March 31, 2017

Port of Spain, Trinidad: steel pan yard; things to do

The steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad.  

First made from discarded oil drums when hand drums were banned under British rule, it is the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century. 

Pans were originally informally pounded into a dish-like shape, tempered by fire, grooved, and tuned--until they were workable musical instruments.  Now a standardized instrument, the tenor pan, or lead pan, carries the melody and can play 29 notes over 2.5 octaves in the higher register, while the newer G-Pan, originated at the University of the West Indies, can play 37 notes over 4 octaves.  The pans need to be tuned every few months. 

pan musical instrument with standardized markings at Dan-Demonium pan yard in Trinidad
pan musical instrument with standardized markings at Dan-Demonium pan yard
in Trinidad


pan yards in Port of Spain  

Be sure to visit a pan yard for a performance that will knock your socks off.  Look for posters around town advertising current performances. 
 
Invaders perform at pan yard in Trinidad
Invaders perform at pan yard in Trinidad


Dan-Demonium  

Pan player and song writer Kwesi Paul has been playing since he was 8 years old.  Here you will see pans in various stages of formation. 

Kwesi Paul at Dan-Demonium pan yard in Trinidad
Kwesi Paul at Dan-Demonium pan yard in Trinidad




●I saw the 

Invaders steel pan orchestra 

and the 

Les Coteaux Folk Performers calypso dancers

perform at another pan yard.








Darron Scotland of the Les Coteaux Folk Performers calypso dancers performs a delicate maneuver at a pan yard in Trinidad
Darron Scotland of the Les Coteaux Folk Performers calypso dancers performs
a delicate maneuver at a pan yard in Trinidad


Jaffa 

restaurant is just across street.  Named for the play in cricket that is a perfect delivery, this Mediterranean restaurant is situated at the home of cricket in Trinidad.  A British high tea with scones and clotted cream is served on Wednesdays.  
Queens Park Oval, 94 Tragarete Rd., Level 2, (868) 622-6825.  

bar at Jaffa restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad
bar at Jaffa restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad





images and videos ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


March 28, 2017

Trinidad: Let's Explore Downtown Port of Spain

Downtown Port of Spain

Originally a mangrove swamp, Port of Spain is now the second-largest in the Caribbean, after Kingston in Jamaica.  Construction is going on everywhere, like in downtown San Francisco but on a smaller scale.  Above-ground wire tangles are reminiscent of those in China and on my own residential street in California. 

tangle of wires in downtown Port of Spain, Trinidad
tangle of wires in downtown Port of Spain, Trinidad


Downtown Shopping in Port of Spain

●Frederick and Charlotte streets are the main shopping streets.

corner shop in downtown Port of Spain, Trinidad
corner shop in downtown Port of Spain, Trinidad


police car across street from Bang Bang shop in Port of Spain, Trinidad
police car across street from Bang Bang shop in Port of Spain, Trinidad


Excellent City Centre  

Considered the heart of downtown shopping, this popular shopping center has everything you might need under one roof--from designer clothing to electronics to jewelry--plus a bakery and food court.  You’ll also find everything for the home, including appliances, toys, school supplies, children’s clothing, books, and souvenirs.  You can even shop online.

Excellent City Centre mall in Port of Spain, Trinidad
Excellent City Centre mall in Port of Spain, Trinidad


KFC  

On Frederick St., across from Independence Square and a roundabout.  This branch of finger-lickin’-good chicken made the Guinness World Records in 2000 for selling the most chicken in the world and also for making the most money world-wide.  Trinidadians favor the spicy fried chicken.

famous branch of KFC in Port of Spain, Trinidad
famous branch of KFC in Port of Spain, Trinidad


Holy Trinity Cathedral  

The oldest Anglican church in the Caribbean, this old building has a lovely mahogany ceiling.

exterior of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port of Spain, Trinidad
exterior of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port of Spain, Trinidad


interior of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port of Spain, Trinidad
interior of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port of Spain, Trinidad





images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

March 24, 2017

Trinidad: Carnival; things to do

Trinidad Carnival  

February 27 and 28 in 2017.  Held in Port of Spain, on the Monday (party day) and Tuesday (activities are more structured; parade day) preceding Ash Wednesday.

This massive event is the largest Carnival celebration in the Caribbean and the second largest in the world (Brazil is #1).  Costumes are stunning, and many are elaborate and massive--large enough to fill a room.  It is filled with music trucks, waving hands, and plenty of jumping.  To attend, you should book one year in advance, and do consider booking a hotel or tour package.

Carnival participants have their favorite costume designer.  

Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes 

(Warren/Ana sts, Woodbrook, 868-628-4521) is one of the best.  The costume charge here is TT5,000+ (just under US$1,000) and includes everything--admission, food, drinks.  Locals can no longer make everything in Trinidad.  Feather items are still made here, but belts and many other items are now produced in China.  “There are featherless birds and hairless horses in China because of carnival in Trinidad,” laughs Ronnie.  Note that Carnival participants purchase new costumes every year!  

owner Ronnie of Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad
owner Ronnie of Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad


worker at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad
worker at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad


Carnival costume at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad
Carnival costume at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes
in Port of Spain, Trinidad


Carnival costumes at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad
Carnival costumes at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes
in Port of Spain, Trinidad


travel writer Carole Terwilliger Meyers models feather costume at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad
travel writer Carole Terwilliger Meyers models feather costume
at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad


travel photographer Chad Case models feather headpiece at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad
travel photographer Chad Case models feather headpiece
at Ronnie & Coro Mas Camp costumes in Port of Spain, Trinidad




images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
image of Carole Terwilliger Meyers c2017 Chad Case

March 22, 2017

Introduction to Trinidad & Tobago + Faces of Trinidad & Tobago photo gallery

AN INTRODUCTION to TRINIDAD & TOBAGO


Port of Spain cityscape in Trinidad
Port of Spain cityscape in Trinidad


Located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean just 7 miles off the Venezuelan coast, Trinidad was in fact once part of South America until it broke off in an earthquake broke it off.  They are the last island in the Caribbean chain. 

Britain gained control of the islands in 1797 and brought in thousands of African slaves to work on sugar, cotton, and indigo plantations.  Today, descendants of those slaves make up most of Tobago's population.  When Britain abolished slavery in 1830, landowners brought in indentured workers from India, China, and the Middle East.  Their descendants give the islands a multi-ethnic appeal.  According to a guide, “We are mixing it up,” and he said that Trinis celebrate their religions together and are inclusive rather than divisive. 

Because the islands existed separately for centuries, they each have a distinct personality.  Britain joined them together in the late 19th century, and the two islands gained independence in 1962 and became a republic in 1976.

The official language is English, and half of the annual visitors are from the U.S.  People come here for the culture.  Driving is on the left--except when it isn’t--so defensive driving is essential on both islands.  “We drive like how we dance--dangerously,” an islander told me.  There are no all-inclusive resorts. 


TRINIDAD

Known as the “cultural capital of the Caribbean,” bustling Trinidad measures 65 miles long by 50 miles wide.  It is the birthplace of the limbo, the calypso, and singer Harry Belafonte--as well as of the steel pan drum, the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century.  It was ranked the happiest nation in the Caribbean by the United Nations’ World Happiness Report in 2013 and 2015.  And though the island is lively and developed, the tourism infrastructure is not well-developed.  You will find only one souvenir store downtown and no crafts market.  U.S. service men stationed here during WW II--there were more than 200,000 of them--cut some of the roads that provide access to a mountain range and secluded beaches along the north coast.


TOBAGO

Tiny Tobago is only 30 miles long by10 miles wide and mostly undeveloped.  Crown Point is the tourist hub, although Scarborough is the main town and where the cruise ships arrive.  This lush island features hidden beaches, great diving, and quaint villages.  It is home to the largest brain coral in the Western Hemisphere, and its Main Ridge Rainforest is the oldest protected reserve in the Western hemisphere.


PHOTO GALLERY:  FACES OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO


Ricardo, a guide with Island Experiences in Trinidad
Ricardo, a guide with Island Experiences in Trinidad


owners of Coloz restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad
owners of Coloz restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad


server at HAKKA restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad
server at HAKKA restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad


pan player and song writer Kwesi Paul at Dan-Demonium pan yard in Port of Spain, Trinidad
pan player and song writer Kwesi Paul at Dan-Demonium pan yard
in Port of Spain, Trinidad


guide Monica helps serve drinks at Blue Crab Restaurant in Scarborough, Tobago
guide Monica helps serve drinks at Blue Crab Restaurant in Scarborough, Tobago



 
images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

March 9, 2017

San Diego, California: San Diego de Alcala mission; things to do

San Diego de Alcala mission  

10818 San Diego Mission Rd., in Mission Valley, in San Diego.

Founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1769 at a site near the mouth of the San Diego River, this was the first California mission.  Also known as the San Diego Mission and the “Mother of the Missions,” the San Diego de Alcala mission was relocated here--6 miles from its original site--in 1774 and has been rebuilt several times, making the current church the fifth on this site.  It is now a peaceful island amid a busy shopping area.  The mission church was named a minor basilica (a church of very important historical significance) by the Pope in 1976, and is one of only four of the California missions that are basilicas.  Two striking features are its impressive bell tower featuring one original bell and the restored church featuring textured plastering typical of Indian craftsmanship.  The well-maintained old gardens are also noteworthy.

You can rent a taped tour, which kids 7 and older particularly enjoy.  An annual Festival of the Bells that celebrates the mission’s founding takes place each July and includes a carnival and a blessing of both the bells and animals.  

front exterior of San Diego de Alcala mission in San Diego, California
front exterior of San Diego de Alcala mission in San Diego, California


display of all the California missions in the museum at San Diego de Alcala mission in San Diego, California
display of all the California missions in the museum at San Diego de Alcala mission
in San Diego, California


bell tower at San Diego de Alcala mission in San Diego, California
bell tower at San Diego de Alcala mission in San Diego, California


interior garden at San Diego de Alcala mission in San Diego, California
interior garden at San Diego de Alcala mission in San Diego, California


images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

March 7, 2017

NYC: Sara D. Roosevelt Park; things to do

Sara D. Roosevelt Park  

Lower East Side.  This 7.85-acre park underwent a $5 million renovation in 2011.  Sara D. Roosevelt Park features a soccer field, track, roller-skating rink, basketball courts, two playgrounds, and a senior center.     

promenade at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in NYC
promenade at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in NYC


Houston Street Playground

 

Rivington Street Playground 


Hester Street Playground  

On Hester St., between Chrystie and Forsyth Sts.  Facilities at Hester Street Playground.  include colorful play structures with padded ground beneath, a large sand pit, swings, and an enclosed toddler area.  The area is unshaded, but in summer an assortment of water features operate. Picnic tables--which tend to be in use by adults playing card games--and restrooms are available.
 
Hester Street Playground in NYC
Hester Street Playground in NYC


tile depicting Hester Street Playground in NYC
tile depicting Hester Street Playground in NYC


adults playing game outside Hester Street Playground in NYC
adults playing game outside Hester Street Playground in NYC


adults playing game outside Hester Street Playground in NYC
adults playing game outside Hester Street Playground in NYC



More NYC attractions.

More NYC restaurants. 
 

images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

March 2, 2017

Stopover in LaPlace, Louisiana; hotel review + restaurant view + things to do

STOPOVER IN LAPLACE, LOUISIANA


LaPlace is a convenient spot to overnight when you're visiting the Louisiana plantations.  I recommend you plan in a swamp tour here as well.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites La Place  

4284 Hwy. 51, in LAPLACE, (985) 618-1600.  Continental breakfast.  Pool; coin laundry. 
This is a cog in the reliable chain and features really unusual bathroom plumbing.

Nobile’s Restaurant  

2082 W. Main Street, in LUTCHER, (225) 869-8900.  L M-F, D Thur-Sat. 
Built in 1895 during Louisiana’s lumber boom--this town harvested cypress--when it served as a bar and boarding house, this spacious restaurant features vintage high ceilings is a comfortable gathering place for locals.  It retains a lovely Victorian mahogany bar that greets arrivals and has some interesting collectables as part of the decor.  The menu offers Cajun and Creole dishes, including gumbo, seafood, and po’boys.  I chose a crispy Caesar salad and an unusual appetizer plate of crawfish empanadas to go with my colorful Hurricane cocktail.

front dining room in Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
front dining room in Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana


rustic paintings for sale in Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
rustic paintings for sale in Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana


Hurricane cocktail at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
Hurricane cocktail at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana


Caesar salad at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
Caesar salad at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana


crawfish empanadas at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana
crawfish empanadas at Nobile's Restaurant in Lutcher, Louisiana



Cajun Pride Swamp Tour  

110 Frenier Road, in LAPLACE.  Cajun Pride Swamp Tours glide through the legendary, privately owned Manchac Swamp, where you will see alligators, turtles, and a variety of birds.  Seasoned guides introduce additional local flora and fauna as the pontoon boat meanders through the waterway, and they tell tales of hurricanes, survival, and the unique Louisiana culture.  According to Captain Allen--our Cajun guide who sports a gravelly voice much like the late actor Redd Fox--whether you see alligators “depends on the temperature.”  At 70-degrees plus they come out.  Allen keeps alligators in his home as pets and sometimes brings one along for his riders to hold.  If you’re real lucky, as I was, he will do this on the day you visit and you, like I did, might get to hold a two-foot-long baby alligator.  

Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


alligator spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
alligator spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


egrets spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
egrets spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


red cardinal spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
red cardinal spotted on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


Captain Allen holds alligator on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
Captain Allen holds alligator on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana


visitors hand off alligator on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana
visitors hand off alligator on Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in LaPlace, Louisiana



Nearby plantations.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

 

images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Popular Posts