Travel through Venezuela and on to Port of Spain went incredibly smooth (especially when you compare it to my travels home in June!). We (Cesar & I plus the group from the school) left Maturin early Saturday morning for Caracas, where we made our connecting flight to Port of Spain, Trinidad. Greeted by our driver, we headed to the hotel, ate lunch, and then ventured out to a mall for a glimpse of how much diversity is contained in this little island - Spanish, African, French, Indian, British and Amerindian history and culture have made their mark throughout the country.
The next day we took a picturesque drive through the mountains to reach the popular beach at Maracas Bay, located on the northern coast of Trinidad. It was a short visit to the beach - enough to enjoy the water, and for the daring ones, a chance to try the signature shark & bake meal.
From that point we headed back towards Port of Spain, stopping at Mount St. Benedict's, a church situated up in the hills bordering the city. From that point we were able to see all of Port of Spain and beyond. By that time it was late afternoon, and what better to do in late afternoon than watch the birds come in to nest? T&T is known for being a bird-watcher's paradise, as it is home to hundreds of species of birds. We set out in boat to see what kind of wildlife we could come across in the Caroni Bird Sanctuary.... fiddler crabs, tree-climbing crabs, snakes, and of course, a variety of birds including the national bird, the scarlet ibis, which comes to nest daily on a little island - we came as close as possible without disturbing them. (hard to tell in this pic but the island is covered in red dots - scarlet ibis - and the white birds that are neighbors to the ibis)
Monday, the final full day of our adventure, our tour of Trinidad took us further south to Pitch Lake, one of three natural asphalt lakes in the world. I had no idea what to expect, but found it to be very... interesting. We walked over pitch (the raw material from which asphalt is made) and bathed in the sulfur pools that form in the crevices of the pitch during the rainy season and are said to have healing powers. This is an action shot of me jumping over the crevices...
Heading back north, we stopped at a mall in San Fernando, the second largest city in Trinidad for some quick shopping & lunch. The next stop of the day gave great insight to the diversity of religion and culture in T&T. Hinduism was brought to the island after slavery was outlawed and the British began bringing over indentured workers from India to work on the island's plantations. Under colonialism, the practice of the Hindu religion was initially not accepted on British territory, so one man got creative and built a Hindu temple on the water. The temple is known as the Waterloo Temple or the Temple in the Sea, a picturesque monument not only to the Hindu faith but the story of creative resistance through times of oppression.
Following our visit to the Temple in the Sea, we went to the sight of several Hindu temples (an Ashram), including the Hanuman Temple which is famous for the 85ft. statue, the tallest of its kind outside of India. It was a moving experience to witness the detail and dedication in the architecture, the result of work that was done day and night, rain or shine for two years by a group of 20 artisans.
The trip was just a quick glimpse into what the country holds, and it was very interesting to see not only the similarities but also the stark differences between Venezuela & Trinidad. The two countries have so much in common (wildlife, abundance of natural resources, landscapes, etc.), but it is amazing to see the different directions the countries are headed in. Coming from Venezuela, there was such a sense of progress and growth in this tiny country. Even going to the grocery store was a highlight of the trip, finding the same variety of products that can be found in the US, a reflection on being a capitalist-friendly country vs. Venezuela's anti-imperialism.
Everything went by so quickly, it's hard to believe we were able to fit so much into such a small amount of time. Next time I hope to make more time for the beach and visit the sister island of Tobago - famous for the laid back island culture, scuba diving, coral reefs and... destination weddings!
I have to say the most memorable part of the trip wasn't actually on the island, but on the plane ride back!! Three years together and many adventures across borders... just the beginning for Cesar & I. I will post a picture soon :)
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