Where did the time go? All that preparation and now it's over
What did I like about Tobago? How long have you got?We ALL loved it; myself, hubby, 18 year old son and 15 year old daughter. I've kept a diary and maybe will publish it in weekly instalments in The Times ( or somewhere) one day. I owe it to the world, and Tobago.
There are so many highlights, these are just a few:
The sheer beauty and lush greenness of the place; banana trees, coconut palms, avocado trees, mango trees, bamboos.
The abundance of wildlife, much of which shares your home; as well as a huge grasshopper, lizards of all kinds and various small beasties we were visited by bats every night. The first day we had one roosting on a beam in the house( "Ah, sweet ! " say myself and daughter ) I daresay not everyone likes them but we welcomed them; they eat insects after all. I wasn't too keen on them coming into the clothes cupboard and leaving deposits on newly-washed clothes, though. Fear not, I'm not about to start talking laundry again! Back to bats; hubby had one observing him in the shower!
The free-est free range chickens ever. It's amazing how accustomed one becomes to seeing them absolutely everywhere, even on the beach.
And COWS on the beach! On a boat trip with Soca Adventure Tours we saw some on Turtle Beach, and were told by Duck (or was it Michael ? Oh dear I've forgotten, brain's been switched off) that they know when the planes come in and come to take a look at the white tourists.
The mells of mango just outside the window, in fact many indefinable aromas everywhere.
On first arriving I was so tired and overwhelmed I couldn't see straight, and misread a sign saying Nature Boys Tours as " Mature Boys Toys", and henceforth we referred to them as such, although never got around to booking an outing with them, which is a shame. We did have a slight conflict of interests; we hired a jeep and hubby wanted to do a whistle- stop tour of EVERYWHERE whereas I'm more of limer meself.
Music everywhere! Not always to our taste,except for daughter who loved it all. She has some West Indian friends and is very much into the culture
(the South London West Indian culture that is, innit?
The people; from the little tot who greeted us with " hello, I've been eating callooloo", to the enterprising little Del Boy who offerered to sell me his football for 2 TTs. The elderly man who said to us, "don't worry.If you worry you just get hassle. I smile even when I is serious".
Gisela, the big Rasta man who gave me a hug didn't tell me his name, just told me he was a Rude Boy(huh?) and I never saw him again, probably because I told him I was with my husband. Me and my big mouth, at my age you need all the flirting you can get
Not forgetting the elderly man at Sunday School who out-danced everyone in the place
I really must stop before you get bored, but there is so much I'd like to say I will continue over the next few weeks,years, however long it takes.
We all loved Tobago, and Castara. IT'S SO DIFFERENT.And most of it in a positive way.
Cheers,
Carol
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