Guest Report

[Randy & Beaujena]

My wife and I spent the first three weeks of 2011 at Young’s house and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The fact that the house itself is a bit rustic and the village of Castara is somewhat remote did not detract from, but rather enhanced our experience in Tobago. Iris and Chester who manage the property were both professional and friendly. From the moment Chester picked us up at the airport to the day he dropped us off they made themselves available to ensure that our stay was trouble-free and relaxed.

The upstairs bedroom of the house is compact and efficiently laid out with bathroom, closet and hot water shower. The air conditioner didn’t work but with the window open, it wasn’t really necessary. There is a mosquito net surrounding the bed but I would still advise the use of repellent and the burning of anti-mosquito coils (which were provided).

The upstairs gallery has two comfortable chairs for lounging, reading and enjoying the birdlife (and the bats at sunset). If you hold your head at a certain angle and look really hard, you can see the ocean through the foliage (almond, mango and palm trees) that surrounds the house. There is a large dining area with a table that will seat up to eight comfortably.

On the main floor overlooking the road to the beach (which is less than 50 meters away) is a surprisingly well equipped kitchen. Many a pleasant hour was spent preparing meals and chatting with passersby who were attracted by the aromas emanating from our four burner propane stove. We befriended a number of young local fellows who happily passed on recipes and suggestions regarding Tobagonian cuisine.

There are several restaurants in Castara if you're not inclined to cooking. The Boat House at the beach is a great place to grab a cold one and the food isn't too bad.

The fishermen return to the big beach (a five minute walk from Young’s house which is located on the little beach) at around three o’clock with their day’s catch that they will clean and sell for about $15TT per pound. We had black fin tuna, white salmon (also known as rainbow runner), red snapper, silk-tail snapper, green back (covalli), king fish and wahoo, depending on daily availability. Imagine fish fresh from the water at three o’clock, and on your plate by six.

At the top of the road is Bingy’s vegetable stand. This older Rastafarian gentleman will not only provide you with fresh produce but also greet you with a salutation of, “everything is cool” or “have a special day.” His was typical of the hospitality we experienced. There are limited supplies at the local stores (canned goods and liquor are readily available) but if you have any imagination at all, it is unnecessary to go to Scarborough for supplies.

To sum up, Tobago (and particularly Castara) is a peaceful and safe country to visit. The people are warm, friendly and generous. And Young’s house is an ideal place from which to enjoy it.