Cascadia Hotel And Conference Cen Port of Spain

I decided to take advantage of my paid vacation and spend two weeks in Trinidad and Tobago. My good friend Kevin Fortune, who I met in college, is from Trinidad and was a phenomenal tour guide. I stayed away from computers, cell phones and any reading materials related to the economy and/or the environment.

... over unsuspecting Nature Seeker Ralph, using him as a barrier between us and the sea. Then there was the area past the ledge that hosted the decomposing sea turtle. It had been there for approximately one week, going through its various undignified stages, and now had been reduced to smelly mush with an aroma that put autopsy smells to shame. Then there was the slim log underneath a single palm tree called "Bouy" that served as our one semi-comfortable resting spot during our ...

... Lee were also plucked out of the water and back to safety. Whew! I offloaded my pile of paddles and other goodies and determined that I, along with Richard, would paddle myself into shore. So as the speedboat motored off, Richard and I cruised on the crests of the waves.....wahoo!!!! And as we came within 20 feet of the shore, my smug self and my smug kayak were suddenly hit out of nowhere by a rogue wave.

And I capsized. Everyone else already had, and I was ...

... passed areas where fire pits had been assembled, and arrays of bottles had been discarded into the sand. And there had not been one single time, day or night, when we had been at this beach and not come across groups of men who seemed to have no permit and no recreational purpose on the beach.

....but there is no poaching, and, from the surface, everything is pretty in Trinidad.

The first time I went to the Dis-and-Dat Shoppe, which is a small convenience store ...

... we did, but still suffered. During the break, I wandered around to see if we couldn't get away from the speakers a bit. We enjoyed the rest of the concert at the hotel's outdoor restaurant with cool beers and hopefully lost only a bit of hearing. The most anticipated event for me was the National Panorama Finals. This was 16 of Trinidad and Tobago's finest Steel Bands competing for the prize. The bands were limited to 100 players and were enough to rock your socks ...

... That may seem surprising, considering its less-than-absolute majority. Maybe that explains it. I've seen people wear true African dress here, but nowhere else in the Caribbean; rasta colors yes, but not real African. I've seen shops selling African goods here that would rival those of the US, not just cheap tourist schlock. I can watch the 'Africa Channel' on TV here. I've never seen it elsewhere, except maybe LinkTV in LA. The 'Cowheel ...

... In J'ourvert everyone dresses in old clothes and covers themselves in mud, oil paint and body paint. So basically there are about 10 bands that march around Port-of-Spain from about 4am until 10am. Each band has its own theme, and consists of huge trucks either blasting Soca music ...

... to a quiet cruise back up the island chain to Antigua. Currently living the hotel at the marina as we could not stand for another night on the boat. its just damp every where. and it is great to have AC, clean sheets, and no movement. Off on a tour of the island tomorrow for a couple of days before we set off again.

... for four if not for crafty Merlowe Elwidge, playing left-side hunchback henchman funny hat positioned at rear admiral, who himself was goosed out on a hamstring before wicket, and his slap-hand to the team's giant grass-hopper, who stomped Tashikiwan." Streets surrounding Port of Spain's "The Oval" sporting complex were bustling, apparently to see the giant chirping insects. I paid $30 (US$5) and entered into the seat-less common grounds. When the day's play began ...

... got my veins pumping rum." "There's blood in your alcohol system," joked Dexter. After two more days of about thirty rum and sodas, Dexter left us to return to the States and study. I crashed at his parents' house a few more days, and I got invited down the islands once more. We went to a bigger hill-hidden bay with lots of boats, called Scotland Bay. I entered the dark green water to explore. Some coral bits dotted the bay's floor near where the boat anchored. In fifteen feet of ...