My brother and I took advantage of our dual citizenship to visit my mother’s family in Trinidad and Tobago. Beginning our journey in April we travelled all day before finally reaching the island. We don’t see my relatives from Tobago a lot, so spending time with family there became top priority. My grandparents had recently moved back to Tobago from the U.S. and we had not seen them in about a year. This trip was a surprise for them and they did not know we were coming until an hour before we arrived. After picking us up from the airport and going home, we spent the remainder of the night chatting and preparing for a wonderful week ahead.
Tobago is known for its peaceful atmosphere and is visited by Trinidadians as a “get away.”
The next day, we arose at 6:00 a.m. We went to the Magdalena Grand Resort, a hotel across the street from my grandparents’ house, for a buffet-style breakfast by the ocean. The foods served there were traditional American foods with a slight Caribbean twist, which included mango and other tropical fruits.
After breakfast, we decided to visit Grafton Beach, my favorite beach, known for its beautiful scenery and peaceful atmosphere. We also visited Store Bay and Pigeon Point, which are more popular beaches in Tobago.
Tuesday, Tobago citizens were yet again off to work and school, going about their normal lives as we continued our visit. The buildings are becoming more modernized, giving Tobago a new look. The residential houses were still unique and traditional, smaller than an average American house and mostly one level, with various colors and architecture. After our drive, we spent two hours picnicking at Lambeau Beach.
Later that night, my brother and I went fishing with our uncle. It was interesting because we used a pipe and a thin piece of string, as opposed to a fishing line. Despite the little experience I have with fishing, I managed to catch a crab.
On Thursday, we took a two-and-a-half hour boat ride to Trinidad, Tobago’s sister island. We were able to tour the heart of Trinidad, which includes the largest roundabout in the world, circling three miles. We toured various historical buildings, including the prime minister’s mansion and the local hospital. We also went to Lady Young Road, where we were able to see a beautiful view of the island.
Saturday was our last full day on the island. We visited one of the only two fire houses in Tobago, where my second cousin works. While we were at the fire house, they got a call for a bush fire, which ended the tour more quickly than expected.
On the way home, we heard loud music, so we stopped to see what it was. It happened to be a festival called Holi. This festival is celebrated by Hindus for the beginning of spring. As we approached the festival, I saw colorful powder fill the air and cover the clothes of the celebrants.
Our visit in the beautiful, tropical islands ended a week after it started. It took nearly an entire day to reach Tobago and an entire day to return home. This was the first time I traveled without an experienced adult to take the lead, which made me nervous. But we definitely learned from our mistakes. Throughout the journey, my brother and I missed one flight but were still able to make all of our connections on time. This experience was a great one and traveling with only my brother has taught me a lot about independence and responsibility.
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