Trinidad’s first settlers were Arawak and Carib Indians. Columbus landed in Trinidad in 1498, and a century later the island was settled by the Spanish. The Indians were largely wiped out by the Spanish colonizers. The few survivors were gradually assimilated later. Trinidad remained under Spanish rule until the British captured it in 1797. During the colonial period Trinidad's economy relied largely on sugar and cocoa plantations. The Spanish settlers planted mainly cocoa, coffee and sugar in Trindad. Africans were brought to Trinidad to work as slaves on the plantations. They brought with them art forms, such as drums, traditional wear dashiki, singing oral recitations, dance and religion. African slavery was abolished in 1834 in Trinidad. Today you will see people of all different races in Trinidad: Africans, Indians, Chinese and Europeans. The faces are best spoken of history and colonialism. Thus Trinidad, a multi- ethnic and cosmopolitian nation, is called “A Rainbow Country”, a country of many varied races. Tobago's development was different from Trinidad's. French Dutch and British forces fought over possession of Tobago and the island changed hands 22 times. Tobago was finally ceded to Great Britain in 1814. Trinidad and Tobago were incorporated into a single colony in 1888; they became independent from England in 1962, with a democratic form of government under a parliamentary political system. Culture
Carnival, Calypso, Steelpan, Chutney Music, East Indian Classical and Limbo Dancing are all products of a dynamic heritage and a vibrant people. Rich & Rare
Economy
Material growth in Trinidad and Tobago lay in the year 2002 with 2,5 %. for the following 3 years an average growth rate between 4 and 5 % is expected. The positive development is above all the expansion in the oil and gas sector as well as the continuous high energy oh question of Trinidad and Tobago most important customer, the USA, to owe. Trinidad and Tobago is also for Germany an attractive investment location, German plant farmer are involved in production of ammonia, nitrogen fertilizer and methanol as well as in the exploration, development and production of natural gas from fields in the northwest of Trinidad. The national income from the oil and gas sector amount at present to 30 % of the household. The inflation rate amounted to 2002 in the annual average 3.6 %. it the central bank succeeded to keep the inflation to a large extent under control and the external value TT dollar stable. The secured gas reserves of Trinidad will last after recent computations for more than 5 decades. Already today Trinidad & Tobago are the worlds largest exporter of ammonia and methanol. The unemployment rate sank in the last years continuously. 1995 was still 17.2% of the population able to work unemployed. This rate sank 2001 on 11,5%. In view of the development relating to market conditions and durable growth unemployment moves however on to high level. On the other hand certain sections (e.g. skilled workers in the oil and gas industry) of full employment are characterized. Trinidad and Tobago has a relatively well trained population, a sufficient infrastructure, good communication possibilities and a juridical system aligned at the British model. An upper limit of 1 acre, with commercial projects a border of 3 acres generally applies to the private purchase of land. Domestic Affairs
Trinidad
Port of Spain
Asa Wright Nature Centre
Offshore Islands
Beaches
Maracas Waterfall is an easy 2.4 km. hike in the Northern Range of St Joseph, this 91 meter fall is the country’s most popular spot for picnickers, campers, swimmers and bird-watchers. It is an easy 2 km. hike from the road. Trinidad’s most famous beach is 35 minutes from the city along a scenic coastal road. Recent improvements have enhanced both, the beach and its facilities. Beyond Maracas are Tyrico Bay and Las Cuevas beaches. There are many other smaller bays along the way. There you have the best ” bake and shark”, which is a shark fillet deep fried and the bake is dough opened out in the hands of who ever is cooking and toss in the very hot oil where it floats to the top when cooked and swells like a jelly fish. It is now ready to be eaten by the hundreds of people that queue up waiting to sink their teeth in.There is also a table filled with all sorts of vegetables, tomatoes, pineapple and hot pepper that is made to enhance the taste of the bake and shark. There is always enough for everyone. You have to get there first before the long line, Maracas is best known for its bake and shark. For those who want to “lime “ late there is always something more to keep you going.,Further up the beach there is a Bar where most people go to have a cold beer or to listen to the wild music that is being played. You can also see one or two drummers so dance,prance and have fun it is never too early or too late. Busses or Maxis can take you to all the beaches and Rivers. In Trinidad there are rivers and swamps. The Nariva Swamp is a Sanctuary for wild life, a haven for the Red Howler monkeys, caiman and manatee just to name a few. Permits are required for a visit (contact a reputable tour operator or the Wild field Division of the Forestry Department) which you can find in the yellow pages of our directory. We move on to Valencia and the Caura River, where you can take a dip, on weekends and public holidays. People go to the river to bathe, fish and to enjoy, what we call a “Trini River-lime”. The lime usually starts from early in the morning where there is a meeting point to the nearest location of the river. The lime is mostly between family and friends, but you are invited as our special guest. A Creole dish is prepared and cooked down at the river side on a make shift stove . Everyone gathers around and sing and tell funny jokes as the meal is being cooked. The lime ends when there is no more food and drink but there is usually a lot of delicacies so no need to rush home. Drink as much as you want, rum is the most popular drink on a river lime and of course not leaving our women out, there is also beer which we either buy or mostly take on our own .. The Market
Tobago
Tobago is defined by her festivals - not flamboyant and multicultural like those of Trinidad. Whatever your choice, Tobago and her people will take it in stride. Tobago has changed hands forcibly at least 25 times to today (immensely more agreeable) through it all Tobagonians do have a sense of humor and dignity that will allow them to accept you with welcome hands. Beaches
Some boats are used as “party cruises". They take you on short trips, while being entertained with local music and lots of food and drink. You can eat and drink to your heart’s contentas you sail through the serene waters of Tobago. Scuba Diving
Festivals Emancipation day
Tobago also has a lot going on . In July the Tobago Heritage Festival highlights the island’s hodge-podge of folk traditions with song, dance and drama they are staged in villages across the Island, this is where you might equally come across some the old colonial jigs and reels being dance to the distinctive sounds of fiddle and goatskin tambourine, or some African rituals of a ceremonial saraka feast. Nothing is guaranteed; but everything is possible in Trinidad and Tobago. Our holidays include Emancipation day, Eid and Divali, the festival with a thousands lights. Can you imagine the flickering of all those tiny lights in the dark? They are put into a small clay vast called deyas. Divali usually occurs in October or November and celebrates its good over evil by honoring Mother Laskmi, the goddess of light, beauty, riches and spiritual wealth. The deyas are put all alongside the wall of houses and garden path, door step, and even in the side walk of the streets, in Chaguanas and San Fernando. The streets glow when darkness fall, people come out in all their numbers to see the lights. Bamboo frames are built and also lined with lights. In almost all individual homes prayer and riuals are performed during the day which later takes you into meeting of friends and neighbors which come together there are all sorts of goodies made by the Hindus such as Parsad, a sweet dough mixture of fruit, as an offering to the Gods and to the guest Adults and children are seen wearing traditional East Indian clothing, which is made up Sari, Shalwar for women and Khurta for the men. A Nation wide competition of song and dance for exotic Divali queens also takes place. The Divali Nagar site is on the out skirts of Chaguanas it is the hub of all Indian arts and cultural exhibitions at this time of the year. Christmas
We also have a special music called Parang, being played at this time of year. Parang starts as early as September and continues competively in different areas. No month is empty or uneventful, and there is always something to entertain and captivate you when you come to our beautiful twin Island. Trinidad Carnival
It takes an extraordinary city to endure the throb of more than a hundred thousand masqueraders through its streets every year at Carnival. The largest festival in Trinidad & Tobago which almost all the population participate, every creed and race throughout the twin Island. January all the calypso tents are open with different activities that go on through till midnight, so it is never to late if you want to join . The Costumes are made long before Carnival Monday and Tuesday to fit what ever size you are, You are invited at any mas camp to choose the costume that you wish to have and the best price that fit your pocket, there are a lot, of mas camps such as Barbarossa and Peter Minshall / Callaloo Company, the two largest and most popular mas camps. The stage is set on the streets and you can witnesses many acts from the Dimanache Gras to J’Ouvert, Nite Mas. The children have thier own special day which is on a Saturday which is called Kiddies Carnival, where they come out in all their glee down to the toddlers in all sizes, all have bright colorful costume to show, some children are carried in prams when they are to tired of walking, they jump and prance the street while their parents look on, they are also guided by an elder from the band to protect them from falling and going the wrong way which takes them across the stage where they will be judge just as the adults in the big bands are being judge across the stage, all this is taken place in Port of Spain, you also have the beating of pan which is called, Panorama you have the beating of a steel pan, which starts before Kiddies Carnival, where groups of people from all over Trinidad form a pan group that carries a name, in Tobago they practice in their own home town to participate for the big day which a competition is being held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, there are also the junior players who take part in that big grand finals, which starts from 7pm till 4am in the morning. A steel pan can be anything from a small, traditional, pan around-the neck there are approximately 100 players and 400 pan, it is a nation wide competition that starts just before Carnival, Your head will be spinning and your eyes wide open to the sweet music of pan which will end when the best pan is judge and the player is chosen, that takes you into Dimanche Gras. Dimanache Gras a competition that is usually held under tents or shaded area inside the Queen’s Park Savannah, where different Calypsonians will sing about social commentary. Oral history and often plain rudeness all set to a lively rhythm, each trying to outdo his or her to capture the name and also the crown of the year. People pay a big fee to get in to the Grand Stand where you can get a closer view, but there are different places in the stand to fit your pocket, every one cheers The most favorites: are Chalkdust, Cro Cro, Denise Plummer, Crazy and singing Sandra, but there will be one winner at that night , after all the artistes perform and the judges word is final the winner is called upon the stage to receive the prize where every one wait in anxiety. Then we have what we call J’Overt (pronounced “jouvay”). The word comes from the French, and means “opening of the day”. For Carnival revelers, this is the starting for the two big days of complete “freeing up”. In former times, the slaves used the masquerade (mas, for short) to mock and mimic their owners. J’Ouvert was a kind of exorcism of evil spirits. Now it’s an opportunity to behave outrageously under cover of costume and darkness. It is not a place for the faint hearted. Join a band with a devil costume of horns, tails and trident. All sorts of costume, people parade through the street marching to the rhythm of music to a truck that leads them, beer and rum flows. As they dance, they cover their bodies with mud and paint even oil and their faces some times look evil in the dark, it is like some evil spirit get over them, people from all over. Downtown Port of Spain and also San Fernando you can get the same. A lot of :wining” in the streets, men try to get the best “wine” from any woman, all that starts 4am in the morning and goes on till 12 midnight, at that time people starts to warm up for what you call Carnival Tuesday. Where all the big bands come out in all their colors . they start from downtown Port of Spain going to the savannah, walk with a camera if you want to capture all the beautiful colors and costumes, There is also a competition held for the best costume, they go through the street of Port of Spain down the savannah with a lot of loud music trucks, the crowd is so thick you can see the sweat on the faces of the people sometimes they even rest at the side of the road to go again. Then to the main stage where a lot of spectators look on and cheer the best band will also be judge but only one out off hundreds can win the price. You also have the best choice of music
that was heard in the tents for the completion that was held before carnival
Monday and Tuesday. During the parade of the Masqueraders the music of
artist are being played to the street people, the one song that is played
most often is won to the people and country which is called the Road Match
Title. Carnival is a beautiful and spectacular scene which happens only
once a year, come, see, play, prance, dance and enjoy yourselves. It is
said, to be the Greatest Show on Earth held in Trinidad and
Tobago.
Shopping
The streets of Trinidad may be hot and crowded, but the bargains are great and you can buy anything from pins and soap to fresh fruit, most of the shopping is done downtown Port of Spain on Charlotte Street where the bargains are Don’t pass up a trip to downtown Port of Spain. Frederick, Henry and Charlotte Streets comprise the main shopping street, with Charlotte St being home of all-purpose bargain stores which sell everything, such as Trinidad best craft work is being shown on display mostly for our lovely tourist to take home. You can also get these beautiful craft at the Airport boutiques as soon as you arrive, or some of you who like to sail to Trinidad, as you enter the Port there you can see a lot of vendors with almost anything you can imagine. They are so lovely you must have one, You can also get retail work by some of Trinidad’s best known fashion names. Craftwork is easily available all over the island, not leaving our twin island Tobago. For the more formal creations the hotel boutiques and gift shops are ideal.. Turtle Beach Hotels holds a craft market on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where local artisans are encouraged to show their work; and the Cotton House studio on Bacolet Street produces splendid tie-dye, batik and beautiful fabrics and fashions. Eating in Tobago can be a nice experience for you, from Crown Point to Charlotteville at one end to the island to the other, you can sample our traditional Tobago favorite, curry crab and dumplings and at the other end you can sit to the king fish fresh from the ocean, deliciously cooked in a Creole style with lots of onion, green pepper and tomato. At Crown Point there is the largest of restaurants, both simple and fancy, on the island. Not forgetting the Friday night lime and eating habits. In Trinidad you can get a lot of nice restaurants mostly situated in Port of Spain, on Frederick Street you find a lot so when you are through with your shopping and need a bite you can enter Town Centre or Excellent Mall on Fredrick Street where you can get all different sorts of food to your choice, a mixture of Creole, Chinese, and Indian delicacies it is always crowded but there is a lot of seating area so you can enjoy a good Trini meal. On Friday the special day for all after work limmers people come out in large Crowd some just standing in the street tapping their feet to the music that is played by the vendors, some with a beer in their hand. There are also a lot of stalls with all kind of foods such as bake and shark, Corn soup, chicken foot-souse, bar-b cue and lots more to enjoy, On Friday and Saturday most vendors take the opportunity to set up a stall at the side of the road be it Arima, Port of Spain San Fernando which ever side of the island you are you can get a bite at all these food stalls. There is also the selling of CD’s on the street with loud music coming from them so you can imagine how crazy that can be but a sense of freedom and you enjoy your self. Copyright © 2000 by Caribsurf.net. All rights reserved..  |