The Rough Guide to Trinidad & Tobago 2 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

~ Dominique De-Light (Author), Polly Thomas (Author) "Unless you're arriving by cruise ship, your only option is to fly to Trinidad and Tobago..." (more)
Key Phrases: north coast road, library corner, forest reserve, Port of Spain, San Fernando, Crown Point (more...)

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Product Description

INTRODUCTION

Just off the coast of the South American mainland they were once part of, Trinidad and Tobago (usually shortened to T&T) form the southernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles chain and the most influential republic in the Eastern Caribbean. They are the most exciting, underexplored and uncontrived of Caribbean islands, rich in indigenous culture. A cultural pacemaker best known as the home and heart of West Indian Carnival, the nation can also boast having the most diverse and absorbing society in the region.

Trinidad and Tobago remain relatively inexpensive, and are well geared to independent travellers without being fully fledged tourist resorts. Natural reserves of gas and oil combined with a strong manufacturing industry have ensured economic independence, and you’ll find the islands refreshingly unfettered by the pretensions of the tourist trade. Visitors are not corralled in all-inclusives or holed up on private beaches, and – though you could easily spend two weeks exploring seashores, which range from palm-lined white sand fringed by limpid waters to secluded, wave-whipped outcrops – you’ll find there’s far more to T&T than suntans and snorkelling.

These are among the richest destinations in the Caribbean for eco-tourism, combining the characteristic flora and fauna of the region with the wilder aspect of the South American mainland. You’d be hard pressed to come up with anywhere that offers such a variety of habitats in such a compact area (Trinidad covers no more than 4830 square kilometres, Tobago just 300). In Trinidad, you can hike through undisturbed tropical rainforest where towering canopies of mahogany and teak bedecked with lianas and epiphytic plants shelter red howler monkeys and ocelots. The wetlands and mangrove swamps harbour all manner of exotic wildlife, while leatherback turtles lay eggs on remote beaches. Huge blue emperor butterflies flit around the cool waters of innumerable inland rivers and waterfalls, and the birdwatching – with more than 430 brilliantly hued species – is among the world’s best. Tobago is best known for its glorious beaches and stunning coral reefs, declared third best in the Caribbean by Jacques Cousteau and favoured by graceful seven-metre manta rays and shoals of technicolour tropical fish.

Equally absorbing are T&T’s vital, crowded and dynamic towns and cities, unique showcases for the architectural, religious and cultural traditions of their cosmopolitan populations. Fretworked townhouses, Georgian-style mansions and barrack-house complexes built for plantation workers sit side by side with temples, mosques, Catholic cathedrals and Anglican churches. The varied ethnic groups brought to labour in the islands after the slaves there were freed in 1834 have given rise to a remarkably varied populace, hailing from India, China, Portugal and Syria as well as Africa, England, France and Spain. Though racial tensions are inevitably present, Trinbagonians (as they’re collectively known) generally coexist with good humour, and are proud of the multiculturalism that has so enriched the life of the nation. Nowhere is this more visible than in a lively music scene that rivals even that of Jamaica. The steel drum was invented in the Port of Spain suburb of Laventille, while calypso, first developed in African communities, evolved into contemporary soca. That in turn has spawned the Indian-influenced chutney soca and the danceable beats and politically conscious lyrics of rapso.

Trinbagonians have a less harrowing past to contend with than many of their Caribbean neighbours. Neglected by the Spanish for most of their three centuries of rule, Trinidad experienced full-scale slavery for only fifty years, while the Dutch, French and English were too busy fighting over Tobago to dedicate it to the demands of King Sugar. Consequently, the national psyche is characterized by a strong sense of identity and a laid-back enjoyment of the good things in life, the latter best displayed in the local propensity for liming – taking time out to meet friends, talk and sink a Carib beer or some rum. Thirteen public holidays and numerous local festivals are mere limbering up for the republic’s most famous party, the annual pre-Lenten Carnival, where the no-holds-barred debauchery of opening night Jouvert celebrations is followed by two days of pure joy as 5000-strong bands of intricately costumed revellers take to the streets in a celebration of life.

About the Author

Dominique De-Light is a Carnival artist, photographer and freelance writer who regularly travels back and forth between England and Trinidad. Polly Thomas is a freelance travel writer who is also the co-author of the Rough Guide to Jamaica.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 2 edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858287472
• ISBN-13: 978-1858287478
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,250,913 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, November 13, 2005

By	D. Bansfield (Helsinki,Finland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago: 3rd Edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

I am a Trinidadian who has been living abroad for the past eight years. I had not been back to Trinidad and Tobago since 1999 and was very much out of touch with what was current. I needed to organize a wedding in Trinidad from abroad and accomodation and activities for our foreign guests.
This was one of two guidebooks dedicated only to Trinidad and Tobago in my local bookstore. For this reason alone it already earns its stars because Trinidad and Tobago is not a popular tourist destination so there aren't many guides dedicated to the this country alone.
I thought the sections on accomodations in each locale was well organized and that the information about the places were mostly accurate. There were exhaustive descriptions of each area of Trinidad and Tobago which were very accurate along with long lists of what to see and do in each area and who to call for tours etc. It also contained long lists of bars, restaurants and clubs for all budgets and tastes.
I was very pleased with this book as it helped me immensly in planning of my wedding and accomodations and tours for my guests. Of course one should supplement the information in the book with searches on the internet for things like accomodations and tour guides as I was able to find some cheaper deals which were not included in the book. However, this is also the case with many other travel books on other places which I have visited where I have always found cheaper accomodations and tours etc. from the internet.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They did their work..., August 7, 2006

By	Reviewer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago: 3rd Edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

I am a Trinidadian living in the US for only four years now but this book was still very educational. The truth is, many parts of Trinidad are hard to navigate and few Trinidadians know the whole island.
In addition tourism is not as strongly encouraged as in other islands so it is hard to even get a good map of certain places.
The book presents a realistic, in depth perspective of all the hots spots and also the very obscure ones too.
A good book for the tourist, the local or the curious.

5.0 out of 5 stars I would give this book 10 stars if it were possible, June 27, 2007

By	Chad R. Wise "akawad47" (somerville, MA, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago: 3rd Edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

If you're going to Trinidad and Tobago, you simply MUST buy this book. It was a huge help while I was there, and I wouldn't have had nearly as much fun without it. Complete where where to stay, what to do, how to get there, where to catch the Maxis, taxis, etc...it is an incredibly helpful book. If you're going to T&T and not touring the country, you probably won't need a book. But if you want to see what T&T really has to offer, you've gotta pick this book up. I spent 9 days in the country with this book always at my side.