Review of Castara April 2006

[Paul Williams]

This was our second visit and we decided to take notice of suggestions on the forum and stayed the night before our flight at the Gatwick Copthorne also leaving the car there for 15 nights, we were lucky and our room was upgraded to one with very good facilties including large jacuzzi bath etc so we got off to a great start.
Our Excel economy flight was on time and with the new configuration plane with more legroom it was very comfortable.
Ancle George the owner on the Naturalist was at the airport to pick us up and we went via Pennysavers to pick up the things that are not readily available in the village ie fresh milk.
We settled into the the pace of Castara very quickly and spent the first couple of days relaxing, on the Tuesday we visited Cuffie River for the prize that we won in last years competition of a nature walk and lunch.
After a really good mornings birding with Desmond together with John another guest there we had a superb lunch of some very different dishes which were extemely tasty.
I would like to thank Regina and all of her staff for making us so welcome.

On Wednesday I went out for a days fishing with guys that got together via the forum, Stephen Hull organised the trip with Rusty Eldon and we were joined by John Lebauller and Chris Sykes we had a very frustrating day and although John had three different types of fish it was Chris who hooked the big tarpon (we think about 45 pounds but I think Chris is telling anyone who will listen that is was a lot bigger) but after about 15 minutes of fighting with it it leaped high out of the water and snapped the line. All I caught was a severe case of sunburnt knees which actually led to a slight case of sunstroke, should have put on long trousers.

The next few days were spent relaxing by day and getting together at Codringtons bar in the evening.
It was fun in the bay watching the stingrays as they reacted to the human contact and they have become used to playing with us, we met Ray and Katie from Winnipeg and they are now converted Castaraphiles.

After a really good trip out for a day with Mendales who drives for Alibaba Tours to the Charlotteville and Speyside areas (the road from Lanse Formi to Charlotteville is not really passable yet without 4 wheel drive) I thought I would visit parts of the island I have heard a lot about but have not seen so we hired a car and set off via the Main Ridge reserve to the Atlantic coast road and travelled via Richmond Great House (which was closed for renovation but a very kind lady showed around the grounds and house) to the Crown Point area via a drinks stop at the Inn on the Bay.
I know that the Northside area would not suit everyone but I also have to say the Crown Point area really would not suit us for a stay.
We went via Shirvan Road and visited the Grafton Caledonia reserve which was well worth the trip, we then went on to the Arnos Vale Waterwheel and had a late lunch there by ourselves prior to going over to the Arnos Vale Hotel at teatime.
The rest of the return trip was via the small villages that are between Plymouth and Moriah which was a beautiful area.

We also took a boat trip organised by Cheno down the coast to Buccoo Reef and the nylon pool and this was a really good day with a lunch on a deserted spit known by the boat guys as no mans land this day is is highly recommended.

My only sad point of the whole holiday happened on our last day when the seine net was brought in with three stingrays in it and they were killed which even though I know that Castara is still a fishing village I found this hard to take as we had enjoyed watching and reacting with them for the fortnight.

Overall though I have to say we had a wonderful time in a village that is still very much a relxed and beautiful place with some of the nicest people I have met anywhere and we will be back as soon as possible (may get to meet you yet Stephanie)

I will make a separate review of accommodation and eateries.

If anyone wants to see my photos in random sequence and for which I make no apology for the high number of sunset shots they can be viewed on

http://esnips.com/web/tobago-2006

Regards

Paul and Leita

[Steve Pitts]

Nice report and some really good photos Paul.
Thanks

Looking forward to hooking the big brother of Chris's tarpon in a couple of weeks time.

Steve's booked a couple of evening trips with Kester and I have a day booked with King David - my prize from the 2005 competition.

Cheers
Steve

[Roger D.]

Really nice pictures, the sunsets were amazing, truly spectacular. Now I'm getting the jitters to go - off to check the airfare.

[Roland Siebenhorn]

Hi Paul and Leita!

Great picture compositions! Oh man, I could go back immediately!

Greetings,

Roland

[Paul Tallet]

Paul

Thank you for sharing the photo album ... I got as far as the 60th photo and will be back to check it all out when I have more time.

I have never seen the sea so calm ... the photos of Englishmans are particularly stunning.

Thank you

Regards