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Published: March 12th 2007
Hello everyone,
how you going? (as they say in Trinidad). I am back on my travels again and I am currently in D'abadie Trinidad for my March Break. I arrived here on Saturday after a pretty uneventful flight southward. You could feel the change in temperature as we headed southward. In fact as soon as we hit about Virginia it was sunny skies all the way through. I sat with a man from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on my way down who works for the T T express ferry service that goes between Trinidad and Tobago. He told me some of the neat things he has seen and the people he has worked with. I don't think he enjoys it very much working down here, particularly because of Port of Spain. I am not staying near there at all, but from what I gather Port of Spain is not the safest of parts. I also later met the Capt of the same boat company in Miami.
When I arrived in Port of Spain at the Piarco airport there were very long customs lines as people were flying in for the World Cricket Championships. The practice rounds were being played here and the Opening Ceremonies, that we watched on tv here last night were in Jamaica. Needless to say after all that and a few conversations with fellow travellers in line, that I was hoping I would just get my luggage and meet Tracy; however, luck would not have it that way and I was without luggage. There were some many people flying out of Pearson on Saturday it is no wonder. However, this happened to me last year in Calgary, so I was prepared. (My luggage did finally arrive yesterday-Sunday afternoon).
My friend Tracy picked me up from the airport with her dad and brother and we went to her house for some saltfish and coconut bake (bread) and shared in some photos and stories and conversation with her family. they live in an upstairs apt/home that is painted yellow, has a balcony entrance at the front and overlooks a fairly large fruit and flower garden at the back. There are knicknacks everywhere of tacky phrases on plaques, trophies, 70s brown curtains and 3 bedrooms for 5 ppl. They have siamese fighting fish, a cat and a bird too. It is quite a menagerie, but it has character.
Tracy's family mom, dad, two brothers and her are very welcoming and have made me feel so at home. On Sunday morning at church I was introduced as part of CANACOM and even got to talk to the Sunday school. I have also met many relatives who have all wished me a wonderful time. There is a laneway not far from where Tracy lives that is called Dookie Lane, named after her father's family where most of the homes are still owned by his relatives. Some of his family still practice hindi and so you will often find coloured flags on bamboo at the entrances to their homes for prayers. There is definitely a great sense of community and family here.
Yesterday morning after breakfast I ate doubles-a Trinidadian traditional breakfast with flat bread filled with a chickpea mixture. yummy. I also learned how to make roti. I got to roll the dough, add the split pea mixture, and fry them on the special pan. We ate the roti with curried chicken for lunch and dinner yesterday. it was so yummy.
My friends Joel, Alex and Kevon came later on in the day to meet me and we went off on a drive to Princesstown to meet a man named Ackee to have some conch fish in a cup with some stuff. It was quite an experience. Spicy hot, but part of the local culture.
I am happy to be here where it is warm, I'm wearing sandals and having another amazing cultural experience for which I am very blessed.
hope you are all well wherever you're at.
love always,
Katy
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Em
non-member comment
Happy March Break!
Hi Katy, Sounds like a fantastic time you're having! NYC was superb -- we saw the Producers, went to Bklyn, and ran in Central Pk. Calgary is really cold, snowy, and I am without luggage :( Looking forward to the week with the kids. Love, Em