Day 18: Second Rest Day in Trinidad

Fans are used by everyone here. They understand how cooling just having air move over your body. Every room, every restaurant has them. Thank goodness :). The heat had only been bad directly in the sun. It's humid at times but overall quite pleasant temperatures. Evenings are delightful for walking around without a sweater. I'm dreading heading back out into the sun on Blaze tomorrow. Capris and a jacket to keep the pain away.

Today I wandered some of the old museums. One was a convent converted to a Museum about the Banditos of the Revolution.












It even had some English so I got a bit of the story of the Revolution.

Another had a steeple you could climb up for a view of the city, mountains, all the way to the sea. I loved seeing the open air rooms all over the top of the city!








Then I wandered the grocery stores for some food how take with me tomorrow. Each one has different things, although few options. I finally found a can of fruit cocktail and a can of artichoke hearts. I can make a meal from that. That's really how challenging it is. Some stores have no canned goods at all. It's hit and miss. And I was on a mission. I think it was the fourth store where I found these cans. They don't eat processed food at all. Everything is made from scratch in their kitchens basically...except for pizzas at the corner window. Maybe that's why the average lifespan is 78 years. Not bad, hey?!? But not having a kitchen has its drawbacks. So I scramble for travel food.









Live YOUR dream,

BagLady

Day 17: First Full Day in Trinidad

Roosters! 4:30 am! Lots of them! Thank goodness I have ear plugs! It's 8:00 am and I had to put them back in because I can't take all the crowing. I like quiet!

Off to tour the city today.

Peaking in dome of the windows:






















I make a lousy tourist. I wandered the streets. The buildings are beautiful: quaint, colorful, Spanish tile roofs. I like seeing them. The streets are cobblestoned and hard to walk far on. But oh, the tourists are everywhere and spoil the view. I think that's why I'm so resistant to taking photos. They're offensive. Obnoxious. People must be tired of being photographed. Just be in Trinidad.

I deliberately didn't get breakfast at my Casa this morning figuring I'd find a place to eat. I walked and walked and walked. The idea of a small cafe doesn't really exist. Formal restaurants abound, and were empty. One place was cute, but they were roasting a whole pig over a spit. Totally unappetizing. I finally found a place to get a sandwich and juice and sit down. Yeah! I did tour a Museum of Architecture but couldn't understand the tour. Interesting exhibits showing the mud and stick interior to these walls. I don't understand what's on the outside that makes it smooth though. I wanted to see the Museum Romantico but it was fenced off with no sign explaining what or why. I eventually wandered my way "home" for a nap. Siesta!!

And was awakened by Nino "Katrin! Katrin said ever so gently. He had said something yesterday about 2 chiquitas coming. Well, they're chicos...young French guys. And there's no privacy up here. The rooms all flow from their room to a dining area to my room with the bathroom off of it. Just like a coed hostel dorm. Good thing I'm flexible:). We'll make it work.

I found a Jazz Cafe on my map app so I aimed there for dinner. But after going to the steps at the Plaza Major to watch and listen: live music and dancing. I'm a bit of a party pooper so after checking it out I went to dinner. Good choice. You order off the menu and then they have a salad bar of sorts. I must say the soup was the best thing I've had in awhile! I could have just eaten that! Spaghetti again with lobster and shrimp. They had veggie options but with a cheese sauce. I had to opt out. I haven't found staying off dairy a big challenge and since I eat fish this was perfect. Sin queso. Without cheese.

On my walk home tonight I figured out what the whistles mean. Bread man. So the other morning when I thought the whistle was to wake everyone up, it was probably early morning bread delivery. There are a lot of people walking the streets hawking stuff from brooms to produce and bread. Some just shout. Others blow a whistle. In the rural villages I've seen many a guy on bicycles with homemade coolers strapped to the back selling ice cream. They play music from somewhere just like our ice cream trucks. Cubans love their ice cream!!

I feel quite safe walking the streets at night. Just like anywhere...with a purpose and alert. Ya just have to stay alert about theft. Giving me back change today she shorted me a CUC. I understood she said $6.50 and she gave me $2.50 change. Do that to every customer and you'll make a killing. There's no cash register, just a box of money. Buyer beware.






Found a trail above the city.





A chess match




Goat cart rides for the kiddies.




The saga (rope) was borrowed:)



Loved this drawing of a trike!


And look at this quad tandem...er triple.



Had to sneak this courtyard picture of what was a palace.


Live YOUR dream,

BagLady