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Published: March 22nd 2019
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T n' T - sounds like an explosive combination? Well, rest assured that after the multiple hi jinx of Trinidad carnival, the smaller of the two islands Tobago may well provide just the ticket when it comes to that soul-soothing comedown which will set the pulse rate back to something resembling normality. Tobago is famed for having the nation's greatest beaches, friendly inhabitants, and a couple of features which attempt to slot it into the paradise category which residents and visitors alike can easily associate it with. The main cluster of hotels and tourist-oriented hubbub can be found in the airport's neighbouring settlement of Crown Point which, although not coastal, is a convenient enough area to be based whilst enjoying the fruits of the amenities the island has to offer. The island's only town of any significant size is Scarborough, Tobago's capital, which has an easy-going, refreshing vibe, and is so very easily explored on foot, as you work your way from one area to another, safe in the knowledge that this relaxed vibe is also as stress-inducing as the island could possibly get. Fort King George is the town's main tourist attraction, and the museum attached thereto is designed to
outline the history and significance behind the fort, as well as providing a minor insight into island life of yesteryear. Shopping options in Tobago are limited, and Scarborough town centre is quite possibly your best bet, as the outlying malls, such as Gulf City Mall in lowlands area are only as comprehensive shopping options as a non-exacting local populace requires them to be. For a real snapshot of island life though, a perimeter tour of Tobago is an absolute must, and unless you have a real aversion to winding roads, a rental car is an option well worth considering, as the roads are not quite in the bad state of disrepair which rumours and casual comments make them out to be. This was, in fact, this traveller's full day plan, so calling in at various coastal nodes en route enabled a more complete picture of Tobagonian life to be revealed. Buccoo Bay was the first port of call, associated mostly with a nightspot by the name of Sunday school, which is dubbed the island's chief hang-out spot. though from the allure of the exterior, you may never be aware of this. Moving further along the coast, Mt Irvine Bay was
next up, and this is prime surfing / boogie boarding territory, which will also depend on both the time of year and the tidal conditions at the time of visiting. In keeping with the island's trend to have adopted English place names, Plymouth in Tobago may be no more than a village with little or no resemblance to its English counterpart, but is worth a stop-off, so as to be able to see what constitutes typical Tobagonian coastal village life. Further along, the resort town of Castara has a commendable beach and a splash of vital tourist development which has ensured its popularity among incoming visitors to the island, and also provided an above-par lunch option which proved to be a welcome part of the itinerary. Furthest east lies the coastal town of Charlotteville which hinted at a few points of development along with a beach culture, tourist infrastructure and, yet again, those friendly Tobagonian locals, who do not appear to be in any hurry to quicken the local pace of life. Heading along the western coast, the town of Speyside has become synonymous with the diving and snorkelling tour groups who revel in the fact that the world's largest
piece of brain coral is located just offshore. Cruising along the coast and then heading back in a westerly direction will bring the visitor to Roxborough, which is mostly famous for being the gateway to what this visitor deems the island's chief natural attraction - Argyle waterfall. The waterfall is located just off the coast, so to speak, in a perfectly natural setting, which has not fallen victim to the commercial trappings of other waterfalls of this world. That said, it requires an agile carnival-conquering body to be able to scramble up the banks of the waterfall to reach the points at which the falls themselves are most easily appreciated and experiences. The rewards though, upon arrival, are considerable, and the gushing flow of water cascading down from upon high, right in front of the visitor's eyes is a joy to behold, especially when you consider the fact that this is one natural attraction which has not been even slightly tampered with in order for its appeal to be in any way artificially amplified. Driving further west, the route by-passing Scarborough and back into Crown Point brought it all back home how beneficial this perimeter route of the island is in the context of just one day car rental. After the excessive delights of carnival, this felt like a lap of honour in a comedown kind of context where notching up the sights en route felt like it was being taken at a leisurely pace which suits the identity of the entire island. Comparing and contrasting the two T n' T islands was all part of the process, and comes highly recommended for any traveller who likes their time overseas to be filled with variety and substance.
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