Port of Spain

Every year for my birthday, I try get away to a new destination. Call it a birthday gift to myself. This year I decided on the Caribbean city of Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago.

Port of Spain is quite different to anywhere else I’ve been. It’s not as developed as some other destinations and you can see and feel the city’s grittiness. First impression was the city is not especially geared towards tourists, since there aren’t many tourist attractions as such.

 I took a tour with Trinidad and Tobago Sightseeing Tours that included a drive around the city while the tour guide explained some of the history of the island and pointed out some interesting sights. One of those included a statue of the country’s cricketing hero, Brian Lara.

We drove up north, through a few neighborhoods to a lookout spot that provided an incredible view of the city. We went even further north to Maracas Bay, a beach popular with both locals and tourists, where I watched as a family was fishing off a pier.

Don’t expect to see many tall glass buildings here. Port of Spain is not a bustling metropolis. Instead, the tallest building in Port of Spain is only 21 stories high. Many of the houses still maintain their original Victorian-style area from the when the British settlers where on the island.

I found Port of Spain to be very real, no pretenses. What you see is what you get. Most of the local food dishes are fried and you have to try the Bake and Shark, one of the most popular dishes there.

I stayed in a guest house in Woodbrook, a bustling neighborhood in Port of Spain, right off Ariapita Avenue which is lined with jerk chicken restaurants, wrap stands, and bars. It’s where most of the locals and tourists migrate to in the evenings to eat, drink, and socialize.

 If you decide to visit, be prepared for a very relaxed time, and remember, Trinidad and Tobago isn’t like most other Caribbean destinations in that it doesn’t have miles and miles of glistening beaches that make “Top 10” lists anywhere.

Instead, there are a few nice beaches up along the north coast of Trinidad and I’ve heard the beaches in Tobago are better. Sadly, I didn’t get to go to Tobago since the only ferry departure was at the same time the nearest clinic opened (and I had to get a COVID test to fly back to the U.S. the next day).