Porridge's Place - Review Page 1

Reviewed by Steve & Jill Wooler in January 2005

An increasing number of visitors are recognising that one of the best ways to experience Tobago is to get out of the all-inclusive resorts and ‘stay local’. Not only is this possible, it is invariably a total joy. A week or two living in the local community could well see you questioning your normal lifestyle.

There is an increasing range of highly affordable, locally-owned apartments and cottages that offer adequate standards of accommodation and the comforts that visitors expect, but which still allow one to live in harmony with the owners and their neighbours. It is your involvement with the people that generates the Tobago experience, not simply the property or surroundings.

Porridge is well-known in Castara. He operates an airport transfer service and a small car rental service, as well as managing properties on behalf of overseas owners. His warm, welcoming smile and friendly face are typical of the Tobagonian characteristics that led directly to the creation of this website. He is 100% genuine and his manner, hospitality and good humour heartfelt. The Caribbean abounds with beautiful beaches and spectacular scenery. It is the indigenous population that make Tobago so unique and special.

Location

Porridge’s Place is located one mile east of Castara’s main beach facilities, on the main north coast road to Parlatuvier. It is a 2 minute drive or 10 minute walk to Heavenly Bay beach at the eastern end of the village. The uphill return might take a minute or two longer.

The narrow road twists and winds its way up the valley and out of Castara village. Like the few neighbouring properties, Porridge’s home is perched on the hillside, adjacent to the road. The main viewpoint is back down the green and lush valley, towards the glistening ocean at the bottom.

A slightly more detailed description of Castara village is available in our review of Castara Retreats.

Accommodation

The accommodation at Porridge’s Place consists of a single self-contained studio apartment of around 22 sq.m. located beneath the home that Porridge shares with his charming partner, Jeanell, and their two lovely, polite children.

The house is cut into the hillside. The apartment is of concrete block-work construction on three sides, with a front fascia of wood. Two sets of double windows, with opening wooden louvered shutters, provide adequate light and ventilation.

The 3.3 x 2.7m living/kitchen area is partially separated from the 4 x 3.3m bedroom/bathroom area by a bead curtain. The rough-cast concrete walls and ceiling are painted white, the starkness being relieved by several small paintings, prints and posters. Obvious care has been taken to make the apartment look ‘homely’. The light grey floor tiles are soft and cool to walk on.

The living room is simply furnished. To be honest, I doubt whether the sofa gets much use. Guests will invariably sit on the 2.8 x 2.1m covered porch immediately outside the apartment door.

The kitchen is equipped with a large new fridge-freezer and a four-ring bottled gas oven. The stainless-steel kitchen sink has a cold water supply and is set into a nicely tiled work surface, set above a spacious open shelf unit that houses the pans and crockery, etc. The utensils provided include a toaster, kettle and filter coffee machine (don’t forget filter papers and coffee when stocking up on your way from the airport). There is an adequate supply of pots, pans, cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils and an oil lamp and candles are thoughtfully provided for Tobago’s frequent power outages. Everything was clean and in good maintenance order. No doubt you will also be provided with a loaf of Jeanell’s delicious home-baked bread on arrival.

The bedroom area is dominated by a double bed that Porridge has converted into four-poster covered by a mosquito net. There is a single bedside table and bedside lamp and 1.6m of open hanging and shelf space for clothing and other items.

Additional furnishings include a small wall-mounted digital security safe, a hair dryer, television set and a music centre (don't forget some CDs).

The fully-tiled walk-in shower has an instantaneous water heater and provides the only hot water in the apartment. It was adequate in operation. The toilet is housed in a separate cubicle, in the corner of the room, and gave new meaning to the expression “sitting on the throne”, being so high that even my feet barely touched the floor. A single small pedestal basin with cold water and mirror completes the bathroom furnishings.

Needless to say, the apartment is not air-conditioned. A large and powerful floor-standing oscillating fan is available. We only used it at night, but not because it was too hot. We prefer to sleep with the windows open, but find mosquito nets too hot and stuffy. They are seldom necessary during the dry season. We simply used our normal method; leaving the fan running at its lowest setting and positioned so that the air current passed gently over our upper bodies (mossies are so light that they have difficulty flying in strong air currents). We didn’t even bother with our BugMat mossie deterrent.

Immediately outside the apartment is a covered patio furnished with a table and chairs. Its a lovely place to relax and lime. This review was drafted at that table. The view looks right down the valley and out to sea. The grounds adjacent to the apartment are full of colourful tropical plants - in the gardens, in pots and in flower troughs. Everywhere you look, you see and hear nature. Although a road passes directly beneath us, traffic is light – possibly one vehicle every two minutes during daylight hours and virtually none after dark.

Bed linen and towels are provided, but as with most such accommodation, you must bring beach towels. The apartment receives a light weekly clean, at which time the bed linen is changed. Bath and hand towels are changed twice a week. The linen was clean and of decent quality.

The apartment is spacious enough for couples with a baby, if they brought a travel cot. Being perched on a hillside, it wouldn't be suitable for wheelchair users or anyone with mobility problems.

There are various dining options in Castara and these are covered in more detail in our Restaurants listings. Our review of Castara Retreats also covers other aspect of holidaying in Castara which will be equally relevant to readers considering Porridge’s Place.

Conclusion

Without doubt, Porridge’s Place is worthy of consideration by those wanting a more intimate holiday experience and a better understanding and appreciation of local life in Tobago.

The accommodation is simple, but adequate. The ambience, welcome and hospitality. Porridge and his partner, Jeanell, and their wonderfully polite and respectful children, Shaquille and Derricia, are wonderful hosts. They are there when you need them, or whenever you feel like a chat, but never 'in your face'. If you really want to know and understand Tobagonians, you couldn't choose a better place than Porridge's Place.

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