Postcards from Port of Spain, Trinidad
The twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago can often be overlooked as a travel destination for most who are considering a trip to the Caribbean. While there are a number of factors which you must take in to account when planning a trip, I have had nothing but great experiences when visiting; whether it's for a conference, Carnival or an infamous 'Trini wedding'! While I'm working on some more extensive lists and guides for Trinidad and Tobago, I wanted to share a few snippets from a recent trip, whilst also highlighting some of the things I love most about Port of Spain.
What do I love most about Port of Spain, Trinidad? It's a toss up between:
THE DELICIOUS FOOD
There are so many cuisines to choose from. The history of Trinidad and Tobago is complex, and I won't do it justice by trying to summarise it here. Port of Spain has a 'big city' vibe compared to many other Caribbean capitals. There are many ethnic groups who live in the country including Syrian, IndoChinese and Amerindian. The Trini kitchen is a reflection of this diversity; I enjoyed Korean, Chinese, IndoCaribbean, French/Asian fusion and to-die-for roti and doubles, all within 4 days....and they were all really, really tasty meals. By tasty, I don't just mean a regular 'tasty' - I'm talking melt in your mouth, make you tingle all over with spice and flavour tasty. Here are a few places you should check out:
Green Market, Santa Cruise for fresh fruit and tasty local treats
El Pecos for some local buffet lunch
Full Bloom Coffee for locally roasted coffee
Don's Roti Shop
Diane's Tea Shop for Coffee, tea + Instagrammable treats
Good Luck Chinese
Golden Bell for Korean fast casual
Chaud Cafe
A fresh fruit bowl from Green Market in Santa Cruz, Trinidad.
THE CELEBRATION OF VARIOUS CULTURES AND RELIGIONS
My friend Anissa, took me to Divali Nagar, a large, annual Duwali celebration just outside of Port of Spain. Hinduism is one of the major religions in Trinidad, so there were festivities taking place across the island. Divali Nagar is a festival village with lots of food, as well as stalls selling everything from clothing to doors. We had beautiful henna done and snacked on some delicious smoothies. Most Trinbagonians (Trinidadian/Tobagonian) grew up with this exposure to a wide range of religions and religious festivals.
Loved my beautiful henna from Devali Nagar in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
A young Trinidadian girl competing for best outfit at the Divali Nagar in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
THE AUTHENTICITY
I kept trying to put my finger on what it is that I'm drawn to specifically in Trinidad and this feeling that I've experienced every time I've been; I think it's the authenticity. Since Trinidad is not dependent on tourism, it feels like everything I have experienced so far is unapologetically Trini. It seems as though everything is designed with Trinis in mind, but everything is open to having anyone join in (such as Carnival). It's a really refreshing experience, especially in the Caribbean, as so many islands struggle with being as authentic for the sake of tourism.
These are just some personal observations that I've made in the few times that I've been to Trinidad (I have yet to visit Tobago) I can't wait to visit our twin island neighbours again soon!
