myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Am alone in the house so I thought I'd feed my addiction!
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

It just sounds perfectly awesome!

Carol,now you understand why some of us go back year after year,and still can,t get enough(of Tobago that is)!
David(be there on the 29 Nov until March )

David, you're going for 4 MONTHS!!!!!!! You lucky **********

David, Do you have a trick to get past the 90 day limit or do you just go to another Island for a couple of days and come back? Thanks Phil

Phill,no,no trick. Just tell the immigration officer my return flight and he/ she fills the visa stamp with that date.I don't think they mind a week or two extra if you inform them,otherwise it is an appointment at immigration at the Harbour Authority....usually 2days lost!
Incidentally,I have been trying for a number of years for residency and still haven't got anywhere.In fact I know people married to Locals who haven't got residency yet.As for going say to Grenada for a week and then returning I don't believe they allow it anymore.I think you have to be away for at least 28 days.
David

David, you're going for 4 MONTHS!!!!!!! You lucky **********

Yeah, and not only that... he does it every year!

Hope to see you again in Jan/Feb 08, David.

Tony

David, Thanks for the reply. I stay in Tobago for at least 2 months and sometimes 3. I have never gone over the 90 days. This coming year my flights will probably mean it will be 93 days. That is why I asked about a trick. It surprises me that you could get them to ok the extra days. I was thinking of poping over to St Vincent for a couple of days to see some friends and thought that would satisfy immigration. I have a friend who stays in Tobago for 9 months and up to this last spring he could do the island hop and be ok.

I have in the past been stamped for only 45 days even though I showed a return ticket for 65 days out. I brought this to the officers attention but could not get him to change the date. What a pain in the butt. I stay in Charlotteville so I went to immigration there. Was told I had to go to Scarborough and make an appointment. You could not call them to make the appointment and they would not make it for me in C-ville. I did not have a jeep at that time so it was the bus trip down and back. I could not see anyone that day so the appointment was made for the day my 45 days were up. So it was back on the bus for the 2nd wasted day. The person I saw at immigration ran me through the mill. Wanted to know my employment history. How much my current income was and from what source, monthly and yearly. How many bank accounts I had and what was my balance. What was I doing on Tobago. Where was I staying and how much was it costing. Did I own a home in the US and how much did I owe etc., etc. It took almost an hour for the interview on top of waiting for an hour past my appointment time just to get to see someone. Finally they grudgingly (it seemed) gave me just 20 more days and said if I wanted more I would have to come in and make another appointment then come back again.

Last year my return ticket was for 70 days out and the agent stamped me for 90 days. Go figure.

Maybe this should be a new topic and get some imput from others?

not worth making it a topic... you wont figure it out!!! it is as it is and every officer feels free to handle things the way he likes. making noise does not help at all... so just "shut up" , smile and be happy with what you get otherwise you might get less than they offered you in the first place

the prosedure with the appointment is the normal one by the way...go there and waiiiit just to get the appointment and go there agin for the date they gave you... never heard of anyone being treated differently in that department. just sometimes they ask no questions and extend and sometimes you have to do the "why-and-how-are-you-here-quiz"...

don't see it as a wasted day...go to ciao cafe (or another nice place) afterwards and do as the locals do... lime in tong

have a great stay again
steph