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Our wake-up punctuality is digressing rapidly! Instead of 7:30am it's almost 9 by the time we roll out. Down to the hotel lobby for breakfast, we have 1 adult and 1 kid breakfast included in our room rate...we should have stopped there, instead we ordered another adult and kid breakfast and ended up with exactly 1 adult and 1 kid breakfast too many! The food portions were huge, and good quality food too.
All the Trini's think I have a hard time understanding them, not at all, they just all speak very softly so I always have to ask them to repeat at least once. (hopefully that's not a sign that I'm getting old and hard of hearing all ready)
"Grab our stuff, in the car, it's almost 11am, Heather you're navigating, and remind me to stay on the LEFT side. Maraval Parkway, to Belle Smythe St, to Mucurapo St, to Damian St, to Western Main Rd, to Serpentine Rd, to Prada St, to Saddle Rd...Saddle St all the way up, way up, until you see the sign to Maracas, then go left until you get to Maracas Bay. Got it??"
When in doubt, ask a local! Trini's are extraordinarily friendly people, just pull over and ask anyone on the sidewalk for directions and they'll help, they may even invite you for a Lime (Trini for party). Just be sure to follow Portelance Rule for Travelling #4, when asking for directions from a local, ALWAYS get a second opinion! We found the TrueValue supermarket (sort of along the way, but not really), stocked up on water, snacks, and beer; and were back on the road again. We think they should rename Saddle Road to "the windiest, up and door, fast and slow, road in the Caribbean"! Milan is definitely my kid, she got car sick, poor kid! Finally, there's the water....oh Maracas Bay, how we've missed you :) You'll always have a special place in our hearts, this is the first beach Heather and I went to as a couple #8yearsago #wouldyoudoitagain? #yes
The beach chair rental guys wants $100TT (~$13usd) for 2 chairs and an umbrella, I offer him $80 which he quickly accepts...gotta get more aggressive, probably could have had it for $60! Then he wants to complain when we ask him to set it up down the beach a couple hundreds yards on an open stretch instead of right in the middle of the crowd of people...no tip for you dude.
Let the fun commence! Our kids were born for the beach, they absolutely love it; I know you're thinking all kids love the beach, no really, you have to see these kids lite up from ear to ear and go nonstop from the moment we set foot on the beach to the moment they pass out in the car ride home. The Caribbean sun in brutal, even on a cloudy day, sunscreen on every piece of exposed flesh (oh wait daddy, we forgot to put it on you because you were so busy putting it on us...more on that later). Water, waves, sand, water, waves, sand, take a break? no are you kidding me, water, waves, sand. Literally all day. (but I wouldn't want it any other way :)
The beach huts are getting a renovation, so Richard's Bake & Shark has moved across the back road, it's a short walk to the move delicious thing the Caribbean has to offer, no really...I've been craving one of these since the last day I was in Trinidad 8 years ago! $55TT for a Bake & Shark with fries, layer on the cole slaw, and slather it with pepper sauce (oh its hot), and you're about 2 steps from Food Heaven! :) Seriously, I love me some Bake & Shark!
Maclaren makes friends with everyone on the beach, buries a kid to his neck in sand, then has "snow ball fights" with beach sand, plays soccer, gets on a kayak with 5 local kids and the coolest lifeguard in the world, runs around nonstop, loves going in the waves with me, watches out for her sister, builds sandcastles with Milan...wow! #8yearslater this beach is better than ever!
I could go on and on, but some memories are just ours :) it's the end of the day, back in the car, neither kid makes it to the bottom of the hill before passing out, while Heather and I split another Bake & Shark as we wind our way back through the mountains to Port of Spain. "Heather, are you going to navigate us back?"
"I would if I knew where we were."
"Nevermind, I'll get us there."
She passes out, and I get to fight 5pm traffic back through Port of Spain by myself. LEFT SIDE!
We get in the hotel pool for a rinse off, then its a clothes change, and a short walk to the complex next door for a quick bite to eat. Back in the hotel room, repack, we're going to Grenada tomorrow!
- comments
Kelley B Of course sweet MC makes friends everywhere! Give her a big kiss from Aunt akell! Sounds awesome guys!