Trinidad and Tobago Port Lecture

I am just now getting around to putting up my port lectures from my role as Destination Expert on the Royal Princess.

I will make sure that they are easily found via the search function.

Note not all the lectures will be going up, but I will try to put up most.

Here is the first one - Trinidad and Tobago.

This lecture was actually recorded in Princess Live prior to the cruise as we had four port stops in a row and we were not able to schedule a live presentation.

I must apologize my voice is very raspy.  I got quite sick and even lost my voice and it was just coming back when I recorded this lecture.  The show must go they say.

So if you or someone you know is going to Trinidad share this post for them so they can check it out.

Trinidad, February 21, 2014

 

We wake very early – 4:30 early!  We step out on the balcony and look up at the stars and the moon it is breathtaking.  We can see Trinidad in the distance.  We dock at 7 am and it isn’t long before we hear people stirring.

I go on line and the first thing I read is the passing of our sister in law  Ronalda, she was married to Bernie’s brother and became ill last summer and succumbed to the illness yesterday.  We feel horrible for Charlie and her son Michael and feel so far away, as they live in Cape Breton.  So we took some time today to raise a glass to her.

We are docked and we can see that there is a steel drum band playing and women in Carnival costumes and I head off to capture some pictures and video that I will put up when we get home and I have free wifi.

Once I come back on board Bernie and I meet and we go for breakfast and we are sat with two couples both from Canada and we have a lovely breakfast and getting to know them better.

The Wake show is discussing the Crossing the Equator Ceremony and since Bernie and I are both Shellbacks (we have crossed before and I was chosen that time) they are asking for Pollywogs (equator virgins) to volunteer to be in the ceremony.  They will pick four people from all those that sign up.  The ceremony is to be held on the 24^th and they will do it again when we are in the Pacific.

Bernie and I head off the ship and start walking to town.  Port of Spain is a very large city and busy!  Tomorrow is the start of the official Carnival and it is a bit busier than normal.  We walk along the main boulevard in town.  Did you know that Port of Spain has the largest KFC and has more KFC per person than any other place on earth.  Guess they love their chicken.

Lots of street vendors and lots of interesting conversations and sounds all around.  Love it.

We are hot and we are near the main park (Victoria Park) and we grab a snow cone to cool off and then we see they have some stuff set up for Carnival and we check it out. 

The main bandstand is featuring school kids and their parade.  Cost to get in is $4 and we are given a handkerchief that features the sponsor for this event.  We see quickly that we are suppose to wave these handkerchiefs in the air when the band plays.  The elementary school kids perform and we are excited and get right into it. 

We stay here for about an hour and a half and leave just before the high school children start.

We walk back to the ship and we are hot and sweaty when we get on.  And a quick shower and a quick nap are in order and when we wake we feel refreshed.

shops set up right at the port

It is a beautiful sail away in fact the island as we pull away reminds me of Vancouver.

I do some reading on the balcony and Bernie and I are both so excited to hear the results of the Olympics and extra excited to hear about the Men’s hockey team beating the US in the semi finals and that they are now playing for Gold.  Looks like Craig lost the bet and will have to wear Bernie’s Canadian hockey jersey all day tomorrow.

We head down to Vines for some wine and Anthony serves us and recommends that we purchase a whole bottle and we do this.  And later Barb and Craig join us and we head into the dining room. 

Tonight we head to Da Vinci dining room and we have a great table and excellent service from Nancy.  She is so good that she is managing everything on her own as her assistant is ill.  Even the Head Waiter Stephen is around and helps with the champagne and our wine order.  We are so happy with the service and we all comment repeatedly to them how good they are.  Our minds are at ease knowing that some of the things we have experienced in Michelangelo can be avoided by dining up here.  I am not saying all the waiters are poor down there, in fact we did have a good one but we will not sit in that same waiter’s section again.

Tonight is Italian night and I start out with the eggplant parmesan and it was so salty that I actually could not finish it, not sure what happened there.  I had a mixed green salad then for my entrée I had the chicken and sage dish which I always enjoy.  Of course the cheese plate and Limocello for dessert.

After dinner we head to the Princess Theater to watch the Malambo Showtime starring Luis Viana El Gaucho and Sasha Scott.  It is a great performance!

I need to warn all my followers that internet seems to be intermitted and often we lose the signal.  So I will be posting sporadically and when I can. 

We now have four sea days till we get to Reciffe.

Trinidad

February 5, 2009 - Port of Spain


Today we are in back in Port of Spain. Now the last time we were here we saw a lot and we both were wondering what we wanted to do here. We were a little hesitant about visiting Trinidad again it didn't seem like a city that really wanted to see tourists, the crowds, and the pushiness of the vendors.



After grabbing a latte we decided to venture out again. And all I can say is "I am glad we did". It is hot hot hot again, almost didn't want to leave the port shops as they had great AC. There are many shops around the port to check out the local crafts. Bernie picked up some cashews.

They have a lovely port facility with a steel drum (aka as Pan) band. Click on the video to get a sample of the music. In the port you will find a few stores (pricey) and tourist information. We were given a tourist map with a self guided walking tour of the town. So are day was planned.



Once you leave the port you have to cross a very busy street. I am not sure if you normally have to cross here because there is a lot of construction going on so this may be a temp. crossing. But even if it is permanent they have a crossing guard to help you get across.


There are city paid tourist guides situated all around the main town that are dressed in red and have identification and are able to assist you with directions, maps, questions etc.

A couple walks down the main promenade

At the end of the promenade is this lovely church



Bernie tries out the confessional.



Here are two of the tourist guides, easily identified by their red shirts. They are very happy to assist and are very proud of their city.

As we walked we say a few of these vendors around and this particular vendor had a huge crowd around him. We checked it out tried to see what he was serving but before we could even find out the cook smiled and said "here" as he handed us his food item. It was a pita type bread that had a curry type item in it and then wrapped up. Kind of like a roti but not as big and not as wrapped up. The filing was made up of chic peas, onions, peppers and a curry sauce. He gave us this item for free!

And it was very very good. We thanked him profusely.

Our chef, and he is wearing the Canadian pin we gave him.

We then walked down one of the main streets that was lined with shops on both sides and the sidewalks were packed.

Here is a guy with his CD cart as he pushes it down the street with music blaring. When he saw me looking at him he asked if I wanted to buy anything. I laughed because I somehow think he doesn't have my kind of music.

We walk into a few stores and bought some t-shirts and souvenirs for our nephews and nieces. The staff are so very nice and so helpful and very interested in us.

There were a few street side stores that weren't really official buildings but at one particular store the owner came right to us as we walked by and wanted to chat. He was so nice asking us all about Canada. His sister lives in Canada he proudly says. Seems many Trinidadians have moved to Canada. We chat for awhile and he shakes our hands and wishes us a good stay in Trinidad.

Not once did we feel pressured to buy anything, not once did we feel uncomfortable on the street. All we felt was friendliness, interest and hospitality.

Here is another vendor that is selling fruit.

One of the squares near downtown and the bandstand, still decorated for Christmas.

We walk to the big park (can't remember the name of it) where set up for Mardi Gras is underway. The bandstands are being set up for viewing of the parade. Bernie swears he is going to sit there and wait for it to begin.

On one street beside the park are the Magnificent Seven Houses. Some are in great shape, some others are in desperate need of repair, all are beautiful.

These little buildings are being erected all around the part as little shops that will sell all kind of things.

A bunch of school kids gather in the park for an impromptu cricket game.

It is very hot and we have walked a lot, time to rest the legs.

These street vendors line the street and sell fresh whole coconuts, very intricate iron work.

We decide to walk to the North end of the park where we know the local zoo is (which is located right beside the botanical garden that we visited on the last visit)

The zoo is quite nice and only cost us $2 per person.

The zoo was lovely. I took so many pictures at this beautiful port that I actually killed both batteries from both cameras.

We wandered around the zoo for about an hour and a half and knew we had to start heading back. I don't have any pictures of this part of the visit because like I said the cameras were dead.

We knew that there was a Canadian consulate nearby so we stopped by.. we walked in and went thru security and then we walked into a small room that had a window with a woman behind it, she asked "can I help you" and we just didn't know what to say, so we just said "no just visiting home" and left feeling kind of goofy.

There was a lovely little coffee shop and we walked in for yup you guessed it a latte. We chatted with many of the local school kids who were in the restaurant.

We thought about taking a taxi back to the port, but the traffic was bumper to bumper and be prepared to hear beep beep beep beep beep... amazing everyone beeps their horn but we didn't see anyone get mad as they sat in the traffic. We walked back and laughed as taxi drivers offered us a ride, gee we easily could walk a lot faster than they could drive.

Tonight we were invited to head down to the Cruise Director's office to be interviewed for the morning show. Now neither of us has ever seen this side of cruising. It was a lot of fun, I got to sit with the Cruise Director and the Assistant CD and we talked about Cruise Critic and talked about the ship and our cruise.

This show is taped at 5:30 every night and played the next morning - and they pretend it is taped live.

Trinidad - January 22, 09

After a wonderful sea day we docked in Trinidad. Man this port looks different. We dock right in the heart of the port and right downtown. You can see the city and the traffic and all the containers from the container ships.



Today we have a tour planned. I had contacted Island Experience Tours http://www.islandexperiencestt.com/ Gunta was very helpful in organizing an island tour for our group from Cruise Critic.

We set out with a tour of the city, the park, the magnificent seven, the garden and then we drove to this beautiful lookout.











Here the guys pose for the camera, aren't they a handsome bunch.


















I even got a chance to enjoy this lovely parrot. See I make a friend again.
















We then start the trek to Maracas Beach, and it was well worth it. Didn't take us all long to change and get into that beautiful water. The waves were so much fun we body surfed and swallowed lots of water.




Now Maracas is known for their "bake & shark" sandwich - here is a picture of one. It consists of this deep fried dough (sort of like a pita), then battered and fried shark, and then topped with an array of sauces, very yummy and all that and a pop for $5.

Our final stop was at a place that makes Carnvial costumes for the upcoming Mardi Gras. Each costume is hand made and they sell for a fare sum. If only I could take one home with me - but could you just picture me now parading around the house in this.

We got back to the pier and there were a few vendors set up and we checked some things out but didin't really feel the need to buy anything as we knew we would be back in two weeks.

We both thought the island was very nice, but we weren't completely taken with the island and we were not sure about visiting again. (But trust me in two weeks we got back off and LOVED the island).

Tomorrow is Barbados... and we have a full day planned, can't wait.