Trinidad
The home of carnival, steel bands, calypso and limbo dancing, Trinidad & Tobago's blend of different cultures gives them an air of cosmopolitan excitement. Port of Spain, surrounded by the lush green hills of the Northern Range, is the capital and business hub of oil-rich Trinidad. The city captures the variety of Trinidadian life, with bazaars thronging beneath modern skyscrapers and mosques rubbing shoulders with cathedrals. The architecture of the city incorporates a mixture of styles: these include Victorian houses with gingerbread fretwork; the German Renaissance Queen's Royal College; Stollmeyer's Castle, an imitation of a Bavarian Castle; the President of the Republic's residence and the Prime Minister's office at Whitehall (both built in Moorish style); and the 19th-century Gothic Holy Trinity Cathedral. Places of interest include the shopping district centred on Frederick Street; the Royal Botanic Gardens; the Red House (a stately colonial building, now the seat of government) and the National Museum and Art Gallery.
The magnificent Queen's Park Savannah, to the north of the capital and within walking distance, is spread out at the foot of the Northern Range. A mixture of natural and manmade beauty, with attractive trees and shrubs (including the African Tulip, or 'Flame of the Forest'), it forms a backdrop to playing fields and elaborate mansions, now mostly government offices and embassies. On the outskirts of the city is Fort George. Built in 1804, it offers an excellent view of Port of Spain and the mountains of northern Venezuela.
Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas and Chaguaramas are the nearest beaches to Port of Spain. Maracas tends to be the place to go after Carnival has finished. Approximately 13km (8 miles) to the south of the capital by road and boat is the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, home of the Scarlet Ibis. The Diego Mountain Valley, 16km (10 miles) from Port of Spain, contains one of the island's most beautiful water wheels.
In the rapidly expanding town of Chaguanas, it is possible to sample a wide range of West Indian culinary specialities, particularly East Indian fare. Arima, the third-largest town on the island, has an Amerindian Museum at the Cleaver Woods Recreation Centre in the west of town and the nation's new horse racing track. About 13km (8 miles) north is the Asa Wright Nature Centre at Blanchisseuse, containing a collection of rare specimens such as the Oilbird or Guacharo. The Aripo Caves are noted for their stalactites and stalagmites. Asa Wright is a must for birdwatching enthusiasts. There is a good hotel there, but rooms are limited and need to be booked well in advance.
On the east coast is Valencia, a lush tropical forest near the Hollis Reservoir. Cocal and Mayaro are also worth visiting. San Fernando is the island's second town and the main commercial centre in the south. Close by is the fascinating natural phenomenon of the Pitch Lake, a 36.4 hectare (90 acre) lake of asphalt which constantly replenishes itself.
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