Day 17: Trinidad I

Well, to save $5 we took a different taxi, so the Pontiac is just a nice memory.


Trinidad has turned out to be about as expected - heavily touristed, but a very interesting place, well worth the visit.

A children's parade was in progress when we arrived, so we threw the bags into our CP and headed to the parade. Groups of school groups that were led by drill teams and drum bands, marched around the square.
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There was a lot of stopping, but not so much for the drill teams...
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or the drummers.
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The other kids were in costume...






and this little guy was D's favorite.







The parade included every school in Trinidad, and with the long stops it went on for hours, so we went back to our place to get settled in. Rather nice $25 value, we have the only rented room in a mansion that small tours come through from time to time.



We changed some money and arranged a tour for tomorrow and our bus tickets for Playa Larga for the day after, and set out on a walking tour, first stop the municipal museum (in another mansion, with the highest ceilings ever).








The streets are cobblestone, and many of the buildings are restored, or at least painted.


and folks go about their business despite the hoards of tourists.












There's a lot of live entertainment. We took in an Afro-Caribbean show...


that was done in Yoruba juju music, like that I heard in Nigeria in the Peace Corps. Not a surprise, since many of the slaves taken to Cuba were from that SW part of Nigeria.
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This guy did a bit with an imitation snake that scared the crap out of a French tour group.
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And, of course, the audience participation piece that has become mandatory in folklorico.
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Another Yoruba legacy is the Santoria religion, prevalent here, which adopted some Catholic trappings to enable the slaves to continue with their Yoruba religion practices. The believers wear white. We visited a Casa where they practice.









There were other scenes of interest, like this bibliotheca...



and this antique roadster.


In the afternoon we made a quick run to the local beach, and then about 5pm we did the LP walking tour, to catch the late afternoon light. The best shots were around the Plaza Mayor...










and the convent tower.





but there were other street shots, outside the tourist circuit...










We had a fine dinner at a restaurant recommended by our host, with a good band...
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and finished the day with some night street scenes.













One other note, I don't believe I've ever been in a city with so large a number of art galleries per capita. In fact, I believe that's true for all the cities we've visited so far. One guide said it was because the art business is allowed to be private, but I believe the prevalence and importance of art to the people has to be a factor.

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Location:Trinidad