myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Greetings from Tobago!
Found the internet cafe and could'nt resist having a word. We LOVE Castara! Hurricane Dean has given us wind (if you see what I mean) so no swimming today. Halfway through our holiday already
Am keeping a diary, there is so much to tell. Gisela, haven't accumulated handsome men the way you do, but have had a hug from a big Rasta man!
Love the wildlife and the chickens on the beach.
HATE THE SANDFLIES! No trouble from the mossies to speak of bless 'em.
Over and out
Carol

Carol,

Glad you're having a good time. What kind of "wildlife" are you finding on the beach?

Bill (Who's stuck here in the States)

Carol,
when I see your posting and i have to smile about the "big rasta man". I don't want to guess who it was. There are SOME big Rasta in Castara.

I'm happy to hear that you enjoy your stay in Castara. Have a Carib on me and I'm longing for your report!

Enjoy every minute!

Cheers
Gisela

Carol,glad you are enjoying yourself.Say hello to the folks from me ...I'll soon be there.Have drink on my tab at D'Boathouse.
Cheers David

Am just catching up on the latest posts, so have only just seen your kind offer David.Damn!
Bill, I was talking about birds, crabs, lizards etc. Surely you're not suggesting there is another kind of "wild" life in Castara?
Which brings me nicely to a comment I was going to make. I had thought of using the title "Is Castara Tobago's Benidorm?" Now that got your attention
Let me explain before you have a fit:
Our first afternoon was spent on the verandah looking at all the different birds and beasties we had never seen before, and generally watching the world go by.
We went to bed early as we were exhausted, only to spend the night hearing loud music and revelling which went on until 4am! We were then woken by cockerells and music from a car. Daughter made a classic comment:" Birds, bats, bugs and music, and it's only 5.30".
The next night was exactly the same! We had resigned ourselves to getting no sleep for 2 weeks when we found out that there had been 2 lots of birthday parties at the Cascreole, for people staying at the Angel Apartments. After that, there was peace , perfect peace. Until the cockerells started up; "my cock a doodle is louder than your cock a doodle". There was one right by our kitchen window every day which we threatened to have for dinner, but we got used to him.
In fact we did get used to the early morning noises in the end, and managed to sleep as late as 7a.m.
I think the locals have got it right.Get up and start work early while it's cool, then spend the rest of the day limin'.
I will try not to monopolise this siite by writing an Icelandic Saga, but there is more to come, so don't hold your breath.
Cheers
Carol

Carol,

What is Benidorm? Is this some sort of wild "reality" TV show over on your side?

I know what you mean about getting exhausted sitting on the verandah - probably the result of one too many "Island Drinks."

Bill

I thought someone else might answer Bill - but in the absence of any contributions I'll do the honours!


Dear Bill,

Once upon a time there was a sleepy little fishing village in Spain - called Benidorm. And then the developers thought - we could make a few bob here, there's an airport nearby - and started building hotel after hotel after hotel (mostly tower blocks) until you couldn't see the lovely countryside that had surrounded the village. Then the tour companies started selling cheap package tours and people flocked from all over Europe (well ok - mostly Germany & the UK) to get some sun, real English breakfasts, tea as mother makes it, happy hours from 7-10 pm, live football (sorry, soccer!) in the bar via satellite, club 18-30 drinking tours......... need I say more. The beach was so crowded that if someone at one end turned over, the effect was like a Mexican wave - and the whole beach turned over! The place certainly wasn't Spanish anymore, but it was very, very cheap - which was just how certain types of tourist liked it. But those in the know - avoided it like the plague!

Let's just say that I think Carol was being ironic!

Jane

That's right. I was referring to the all - night music, and could have referred to any of those ghastly 18-30 type resorts that have ruined many European villages, and the reputation of the Brits abroad.
Carol

Hi Bill and all others,

just to show you how it happens sometimes. The site is in Spanish, but
if you click on the panorama pictures you can catch a glimpse how this "fishing village" has changed over the years:

http://www.bne.es/esp/colecciones/mapasfondosotros.htm

Hopefully Tobago will be spared from this kind of development....
Greetings,
Roland

Hello All,

Sounds like Cancun over in this hemisphere

I didnt realize that "Brits abroad" had a bad reputation - I thought it was just us "Ugly Americans" who ruined all the tourist destinations It's unfortunate that a relatively small percentage of people ruin things for everyone else.

Well I suppose us good people have to do a lot more world travelling to dispel these notions.

Bill

Hi Bill

It depends on the "Brits "- and it depends on the "abroad"!

I may already have told this office Photocopier story -

2 young office juniors standing by said machine.

No 1 -"You're lovely 'n brown. Where you bin?"

No 2 - "Benidorm"

No 1 - "Was it nice?"

No 2 - "Yeah"

No 1 - " Nice hotel?"

No 2 - "Yeah"

No 1 - "Iss in Spain innit?"

No 2 - "Dunno - we flew there."

I rest my case

Jane

Hey,I know those Essex guys,one of them is called Steve something!!!!
David

Oy - I'll have you know that I live and work three-quarters of a mile north of the Essex border. I may be married to an Essex girl, but we are in 'Silly Suffolk' where the yokels can teach you bumpkins how to do it properly.