Trinidad, I Love You ❤️

I don't like comparing my travels. I believe every destination has its own special flavor and my goal is always to appreciate that beauty. But if I had to choose a favorite place, it would be none other than the twin island nation of Trinidad & Tobago during Carnival.

It's an annual trip that I have been making for nearly the past 20 years. Most recently, I've made sure my stay is never anything less than two weeks. The fetes, the food, the beaches and spending time with my family... I just simply can't get enough. And since the 2023 season was the first real Carnival since the world shut down during the pandemic, there was no way it was missing me!

Day 1

It's not an island visit if you don’t visit the beach!

So on my first full official day in Trinidad, the plan was to take in some sun and water. Maracas is probably one of the most popular beaches in Trinidad, mainly I believe because of the infamous Richard’s Bake and Shark. But I’ve been trying to make it a point to visit other ones and that was my every intention. However, I had some friends who were going to Maracas that day, and so well… that’s where I ended up LOL.

Unfortunately, the sun didn’t really want to cooperate. And the rainnnnnn 😭😭😭 But we made the best of the visit. And my niece, she had a time!

Oh, and if you are going to Maracas, you must absolutely stop at the lookout for some local eats and for the amazing view. My favorites include sweet treats like sugar cake and toolum, both made with grated coconut. And don’t forget to check out the I ❤️ Maracas sign!

Day 2

D Stage is Yuh Name!

Well, in the case of my second day in Trinidad, it was actually a boat ride… and one that started at 4 in the morning. (Yes, fete life is not for the weak.)

In this case, the boat ride I was attending was Pree Dawn, which is hosted by soca couple and 2023 Road March Champions, Bunji Garlin and Fayann Lyons.

Like many fetes, this one had the option to bring your own cooler. My friends and I set up a spot. But because I like to free up in my own space, I spent most oft time on the top deck and has a time! So much so that I never made it to the fete I was supposed to attend that night 😭

But my first fete for the Carnival season was complete!

Day 3

Good eats, family and culture!

That’s pretty much how my third day in Trinidad went. Even though my main purpose was to celebrate Carnival, I was determined NOT to boggle down my entire two weeks with just fetes.

So this day, I made sure to enjoy some good Trini food from El Pecos, which by the way, had me in a food coma. The restaurant is buffet style and patrons have what seems like endless options of home cooked food. You can choose how little or how much you want as payment is based on weight. I can't remember how much I paid for my meal but I had enough for two days and was highly satisfied.

Then that night, I headed to San Fernando to check out a local steel band, the Heritage Skiffle Steel Orchestra. One by one, members made their way inside the pan yard as they were getting ready to perform Carnival Saturday in the Panorama Finals.

For those that don't know, the steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad & Tobago and the only non-electrical one created in the 20th century. Not only is it a significant part of the Carnival festivities, it also is a strong heartbeat of Trinbogonian culture. So to be included in the Panorama Finals featuring the best of the best bands in the nation is a huge deal!

Bands will practice for hours each night, well into the next morning, all to make sure they have their song for the big competition right. So it's quite common for people to stop by and watch as they prepare. After all, it's almost impossible to stand still when you hear those sticks beating the steel drums and delivering such a melodious sound. Best of all, it's an activity you can do for absolutely free! So if you want to get a taste of true Trinbogonian culture, I would definitely recommend including this on your itinerary.

Day 4

Vibes from start to finish!!!

My little cousin turned two, so we had a little dance session on the sidewalk. Then I went to pick up my costume and Jouvert package. BOTH were quick and easy. A great success in any collection process during Carnival because unfortunately more often than not, it’s a hot mess 😩

That night was all about Vibes with Voicey, a full length concert style fete from soca artist, Voice. I love Voice's music and have been following him for years, so attending his show was a must!

Unfortunately, things didn't start until a few hours after scheduled, which was a bit of a bummer. I don't know about you, but for me, there's nothing worse than just waiting in line for what seems like eternity. But once the doors finally opened and we got inside, the vibes picked up quickly.

Voice showed up and showed out, performing hits from the season as well as seasons past. More than a dozen other artists, including Kes, Nailah Blackman, Farmer Nappy and Machel, also graced the stage singing some of the crowd's favorite tunes.

It truly was a wonderful show and I was so glad to end my night on a high note.

Day 5

D spirit calling meh!

I was too excited for day 5 in Trinidad to come because that meant I finally got a chance to see my favorite artist in the world perform, Machel Montano. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid and the love for him has never died!

Day 5 is also the day my mother and I checked into the Kapok Hotel. It makes Carnival life so much easier to be in Port of Spain, especially when it comes down to the last few days leading up to the end of celebrations.

Machel's concert came to be dubbed, "Machel Friday," a nod to his infamous "Machel Monday" event he held during Carnival for a decade. And I was too pumped to reach! But like Vibes with Voicey, apparently Machel's concert also experienced a few hiccups and started well after the scheduled time. But as always, I'm going to try and make the best of the situation. So once we got inside, it was nonstop pumping!

With a career spanning four decades, Machel's catalogue is simply mind blowing... and he sang songs from every period. It was amazing! My friends, family and I couldn't stop screaming with joy. Forget when songs like "Toro Toro" and "Big Truck" came on... we absolutely lost it.

Despite the delays, I had a blast! Now, I understand I might be a little bias since I am such a fan but I stand firm in my opinion that he’s one of the greatest to ever do it and I appreciate his contribution to the culture ❤️

Day 6

Happy Birthday Soca Brainwash!

That’s how I spent day 6 in Trinidad… partying with my friends at what we like to refer to as the reunion fete 😂 Really and truly, SBW is the one place just about everyone you know is guaranteed to be. BUTTTT it’s also the place where you’re not guaranteed to see them because it’s just THAT big!

2023 was SBW's 10th year during Trinidad Carnival, hence the "Happy Birthday" theme. Til this day, I am not really sure what that meant in terms of outfits but thank goodness I have an extremely creative friend who identifies herself as Tingz Nice.

She designed wire bras for us to wear to symbolize our zodiac signs. Since I am a Leo, mine donned bold colors of red and gold, decorated with flames and a lion to match. I paired it with some cute, white shorts and the outfit was a hit! Everyone was stopping us for pics and to compliment her work. Tingz Nice did her thing!

Now, SBW is an all-inclusive fete. I like to take advantage of these kinds of parties by trying to get there early so I can get all my money's worth in food and drinks. And once my belly was satisfied, I joined my friends (the ones I could find anyway) and we partied hard!

The music and vibes at this fete are truly unmatched. You can't leave there without having a good time. And here’s a tip if you really want to make sure you find someone: designate a meeting place BEFORE the fete. At SBW, mine always happens to be the front, left side of the stage 🙂

Day 7

Vale Vibe Breakfast Fete and Liming on the Ave!

It was also Carnival Sunday, which means the countdown to hit the road was on!

I had no plans on going to a breakfast fete. But since soca really does give us powers, I somehow found myself up before sunset and getting a ticket from a scalper on the road 😂

My friends and I had actually planned on arriving to Vale around 4 am when the doors opened but we didn't make it until about 7. A late start but we made it.

Breakfast fetes are popular during Carnival, especially on Carnival Sunday, and they are almost always all-inclusive. Another benefit of arriving at these parties early is avoiding long lines. But since we were late, it was already packed and we just had to find our way, which we did.

Once our bellies were full, we were ready to party! Mother Nature, however, had other plans. Talk about rain! And it wasn't just any kind of passing shower that is quite common in the Caribbean. This rain was coming down hard. But one thing about West Indian culture, the party must go on... and I must say despite being soaked, we had a time.

Vale ended around 11 am but the traffic to get out was horrendous! So if you don't want to leave a fete early, it's always a good idea to allow for extra time for what could be a long commute. Luckily, I had no immediate plans so I was able to take a nap when I finally got to my hotel a few hours later.

Once I felt rested, I met up with some friends and we headed over to Ariapita Avenue, otherwise known as just "The Ave." This is a popular strip in the Woodbrook section of Port of Spain that comes alive at night. People just hang out with drinks, eat food and dance to music blasting from large speakers set up on the pavement.

The Ave is also where I like to get one of my favorite street foods in Trinidad, a chicken and shrimp gyro from Yousef's. I like mine with garlic sauce and slight pepper to add some spice... and it always hits the sport just right. It was a perfect wind down to my Carnival Sunday before getting ready for Jouvert and Carnival Monday the next day.

Day 8

Carnival Monday!

But before that, I must get DUTTY and play Jouvert! It’s the official kick-off to the final two days of the Carnival season celebrations. And if you’re coming out, staying clean is NOT an option. But don’t be afraid!!! It’s all LOVE!

Jouvert starts around 2 am. And since the festivities include paint, powder and water being thrown around and dashed on anyone and anything, you want to make sure you wear something you don't mind getting ruined.

There are a number of Jouvert bands hitting the road that you can pay a fee and have access to music, food and drinks. I registered to play with Josie's Jamishness and we left our starting point around 4, jamming down the road to sweet sounds of new and old school soca for hours. In fact, we were dancing in the streets well after the sun had risen. That's also when the sun reminded us of how hot it can get, so keeping hydrated and wearing comfortable shoes are important.

My family and I finally decided to call it quits around 8 am, at which time I headed back to my hotel. Now, most hotels don't want to take a chance and have the property damaged with paint and/or mud, so many of them will provide outdoor showers. And mine was ready for me as soon as I arrived.

I got clean and took a small nap, getting up just in time to hit the road again for Monday Mas with the band, Rogue. Yes, I was going back outside!

Monday is a more casual day. Instead of flashing pretty costumes with colorful feathers and gems, people sport what's referred to as Monday Wear. For men, that's usually just a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Women on the other hand, tend to wear something more along the lines of a cute bathing suit. But just because everyone is more casual doesn't mean the vibes are any less.

I managed to meet my band just in time for lunch, which made me happy since I was hungry! And once the lunch stop was done, it was time to have fun and be free in the streets.

We partied into the night, using glow in the dark accessories to guide our way. It was so fun to vibe out with my friends as we looked forward to the ultimate climax of Carnival. Yes, a very long day that we were about to do all over again Tuesday, but when it comes to Carnival, there’s no other greater feeling.

Day 9

Carnival Tuesday finally come back again!

After three long years, the day everyone shows off their pretty costumes and plays mas on d road was here! So as you might imagine, the excitement for Carnival Tuesday was high.

I got up, laid out my costume on the bed, did my own makeup, even threw a few gems on my face, then proceeded to put on my costume. I was ready! Time now to meet my band.

Now on Carnival Tuesday, most bands meet around 7 am. But my band Rogue does things a little different and meets more like around 10/11, hence the name Rogue.

My crew and I didn't leave the hotel until around noon, but thankfully Rogue was nearby getting ready to cross D Big Stage in the Savannah, which is also the main judging point. We were able to meet them just in time.

It was so nice to see my friends and all the masqueraders looking so pretty! We crossed the Savannah to Bunji Garlin's "Hard Fete" and danced with such freedom! Once that crossing was done, we went back on the road, making our way to the second big stage, the Soca Drome.

By that time, the vibes were wicked! Once we made it across the stage, we jumped up and partied in the streets into the night all the way to las lap in the park, which is like the final sendoff before Carnival is officially over. My friends and I stayed there until about 11 pm when the music finally shut off. Carnival had come and gone.

It's crazy to think that after three years, we waited so long for a day we never thought would reach. And then just like that, it was over! But I feel so blessed to have been able to experience it. Truly a bittersweet moment. And I couldn't wait to do it all over again the next year!

Day 10/11

Hello Paramin!

This trip was actually day 11 for me in Trinidad BUT since I was under the weather Ash Wednesday/Day 10, I didn’t do anything but rest. So we're just going to move right along!

Paramin: it's a village located on one of the highest points of the northern range and is known as the country's herb capital. My family and I really wanted to check it out because it's where some of our ancestors settled after coming from Spain. So you can say it was like we were reconnecting with our roots.

We arranged a tour with La Rose de Paramin and we quickly found out our blood line still runs pretty strong in these parts. Our tour guide, Geddes, even turned out to be a relative!

Now although English is the official language, Patois is still spoken very heavily in Paramin. Apparently, my grandmother was the last in my family to speak it. My mother says it was kind of like the secret language adults had when they didn't want children in grown folks' business. So it, unfortunately, never got passed on to my mother or younger generations --- something I think in hindsight my grandmother and her peers would have made sure children knew had they realized how culturally significant keeping the language alive would be. I surely wish I knew how to speak it. But I'm happy to see kids in Paramin are being taught it again!

Anyway, the views from Paramin are just amazing! The air is so cool and refreshing, a stark contrast from the heat felt in the towns below. The tour came complete with a traditional creole lunch of rice, lentil peas and stew chicken. We also got to visit Uncle Clyde, who's famous for his home cooked dishes he shows online. (And he promised to give us one of his lessons the next time we came back!)

Before leaving Paramin, we went for a quick dip in the river. Boyyyy, was it cold! I must have screamed the entire time. But even with all of that, I have to admit it did feel nice.

Afterwards, my mother, brother and I headed back into town to grab something to eat. We decided to stop at Woodbrook Yard, which has multiple food stations. I ended up getting curry goat with paratha roti, also known as "buss up shot." My brother went for a fried pork dish with fries, which was really flavorful. A perfect way to end the day.

Day 12

Tobago, I missed you 🫶🏾

Day 12 of my trip to Trinidad brought me back to the sister isle of Tobago. It had been several years since I visited and I was so happy to finally make the trip!

Tobago is a lot calmer than Trinidad and a lot less hustle and bustle. Many people will often head next door after Carnival to cool down and relax. Getting there is fairly easy too, by plane or ferry. I personally prefer to fly because literally no sooner you go up, you're already landing.

I decided to go to Tobago for a little chill time last minute. Since I would only be staying for about 24 hours, there was no time to waste. So after arriving in the morning, some friends and I stopped by House of Pancakes for a quick breakfast. Then a few of us went straight to Store Bay Beach for some real R&R.

Store Bay is a pretty popular beach. If you're only going for the day, you can easily make the visit since it's walking distance from the airport. And the first thing on the agenda once we got there --- crab and dumpling!

A little tidbit --- curry crab and dumpling is a Tobago staple and a must whenever you visit. If you're at Store Bay, there are a few vendors right on the beach that sell the dish. Just make sure not to wait too long to get it or you'll risk having it sold out.

Now that my belly was full, of course I made my way to the water. The sun was beating hard so the cool relief was welcomed. And after the nonstop partying and jumping, this respite was everything!

My friends and I spent a few hours at Store Bay before heading to another beach nearby to attend a party ---but not before I got my ice cream! (A trip isn't a real trip for me if I don't have any.) There were so many wonderful flavors to choose, from sorrel to soursoup, cherry vanilla to pumpkin, and everything in between you could imagine. I was going crazy.

I finally decided on coconut pineapple and it absolutely made my day. I don't care what anyone says but there is just something about homemade ice cream in the Caribbean that hits different. It was so good! I couldn't stop smiling from enjoyment.

Now --- to the beach party! It was a cool time. There weren't crowds of people, which meant space to free up. The DJs were playing excellent tunes that kept folks dancing. Everyone was there to vibe and enjoy themselves. We stayed until after sunset, which was a beautiful sight to see.

My last stop on my Tobago day tour --- dinner from Skewers. I come here all the time when I visit and have never had a bad experience. I ordered a grilled shrimp dinner with garlic roasted potatoes and topped it with garlic sauce. It was a perfect end to a chill and relaxing getaway.

Day 13

Las Jam after Trinidad Carnival!

I left Tobago early in the morning and got back to Trinidad just in time to get ready for one more fete, Las Jam. It's pretty much a party that gives us the chance to relive our experience on the road one last time!

Tribe always hosts Las Jam the Saturday after Carnival, but you don't have to have played mas with Tribe to come. Anybody can buy a ticket.

What I like about this party is that there are no specific requirements. The idea is to come in some kind of Carnival attire. I wore a simple bathing suit with fishnet stockings, like a Monday Wear outfit --- but really, you can come dressed however you want.

This was my first time attending Las Jam and I must say Tribe went all out. There were music and drink trucks just like on the road. We even got to cross the Soca Drome stage again.

The feeling was nothing short of euphoria. And for people living abroad like myself, Las Jam is a great way to have one more Carnival memory in the books until it's time do it again the next year.

Want to see my trip in action? Check out the videos below!