I had the great pleasure of going to Trinidad this summer for two weeks. It has been five years since I was last there, so this trip was very special.
Before I could even start walking, I was covered in Trinidad sand(many photos to show). I have been going to Trinidad since childhood. The beauty of that is I have a second home and an unbreakable bond.
Upon exiting the airport, I smelled the fresh island air, and it felt so good. Memories and sentiments started to flood my soul. “SHE’S BACK”, I whispered to myself.
With all of that being said, my vacations in Trinidad are not the typical resort, beach, and sand vacation. Because I have family on the island, I stay with family, particularly by my grandma’s house in the countryside. You know what that means? Waking up to roosters, longer drives, nice breezes, more space, and one thing about the countryside is there are more vendors and family businesses. If you wanted some McDonalds or Subway, it would be a good drive(not that I recommend that HAHA).
What I love about staying with family is I get to experience real life in Trinidad. I get to experience driving around different areas, going to local markets/vendors, taking public transportation, eating authentic cuisine( everything tastes better in Trinidad, no lie), going to the mall or movies, different beaches and overall just doing more than what I would usually do on any other island. It literally feels more like I am living there as opposed to a vacation, which is very cool.
I admire the pureness of the countryside. Residents do not seem to care about appearance and their way of life is very simple. I could not help but notice how different island life is, compared to life in the United States. It is just very slow, unbothered, and chill, which is why it makes for a great escape from the bustling life of the USA.
Keeping it real though, whenever going on an island, like Trinidad, you have to make some adjustments!
Let’s talk about THE MOSQUITOES. Ya girl got RAVISHED. The thing about Trinidad is it is hot all year, and therefore, houses such as the one I stayed in, may have small holes as a design, meaning any bug or creature can come in. Doors and windows also remain open for fresh breezes. So, it is not uncommon to see a lizard running on top of the ceiling, a swarm of ants somewhere, or being devoured by mosquitoes inside. It felt like my legs were on FIRE. Like 100 mosquitoes attacking me at once. The insects in the Caribbean are just on another level, if you know, you know.
Driving in the countryside requires a bit more effort and patience, because some of the roads are not in the best condition (potholes, bumps, narrowness) and there are many twists and turns. Where we stayed was a good distance from the beach and other sites, so the rides could be bumpy, swirly, and long, depending on the area.
It gets dark around 7 so the day may feel shorter and some businesses close early, so there is that to consider. You do not have the luxury to just jump on the road and try to make a late-night run, depending on the area. You have to be mindful of traffic, because you may not have an alternate way to get to a specific destination. You have to be mindful of crime, especially if you are in an unfamiliar area. The police are not as reliable as in the U.S.A, so you have to follow your instincts.
Bottom line, there is just more to consider. I REALLY noticed that during this trip. I have to make another post about this topic, because there is just so much to say.
MY NUMBER ONE highlight of my trip was spending time with family!!! My maternal grandmother is the only grand-parent who can still travel and use technology, so thankfully I still get to see her in both countries. However my maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother are in their 90’s and cannot travel anymore. I loved the quality time I was able to spend with all of them. My grandfather still dances, is a neat freak and is always cleaning the yard, and still has his goofy personality. My paternal grandmother is still sharing stories and on her feet. Man, what a blessing that is, to still have them.
I also enjoyed time with my aunts, uncles, and immediate family by going to the beach, restaurants, relative’s homes, day trips to Port-of-Spain and Paramin, and just being in the motherland!!
There is just something special about being in the place that birthed many of my ancestors and plays a role in my identity. I always feel so warm in T&T!!!!
My favorite activities were the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, Paramin Tour, U-Pick farm restaurant, Macqueripe Beach, and Port-of-Spain.
The Caroni Bird Sanctuary is a swamp ride through the Caroni River. The highlight of the tour is seeing the Scarlet Ibis birds, very bright red and beautiful birds. The first hour of the ride, we were surrounded by trees, and the tour guide would stop to point out snakes, crabs, other creatures, and history. My favorite part of the tour was seeing the birds. The birds are the most visible in the most open and spacious part of the river. We passed flamingos, and the boat motor was turned off at this part. One word to describe this: tranquil. Breathing in the tangy marshy air, seeing the birds fly graciously over the trees, and feeling overwhelmed by the sound of the river, was indescribably peaceful.
U-Pick Farm Restaurant is near Macqueripe beach. We originally wanted to have breakfast under the bamboo trees, but an event was taking place there. Instead, we had breakfast inside of the building. The ingredients are fresh, so do not expect a super sweet smoothie, haha, but I love that the food and drinks are healthier. I had the chicken and waffles with a berry refreshing smoothie: the waffles were AMAZING and the chicken was 7/10. I enjoyed my smoothie and loved that it was in a cute mason jar. I definitely recommend it.
Macqueripe Beach is in northern Trinidad. It is one of my favorite beaches because the water is clear and refreshing. It is also very scenic. This is a beach where you have to be careful, because there is a drop. It used to be a submarine base.
PARAMIN TOUR!!!!
I had never been to Paramin before this trip. Paramin is a mountainous village located in Northern Trinidad. It is part of Maraval. Two words to describe it: MOUNTAINOUS YET MARVELOUS. A tour guide drove us around the area. No lie, it felt like I was on a roller coaster: there were ups, downs, and swirls. I was really praying on this ride (LOL), because of how narrow the roads are and the fact that it is on a mountain, you have to be very careful and strategic, or else you can get into a serious accident.
The tour guide drove us around while explaining the history of the area, teaching us some of the french-creole that is spoken in the area, and folklore. We stopped by a high point where you could see Port-of-Spain, a church, a wine lady(HER WINE WAS BOMB), a house where ladies were selling goodies (fudge, tambran balls, sugar cake, nut cake, kurma, and more, just pure heaven), a cave, an area with pomerac trees and sour cherries, and the best part, the highest point! The views were breathtaking. This tour was very insightful, fun, and beautiful. I 10/10 recommend!!! Our tour guide was Carlos and he was the best!!!
Port-of-Spain
This is the capital of Trinidad, maybe most known for carnival! This is where everyone parades around in their costumes to loud soca music. My aunt took me and my brother around the city. We saw historical landmarks, carnival hotspots, went by Queen’s Park Savannah, souvenir shops, chinatown, and the cathedral basilica of the Immaculate Conception. It was very nice, definitely a totally different vibe from the countryside. The buildings were very old-fashioned, and there were more American franchises(subway, dairy queen, etc). The views are hilly and beautiful. My aunt would point out where she used to hang out and where my dad used to work, when they were still living in Trinidad. It was very sentimental and delightful. Took the water ferry back home!
That is it for Trinidad’ 22. Always a good time!!!!!! Till next time!!!!
Dominique 