I’ve been traveling so much that I have a backlog of stories to share so I’m going to start with the first destination of my recent around-the-world trip … Trinidad and Tobago!
I got invited to this Southern Caribbean destination and I accepted for a couple of reasons: number one, I had never been and number two, they had an interesting concept. They asked all five of the journalists to poll their readers/followers to create an itinerary for them – that’s why I told everyone my destination in advance. Usually, I like to make it a surprise and let people guess my Twitter (@JohnnyJet) and Facebook clues. Well, it turned out all of us practically received the same advice so instead of running around separately we tackled the island together. Fortunately, the group was really cool so it made it even more fun. Below are my new best friends who operate worthy websites and Twitter handles.
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- J.D. Andrews (Website | Twitter)
- Steve Bennett (Website | Twitter)
- Lily Kosner (PeterGreeberg.com | Twitter)
- Eric Wechter (Fodors.com | Twitter)
Background of Trinidad and Tobago
To get to Trinidad is kind of a trek from Los Angeles. I flew American Airlines four and a half hours to Miami and then another three to Port of Spain which is its capital. Trinidad and Tobago are two separate islands 21 miles (33km) apart but they are considered one country and officially called the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
I had mixed feelings about going because a couple of people told me it’s unsafe and to be very careful – one of those was my dad who’s never been.
Flying in I was shocked at how many lights there were along the mountainous hillside. With a full moon it was absolutely picturesque but my camera didn’t capture the moment. It turns out there were so many lights because Trinidad has a population of 1.2 million people and most live near the capital. The island of Trinidad is 1,841 square miles (4,768 km) — roughly 50 miles (80 km) in length and 37 miles (59 kilometers) wide.
Tobago has just 54,000 people for their 120 square mile (300 km) island. And it’s 25 miles (41 km) long and 7.5 miles (12 km) wide. The craziest thing is from Trinidad you can see Venezuela as it’s just 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) away but very few locals that I met had ever visited. I heard there’s a ferry every Wednesday but that’s it.
We landed after midnight and I was the first off the plane so I had no line at passport control. The friendly agent was pretty slow so the ones lagging behind had to twirl their thumbs. After clearing customs I walked outside then jumped in my ride’s car. There’s nothing like a balmy 78 degrees in mid-January. And that was at night! During the day the temperature was 90F. Here’s the current 10-day weather forecast.
On the 20-minute drive to the Hyatt Regency my driver gave me the rundown and history of the island. Basically Trinidad is multiethnic. The Caribs and Arawaks were the natives before Christopher Columbus and his crew showed up in 1498. The island changed hands between the British, French, Dutch and Courlanders, but eventually the British made the two islands a single crown colony in 1889. In 1958 Trinidad and Tobago obtained self-governance and in 1962, independence from the British Empire. In 1976 it became a republic. Yeah, I was falling a sleep too when I heard it but it’s important info. A couple other interesting facts is the nation lies outside the hurricane belt and Nicki Minaj is from here. The latter was just to make sure you are still with me. My driver did warn me that the area where the hotels are located is indeed dangerous at night so don’t go walking around. For history of Trinidad and Tobago check out Wikipedia.
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Good evening Johnny,
I was born and raised in Trinidad. It is true that certain places are “crime hotspots” but this is not unique to Trinidad. There are many positives to being in Trinidad. For one, it has been listed as one of the 20 places on earth which can survive an apocalypse by international research bodies (data was gathered from international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank Indexes). We are located just outside the hurricane belt and we produce our own oil and gas. We are fairly self-sufficient in the area of agriculture and we are, by and large, a tech-savvy nation. The literacy rate is 100% and we don’t really have to rely on supplies from outside Trinidad if such a scenario (apocalypse) were to play out.
Trinidad and Tobago is not an island paradise. Beware of it actually. There is even a website called beware of T&T. Even the pastors are crooks there, I saw a couple called the cuffies they look like they are back in the 70s and they are all the rage to the people there. They made themselves rich off people’s money. They send 300,000.00 on clothes every month parading at the stores in the fake malls. Ask the store owners and you will find out it’s true. The wife and husband look like a joke and people love them. Only in a primitive society.
Trinidad is terrible it’s a land of mud, and rude people, so primitive, actually like zoo animals, the ones that actually want to stay there to live.
Trinidad is a primitive. The natives will stare at you and try to trick you. Most need mental help if they don’t want to migrate or they are running so much crime and can’t do it in a first world country. Trinidad is like the Congo jungle literally.
Even worse beware of this island and the inhabitants
Trinidad cannot be compared to USA or Canada or U.K. No comparison it’s a dirty island filled with danger and corruption and no equal rights. Slavery still exists ask the workers in all the stores in the malls that sell all knock offs and ask the people that are literally live in slaves
I lived in Trinidad for 4 years and I am now in Canada. I would say I fought to get out of that country. I lived in 2 of the upperclass areas while I was there and it was still Trinidad. Indeed dangerous and corrupt. Most business owners pay their accountants to bribe the vat people, pay the police for anything they want, pay politicians, bribes are a way of life there and criminals are free there to run businesses. This is so true ask any Trini. The jobs are sweatshops and Slave factories. Roads are like the flintstones. A lot of people that love it and live in it are very primitive they stare at you and point their fingers they yell to talk and have bad manners. Tricking people is a way of life for them. The beaches are polluted and food prices are sky high. It’s dirty. Anyone that chooses to live there is primitive or scared to leave. Or they are getting a lot of money so they choose to stay. All the money in the world would not keep me there. Beware of Trinidad also most of the population are mentally disturbed. Racist and no opportunities unless you bribe or sweat all day long.
You will hear of killings all day everyday and so much more. Trinidad is the worst.
Well we must remember that like the USA, Trinidad and Tobago have a migration ofimmigrants from different countries and islands coming on to the island and some are ‘The Good,The Bad and The Ugly’
Then there is the work situation. There is so many elements to look at. I will say the same problem here in America is the same there on a difference scale.
Trinidad and Tobago can be nice if you have lots of money, if you are just visiting. I would not recommend living here. Most of the people living here are in denial, and have quite “primitive” views. Lots of them have never even been off the island. Many cannot afford education, drug use is rampant, prostitution, and homelessness. The police are corrupt, you actually have to pay them to get attention, most of the time. There is always an exception to the rule. Most people have a mean mug, or tricky smile. The business owners are mostly snobs, they are scared of being robbed. The poor people are uneducated mostly, and ignorant as the rich ones. There are open drains, narrow streets, almost no rules. People are allowed to rob others through their business in broad daylight. They pay the police dept and the politicians. They talk about bribes as a normal day in their life. ” I will pay the accountant bribe, the politician, the police, the ministry etc”.Many people don’t even have running water, lights, and live live cave men and women. watch the evening news, and hear how the people talk, even the news casters. Not their fault, just how it is. It is a primitive country. Not in a good way, cause there is pollution,in the beaches, all over. The government lies even on their reports to the world. They cipher money into their pockets. Look at the current Prime Minister, he is rather primitive, he will make this place worse. I live here now, worked, do business, feed the poor, cleaned the sick, seen alot. I have been abused, tricked, and met some people that are an exception to the rule, some kind, simple folks, some educated open minded people that admit Trinidad is corrupt, dangerous, primitive, in denial, not a place to live. Soon I will be leaving this place. I will always send help for the ones left behind. They need it.