myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Dear all,

near the Conrado Hotel I met one of the glass bottom boat tour operators. We talked a little bit and he told me that he was a world class athlete at the 200m and 400m distances. Unfortunately he couldn't join the Olympic Games in 1980 because of an injury.

I have done my Google homework and found that a "Mike Paul" was injured before the games of Moscow. The problem is that my glass bottom boat man called himself "Alfred".

Does anybody know if "Alfred"="Mike Paul"? At least Alfred knew much a lot about athletics. Or was it only a nice story to convince me to join the glass bottom boat tour?

Achim

Hi Achim

And did he say he was the great-great-great-grandson of Robinson Crusoe (or Man Friday)? Seriously, though, I have no idea myself, but hopefully someone can help. All I can say is that it is common for locals to be known by a different name to their 'proper' name, so the name difference may not be significant.

I had the impression that his story could be true. He also told me that he had visited many countries during his active career. "Alfred" seemed to be still sad after more than 23 years that he couldn't use his chance while being at the zenith of his career.

Achim

PS: No stories about Robinson. The only fake story I was told was that it is impossible to go from the airport to Spence's Hotel without a taxi.

I have to correct myself. There was another fake story I was told:

Coming from Castara by bus I spent some time in the botanical garden of Scarborough. A young man approached me and told me that he needed money for the bus to Castara.

Accidentally I had already bought such a ticket and gave it to him. For a few seconds he stared at the ticket in his hand, but he didn't say anything.

When walking away I could hear that he asked the next passing local to change the ticket against money


Achim