford/webford.htm for further information, and possibly a free downloadable version. The colourful banner headings were created using the Cooltext site, www.cooltext.com Logos tool. Animated animal graphics were found at www.animfactory.com and the Trinidad and Tobago flag at www.virtuallandmedia.com. The author is indebted to the staff of Eastleigh College, in particular to course tutor Lyn Berry, his able trainee assistant James, the systems team, other members of the class of Autumn 2001 (you know who you are), and to Carl, whose short Trinidad visit inspired my one-page paper mind-map, which would have been lost if he had not ticked every item he tried, and returned the original to me.

Copyright & Database Rights
All material and rights © 2002 Steve Mason except where otherwise stated. If you wish to copy any of the material, please apply to WebNoVice, stating your requirements and details of intended use if not commercial. Terms and conditions may apply.
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