Port of Spain, Trinidad

Friday, February 21, 2014 Port of Spain, Trinidad

 

 

Blue skies with lush green mountains and a dozen sky scrapers...the view of Port of Spain in Trinidad appeared to be very cosmopolitan...not the usual tropical island scene. Ships dotted the flat Atlantic Ocean waiting their turn for dockage in the southern most Antilles Island Chain and an oil rig or two appeared off the coast. In 1970 natural gas was discovered insuring a thriving economy. Columbus named Trinidad, the largest island of the Less Antilles...seven miles from Venezuela.

Interesting to know that this little country belonged to Britain from 1592-1814 and then it changed governments 31 times between the Dutch, French, and British until it gained its independence in 1962 from Britain. The population today is a mixture of Indians, Chinese, and Africans, and Europeans.

 

 

 

Steel Pan Drum music and Stilt Dancers....Amazing welcome at the dock! 

 

After a quick breakfast in our room, Larry and I headed out to explore the city. We were greeted with wonderful steel pan music (invented here) and dancing Carnival costume natives. Larry enjoyed these ladies tremendously....see that cute little smile!

 

Out of the dock area we discovered a modern city. Before crossing eight lanes of heavy traffic, we walked past the modern Parliament skyscraper that had guards with machine guns. The city was bustling with noise and business everywhere. This was not what we had expected of a caribbean island.

 

We passed a wonderful commemorative memorial for the past winners of the Olympics.

Crown Princess

Trinidad...a big city feel!

              

We wandered down through the towering buildings through Independence Square, a park that ran down the center part of town ending at the 1832 Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception (being restored)...blue limestone work of architectural delight. On we wandered into a local shopping market.What a lively area  of colorful clothing and vivid characters selling their wares. The street curbs were enormous here probably due the torrential rains that occur June through December.

 

 

 

On we walked through a modern mall like enclave and out to the Woodford Square (heart of the city) where we met a couple who went to Virginia Tech and had been born in Franklin County....yes, it is unbelievably a small world! We talked for a while and enjoyed the live Carnival Steel Pan music on the stage in the park with the costumed dancers and guys dancing on stilts.
 

Couldn't resist this guys wares...cute earrings!

 

 

When we departed we viewed the Red House or The house of Parliment(1844, 1904, 1906, and currently being renovated). It was painted Red for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and has continued to be the symbol of enduring democracy in Trinadad and Tobago. We also viewed the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (1823) with a mahogany beam roof modeled after Westminister Hall in London and the Old Fire Station Tower.

 

 

 On we walked about a mile up Abercromby to the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the National Academy for the Preforming Art Centre as well as the National Museum and Art Gallery...Why? The building looked similar to the world famous Sydney Opera House. Here we had a nice lunch and updated the blog and email. Larry made friends with several of the students enjoying their guitar playing. This University sits right on the edge of the Queen's Park Savannah where we had planned to see the " Magnificent Seven" Victorian mansions of the past and some more carnival entertainment...but the time was drawing near to boarding time on the ship (3:30) so we headed back toward the Crown Princess.

 

 

 

 

 

We wandered back through the city using a different route. The car drivers were so kind....stopping many times to let us cross the busy streets. We enjoyed walking through the neighborhoods of homes; passing by schools, churches, and businesses. We made it back in time to look for just a few minutes at the local crafts and listen to some more steel pan music.
We ran out of time to explore the north and eastern coast. Here we had wanted to view the waterfalls and the numerous birds of the island. Trinidad is the home of a beautiful red bird the size of a flamingo as well as 430 species of birds, 600 native butterflies, and 1000 species of orchids. We always seem to leave something to see for the next time that we may visit.

During the evening we listened to a concert under the stars of James Taylor and had a lovely dinner of sea scallops, lamb, eggplant, spinach lasagna, salad, and Larry's sampling of desserts....it was Italian Night. We watched our first live performance in the Princess Theatre , a duo of Gaucho Dancers. We found our way back to the cabin and watched the movie, "Picture Perfect", with Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Bacon. What a super duper day!!!!!  

 

 

                                       What a beautiful day and a beautiful ending sunset!