Thursday, June 1, 2017

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