It was sad leaving the island but I didn’t have time to dwell, so many exciting things to look forward to in Trinidad and Tobago! A wedding and carnival just some of things to look forward too..
I arrived the Friday eve and met my mates at the house in Blue Range where we staying for the next couple of weeks. We had a quick catch up and then went to one of Jono’s friends place for a drink with stunning views over Port of Spain at night.!
The next day myself, Levi and Emma had a chilled morning whilst Jono left to get ready for his big day. We cooked brekky and played come card games before getting ready and having some early beers whilst waiting for the bus to pick us up for our lift to the Holy Cross RC Church in Santa Cruz.
We arrived and had front row seats up the stairs overlooking everyone below. The wedding was absolutely incredible and Ali was stunning – even Jono couldn’t hold it together at the alter (not to mention the tears in everyone else’s eyes) – such an amazing couple.
The reception was at the Drew Manor which was just around the corner – simply stunning location..!
We had the best time at the reception which included many many shots (including our introduction to punchy punch!) and meeting the incredible people in Jono and Ali’s lives.
Such a fun night and we even managed to get into a fete just around the corner of the house – only for roughly half an hour before we stumbled home to eat some food, laugh about the day/night and pass out!
Up the next day feeling a little rough but Jono’s brother and his fiancé, Matthew and Dani, picked us up ready for a trip Down Di Islands (DDI) to Jono’s family house on Monos Island for another day of eating and drinking with family and friends – bliss!!
Us Aussies and Jono and Ali stayed at the house DDI for an amazing couple of days where Jono took the boat and showed us around all the other islands, and how close we were to Venezuela! Including a night drinking two whole bottles of Punchy Punch between us (not including all the drinks from earlier in the day) – sugar high!
After a couple of days DDI (including Jono slicing his foot open with a pick axe and having to get stitches…!) we made our way back in the early morning to the house in Blue Range to chill out for a few hours – snacking on some yummy Doubles on the way.
We spent the afternoon driving, with incredible scenery through the mountains, to Maracas Beach. It was windy but we set up with some beers and chilled before being introduced to another local dish – shark and bake – YUM!!
Back in Blue Range we went out for a nice dinner to Luce, the rooftop restaurant of the Hilton after catching up with Jono’s family – always a laugh.! This time a yummy meal of sushi before calling it a night ready for our early morning flight to Tobago!
Once we arrived in Tobago, Jono had everything sorted! We jumped in the car and went via the supermarket to stock up on food and drinks and then onto Ali’s family house for a catch up.!
We went for a drive to the different beaches and bays before meeting the family at Pigeon Point for an afternoon down the beach for amazing food, drink and awesome company!
Another cooked brekky the next morning ready for a big day of exploring. We met with Ali’s family for a stunning drive along the coast of the island, in and out of the mountains and forest, to get to Blue Waters Inn where Jono grew up. This resort is incredible!!
We sat here for the day eating a delicious lunch (crab dumplings) and having our fill of drinks. Going for a swim in the ocean and then laying out by the pool with everyone – bliss!
The scenic route on the way back stopping for some more incredible views and then a quick shower and change before heading back out to a bar called Jade Monkey where we had a great night out.!
Waking up the next day we all felt incredibly rough – it had been a fun, but long, week of drinking since 9am every day. The short flight back to Trinidad was not pleasant and we were all feeling the effects.
Once at the airport we stopped for some doubles and roti before saying goodbyes to Levi and Emma – it had been an incredible week with them but they had to go back to work.
We chilled out big time at the house watching some Netflix and then ordering Chinese for dinner whilst we put a movie on – needed to be ready for the next day!
As it was carnival the following week there were parties and fetes on everyday and the Saturday meant a raft up day DDI – fun!
We met up with some of Jono and Ali’s friends (most of which I had forgotten I had met at the wedding – it was a big night) and we jumped on their boat ready to head DDI.
Once there we rafted up next to the big boats and turned the music up. Ali and I managed to sneak onto the party boat a couple of times, which was great fun and lots of dancing with friends! Back on our boat we sat up the front and chatted with everyone – good vibes.
The sun went down as we slowly made our way back to the dock and back to the house (picking up some food enroute) where we had a couple more drink before crashing out after a big, but incredible, day.
Sunday was another chilled day where Ali and I ran some errands, picked up my Monday wear and tried to be a little healthy with salads! I was starting to feel a little rough with the flu kicking in.
The next day was Carnival Monday and as per usual, a bit of a mad rush in the morning to get ready and get to the bus for our lift in. Once there, we met up with the Hart’s band for a quick bottle of water and then, as the trucks started on their way, my first drink of punchy punch and soda – yum.
We met up with more people along the way and danced ourselves down da road with the music pumping – a few shots of punchy punch and café patron kicking us into gear along the way.
Eventually it was time for our lunch stop so we grabbed our food and sat in the shade for a break before we were up and on our way again. Such great fun dancing away and such happy vibes.
After the sun went down it was the end of the day so Jono’s mum gave us a lift home where we sat up eating food and laughing about the day before crashing out. I was now coughing up my lungs all night..
Another super early morning to get in our costume and head to town around 930am. First drinks with a couple of shots to get us going and soon we were dancing away down da road. There were colourful feathers and glitter everywhere and it was so so hot which was helped out by the water truck spraying us with water to cool us down.
Again, lunch break and this time we properly rested up with a good break in the shade eating our lunch and icy poles to cool us down – yum.
More drinks and we were on the road once again this time heading for the stage at the Socadrome – now this was a new experience. We literally were in a big group before we all ran onto the stage which was absolute madness – everyone jumping and dancing and streamers everywhere..!
We danced some more getting up on the drink carts and having a great time. Soon it was time for Las Lap which would be the end of the day. We stayed until the end and then on our walk back stumbled into another fete of one of the other bands. Grabbed a drink but we were fading and super hungry so went for a hunt for some food. We then had the mission of finding our way back to Blue Range which is when Jono ran into a friend who gave us a lift – absolute saviour!!
Wednesday after carnival meant we did not leave the house – we were wrecked and turns out we did over half a marathon of dancing and walking down da road the day before – no wonder our feet were covered in blisters and our bodies aching!
We set ourselves up in the tv room for movies and pizza delivery before another friend, Dylan, joined us with the rain pouring down outside on and off all day.
We spent Thursday running errands and cleaning up the house. I booked my last minute flights home and Dylan came round to watch Den of Thieves at the (freezing cold) cinema – good movie.
Up super early to say my goodbyes to Jono and Ali and to thank them for such an incredible couple of weeks (they were heading to Asia for their honeymoon) before being dropped at the bus station for a bus to San Fernando to meet up with a friend from the island, Sam.
Got to her place for some yummy doubles and met her family. We chilled and chatted about carnival, ate some lunch and then I headed back into Port of Spain.
Back in POS I was picked up and dropped at my hotel before going for a big walk all the way around Savannah Park.
Dylan picked me up later that eve to show me the local street food joint in Savannah which was filled with vendors offering a whole heap of different food options. We grabbed some shark and bake (my fav) and he introduced me to pholourie balls – deep fried balls of goodness. We ate and back to the hotel so I could once again pack up all my things.
Up early to get dropped at the airport (after some more yum doubles) and then boarded my first flight for the long trip home (Miami to LA to Sydney to Adelaide)..!
Such an incredible two weeks in Trinidad there are no words to describe how much fun I had – the best!
