| s/v Nine of Cups Trinidad and Tobago |
Sailing southeast from Grenada, Tobago is about
85 miles... an overnight beat against the wind
and current. We left St. George's about 1700
and arrived in Scarborough at about 1300 the
next day. Not a bad passage, but we've been
very spoiled by short dayhops between islands
for sure.
Until about 11,000 years ago, Trinidad was part
of South America. Tobago hasn't been attached
to South America for over a million years. As a
result, each island has its own flora and
fauna...part from the South America continent
and part from evolution of its own island species.
85 miles... an overnight beat against the wind
and current. We left St. George's about 1700
and arrived in Scarborough at about 1300 the
next day. Not a bad passage, but we've been
very spoiled by short dayhops between islands
for sure.
Until about 11,000 years ago, Trinidad was part
of South America. Tobago hasn't been attached
to South America for over a million years. As a
result, each island has its own flora and
fauna...part from the South America continent
and part from evolution of its own island species.
View of Nine of Cups in Courland Bay
off Plymouth, Tobago. Trinidad and
Tobago, although joined as one
republic, are very different in nature.
Where Trinidad is very industrialized,
Tobago is very rural.
off Plymouth, Tobago. Trinidad and
Tobago, although joined as one
republic, are very different in nature.
Where Trinidad is very industrialized,
Tobago is very rural.
We were fortunate to be in Tobago during the
annual Heritage Festival. Though everyone is
welcome, the festival is for Tobagonians rather
than tourists. It is a celebration of their rich
history and cultural traditions through storytelling,
dance, music and food. Shown above is the Ole
Time Wedding. The various items being carried
signify wealth, homemaking skills and fertility.
annual Heritage Festival. Though everyone is
welcome, the festival is for Tobagonians rather
than tourists. It is a celebration of their rich
history and cultural traditions through storytelling,
dance, music and food. Shown above is the Ole
Time Wedding. The various items being carried
signify wealth, homemaking skills and fertility.
Tobago's Carnival is also held during the
Heritage Festival. Although much smaller
than the Trinidad Carnival, it maintains
most of the same elements. This is a
Fancy Indian, part of the Carnival Parade.
Heritage Festival. Although much smaller
than the Trinidad Carnival, it maintains
most of the same elements. This is a
Fancy Indian, part of the Carnival Parade.
Tobago has several species of bats.
Here are several fruit bats hanging from
the rafters at the Arnos Vale
Waterwheel Park.
Here are several fruit bats hanging from
the rafters at the Arnos Vale
Waterwheel Park.
The Arnos Vale Waterwheel Park is a
nature preserve on the site of an old
sugar plantation. The original
waterwheel, about 20' high is intact and is
part of a lovely restaurant in the preserve.
nature preserve on the site of an old
sugar plantation. The original
waterwheel, about 20' high is intact and is
part of a lovely restaurant in the preserve.
Trinidad and Tobago have over 400 species
of birds. This Mot-Mot is one of the more
brilliant birds. Note the distinctive cutout on
the tail feathers.
of birds. This Mot-Mot is one of the more
brilliant birds. Note the distinctive cutout on
the tail feathers.
Steel pan music was invented on Trinidad. When
British authorities banned African drumming, the
people made music from bamboo, thumped on
the ground and reinforced with improvised
percsussion. During the 1930's and 1940's, this
percussion - discarded biscuit tins and empty oil
drums - became a new sort of drum, the steel
drum. Each note is tuned by hammering a dent
into the surface of the steel. Today's steelbands
perform everything from western classics to
calyso.
British authorities banned African drumming, the
people made music from bamboo, thumped on
the ground and reinforced with improvised
percsussion. During the 1930's and 1940's, this
percussion - discarded biscuit tins and empty oil
drums - became a new sort of drum, the steel
drum. Each note is tuned by hammering a dent
into the surface of the steel. Today's steelbands
perform everything from western classics to
calyso.
Port of Spain is the largest city we've
seen since leaving Puerto Rico. It is
crowded and the traffic is heavy...like
most large cities. We enjoyed exploring
the streets and neighborhoods. Charlotte
Street, for instance, has lots of shops
selling housewares, as well as an Asian
section, where the shops sell everything
from dried mushrooms to crystallized
ginger...Marcie's best friend when
seasickness threatens. The Red House is
Trinidad's House of Parliament.
seen since leaving Puerto Rico. It is
crowded and the traffic is heavy...like
most large cities. We enjoyed exploring
the streets and neighborhoods. Charlotte
Street, for instance, has lots of shops
selling housewares, as well as an Asian
section, where the shops sell everything
from dried mushrooms to crystallized
ginger...Marcie's best friend when
seasickness threatens. The Red House is
Trinidad's House of Parliament.