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The Rough Guide to Trinidad & Tobago PDF

331 Pages·2011·41.24 MB·English
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THE ROUGH GUIDE to Trinidad & Tobago Carnival tips • Unspoilt beaches • Rainforest trails www.ebook3000.com JH?D?:7:JE87=E 1 Edgid[HeV^cVcYi]ZlZhiZgci^e 8]VgadiiZk^aaZ 2 I]ZCdgi] 3 8ZcigVaIg^c^YVYVcYi]ZZVhiXdVhi 8VhiVgV 4 HVc;ZgcVcYdVcYi]Zhdji] Tobago HeZnh^YZ 5 IdWV\d Eanbdji] GdmWdgdj\] 5 N Crown H86G7DGDJ<= Point CARIBBEAN SEA BViZadi IdXd K:C:OJ:A6 7aVcX]^hhZjhZ 8]V\jVgVbVh 1 BVgVXVh 2 BVijgV HVc?jVc 6g^bV EDGID; HVc\gZ<gVcYZ HE6>C LViZgadd Trinidad BVcoVc^aaV 3 HVc;ZgcVcYd BVnVgd Eg^cXZh Idlc Ed^ci;dgi^c 4 <jVnV\jVnVgZ HVc Bdgj\V >XVXdh ;gVcX^fjZ 0 10 km ATLANTIC OCEAN Columbus Channel About this book Rough Guides are designed to be good to read and easy to use. The book is divided into the following sections, and you should be able to find whatever you need in one of them. The introductory colour section is designed to give you a feel for Trinidad & Tobago, suggesting when to go and what not to miss, and includes a full list of contents. Then comes basics, for pre-departure information and other practicalities. The guide chapters cover Trinidad & Tobago’s regions in depth, each starting with a highlights panel, introduction and a map to help you plan your route. Contexts fills you in on history, Carnival, music, wildlife and books, while individual colour sections introduce the great outdoors and festivals. Language gives you an extensive glossary and enough Trini expressions to get by. The book concludes with all the small print, including details of how to send in updates and corrections, and a comprehensive index. This fifth edition published November 2010. The publishers and authors have done their best to ensure the accuracy and currency of all the information in The Rough Guide to Trinidad & Tobago, however, they can accept no responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience sustained by any traveller as a result of information or advice contained in the guide. www.ebook3000.com The Rough Guide to Trinidad & Tobago written and researched by Polly Thomas, Robert Coates & Dominique De-Light www.roughguides.com www.ebook3000.com www.ebook3000.com Contents 3 Central Trinidad and the Colour section 1 east coast ......................... 155 Introduction ............................... 6 4 San Fernando and the Where to go ............................... 8 south ................................. 179 When to go .............................. 10 5 Tobago .............................. 199 Things not to miss ................... 11 Contexts 263 Basics 17 History ................................... 265 Getting there ........................... 19 Carnival ................................. 274 Getting around ......................... 22 Music ..................................... 278 Accommodation....................... 26 Flora and fauna ...................... 285 Food and drink ........................ 28 Books ................................... 293 The media ................................ 34 Festivals and public holidays . 35 Language 297 Outdoor activities and Language ............................... 299 adventure tours ..................... 38 Glossary................................. 300 Sports ...................................... 42 Culture and etiquette ............... 43 Harrassment, safety and Small print & Index 305 drugs .................................... 44 Shopping ................................. 47 Trinbago festivals Travel essentials ...................... 48 colour section following p.112 Guide 55 1 Port of Spain and the The great outdoors western tip .......................... 57 colour section 2 The North .......................... 115 following p.240 3 왗왗 Bikini mas, Trinidad Carnival 왗 Blanchisseuse, Trinidad www.ebook3000.com | CONTENTS | Anguilla St-Martin/Sint Maarten St Barts Barbuda St Kitts Antigua Nevis Montserrat C A R I B B E A N S E A Guadeloupe AT L A N T I C O C E A N Dominica Martinique C A R I B B E A N St Lucia Saut d S E A Islan St Vincent Barbados The Grenadines Diego Martin VENEZUELA Huevos Grenada Petit Chaguaramas Valley St Ann Colón Monos Tobago Chacachacare Graasnpdaer Carrera POR Prison OF Patos Island SPAI Trinidad 0 100 km VENEZUELA St Giles Islands G u l f o f Charlotteville P a r i a L’Anse Fourmi Little Castara PHararlol t Parlatuvier E Speyside PTBaIosirbrladadn goidsofe/ Delaford T o b a g o Roxborough Moriah Belle Point L Hillsborough Dam Garden C B Plymouth Glamorgan a Arnos Vale Mason Hall g Richmond Poi MountB Ilravcikn eRock Rockly Vale StM Goeuonrgt e Goodwood Pembrokhe Island San P Pigoeinotn BuccooProspect Bethel SCARBOROUGH B Canaan Lambeau La Brea Crown Crown Lowlands RLoicttklely Vessigny PLaitkceh Point Point Bay International Airport Point Fortin Fyzab 0 5 km Cedros Point Los Bajos Bonasse Chatham San Francique Palo Fullarton Isolte Seco Bay Erin Point Metres Icacos 1000 500 4 200 C o l u m b u s C h a n n e l 0 www.ebook3000.com q c a M r o a n o t S n d u A n o B t o r e e p n d s i r e a u n a M e P g n i K d l l u C s b o o u r l v a H e n u o M o o R e e f r o c c S a y y a B l s I d a ’ O y y T G o y a B s ’ r e t l a B n e d o a t y aC B n e e n i v r I t c c u B B u c c B a L d a y m b u s B r a w s B e r a W r B a B a y y P B a y B a y y i n t y a B n t G r e e d a B r o y s o o g o o C o l u M o u t h e r a at e B ’ ’ l l y t O e ’ s L o d y B u lt a ol r a e i v a n ’ s m y h s s t a r a a C y P o l l i y H a l e s V P o i o C B a n n t ’ s s B i a P B e t i e h a K i n g B r a B a y l i g n E b n a Bs a b o e t n o ol R r c k A l y e r p e y y a S e c o r s o G d r a o u g c a B y B a y S P a l o b r h a B B ya | INTRODUCTION | WHERE TO GO | WHEN TO GO C s a e o n n a d y d I s l y a B d n a r G a c o B o G s B a n d w a r e l s I t a y I r o W i d n a B a o s r i n L E G A B O T E R T S E R O F O y a y V R E S y B a 0 5 km N San Galera Souci Toco Point Grande Matelot Riviere La Vache Saut d’Eau Point Blanchisseuse Island Maracas Bay Village El Tucuche Brasso Seco Rampanalgas El Cerro Santa del Aripo Cruz Maracas St Joseph tit Maraval Asa Wright Hollis Cumaca Salybia ley St Ann’s Cascade Lopinot NCeantutre Reservoir Matura SBalainye San PORT Laventille Juan St Joseph Tunapuna Valencia OF Barataria Arouca Arima SPAIN El Socorro Curepe D’Abadie Oropuche Sangre Caroni Piarco International Grande Upper Fishing Pond Swamp Airport Cumuto St Helena Lower Fishing Pond Caroni Arena Dam Cunaripa Upper Manzanilla Longdenville Talparo Chaguanas Lower Manzanilla Waterloo Todd’s Road Carapichaima o/ f se T r i n i d a d d Cou Pvraeysal CGoruavna Charuma Biche SNwaarimvap Tabaquite Navet Point Lisas Dam Cucne Claxton Bay Brickfield Navet Guctuaro Piparo Point Pointe-A-Pierre Point Radix San Fernando Marabella Williamsville Busy Corner Rio Claro Princes New Grant Poole Mayaro Town Mon Repos St Julien Tableland Canaan Debe Barrackpore Preau Fyzabad Penal Guayaguayare Galeota os Siparia Sadhoowa Basse Rushville Point jos Terre alo Moruga co Moruga Point A T L A N T I C O C E A N 5 www.ebook3000.com a y a y n d r a B R i v er i l l a B a l a B e M a n z a n y a B y a B h c y y y a n a e r e i v i R y a B t o l y a u B y s a a B a a i B r e s h e ti e B B a a B m u C d n a e t r a M m a p d a a P M u n e s n s i y h a M B a r a a y m a n o c G h S a o r a c n a l B M s c a a v s e u B C a y i u Q | INTRODUCTION | WHERE TO GO | WHEN TO GO r k O e i s a R L r e v i R a . r B a y a yy b i a o u c i S B a l B a y a n S e r a g u a y a r e S i G u a y o R r i t O e v r Introduction to Trinidad & Tobago Sitting pretty at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles chain and just off the coast of the South American mainland it was once part of, the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago is one of the Caribbean’s most diverse and underexplored destinations. Best known as the home and heart of West Indian Carnival and the place where calypso, soca and steel pan were invented, T&T is a cultural pacemaker for the eastern Caribbean. The islands’ spectacular forests, savannahs and reefs harbour a huge array of animal, plant and birdlife, and the endless undeveloped beaches are some of the prettiest in the region, from palm-lined white sand fringed by limpid waters to secluded, wave-whipped outcrops. Trinidad and Tobago are well suited to independent travellers without being fully fledged resorts, and because gas and oil (rather than tourism) are the main economic earners, both islands remain largely unfettered by the more noxious elements of Caribbean tourism. Visitors are not corralled in all-inclusives or holed-up on private swathes of sand, and the beaches are enjoyed by both local and foreign holidaymakers. Sun and sea are by no means the only draw here, however: no other Caribbean location ofers such a variety of wildlife and habitats in so compact an area (Trinidad covers less than 5000 square kilometres, Tobago just 300). In Trinidad, there are tropical rainforests of mahogany and teak patrolled by howler monkeys and ocelots, wetlands harbouring manatees and anacondas, and remote beaches where giant leatherback turtles lay their eggs, while Tobago is best known for its stunning coral reefs, favoured by manta rays and shoals of brightly coloured tropical fish – and both islands have plenty of lovely waterfalls in which to beat the heat. And with more than 430 brilliantly hued species recorded here 6 (one of the richest concentrations per square kilometre in the world), T&T also ofer some brilliant opportunities for birdwatching. www.ebook3000.com | INTRODUCTION | WHERE TO GO | WHEN TO GO The crowded and dynamic towns and cities are equally engaging, with Fact file fretworked “gingerbread” homes sitting • Standing at about 1.3 side by side with temples, mosques, million, Trinidad and Tobago’s Catholic cathedrals and Anglican population is around 40 churches. The many ethnic groups percent Indian, 39 percent brought to labour in the islands after the black, 18.4 percent mixed- race, 0.6 percent white and slaves were freed in 1834 have given rise 0.4 percent Chinese. to a remarkably varied populace, hailing • With 26 percent of its from India, China, Portugal and Syria population Roman Catholic, as well as Africa, England, France and 24.6 percent Protestant, 22.5 Spain. Though racial tensions are inevi- percent Hindu, 5.8 percent tably present, Trinbagonians (as they’re Muslim, 3.3 percent Presbyte- collectively known) generally coexist rian and 5.6 percent adhered to African-based religions such with good humour, and are proud of as Spiritual Baptist and Orisha, the multiculturalism that has so enriched T&T is the Caribbean’s most the life of the nation. This easy-going theologically diverse nation. mentality is best expressed in the local • The islands boast one of the propensity for liming – taking time out highest literacy rates in the to meet friends and talk, usually over a Western Hemisphere, at 99 beer or glass of rum. percent. • The Trinidad and Tobago economy is the most diver- sified and industrialized in the English-speaking Carib- bean. As well as exporting fruit, vegetables, sugar cane and manufactured goods, T&T produces an average of 154,000 barrels of oil and 115.2 million cubic metres of natural gas each year. • The Pitch Lake, at La Brea on Trinidad’s southwestern coast, is the world’s largest natural reservoir of asphalt. • As the southernmost islands in the Caribbean chain, T&T lie outside the region’s hurricane belt, and haven’t suffered a big blast since Flora in 1963. The islands are susceptible to earthquakes, however, with minor tremors occurring at an 7 average of one a month. www.ebook3000.com | INTRODUCTION | WHERE TO GO | WHEN TO GO 왖 Northern Range forest, Trinidad Feeding of from the party-hard ethic is an electrifying music scene that rivals even that of Jamaica. T&T is the birthplace of calypso and the more fast- paced soca, as well as that quintessential sound of the Caribbean, the steel pan; you’ll hear plenty of all three year-round, but especially during the republic’s most famous party, its annual pre-Lenten Carnival. During this unique and explosive event, the no-holds-barred debauchery of opening night Jouvert celebrations is followed by two days of pure joy as 5000-strong bands of intri- cately costumed revellers take to the streets in a celebration of life. Where to go ound together for the convenience of the British empire, Trinidad and Tobago are vastly diferent places. Trinidad ofers culture, ethnic diversity, music, clubs, great food, pristine rainforest and a Bwealth of undeveloped beaches. Tobago is more of a conventional Caribbean resort, with busy strips of white sand and hotels of every stripe, as well as plenty of bars, restaurants and places to dance under the stars. It’s impossible to get a full picture of T&T without visiting both islands, but regular and inexpensive plane and ferry services between the two make it easy to see the best of each even during a short stay. 8 www.ebook3000.com 왔 Sunday School | INTRODUCTION | WHERE TO GO | WHEN TO GO

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