Trini Tuesday-Let's Go to the Beach

We had yet another frigid, blustery snow day yesterday. If this keeps up they kids won't get out of school until July 4th. I'm getting kind of tired of this. I miss the sun. For those of you are a bit new here, Trini Tuesday was a regular feature on this blog for the first year and a half. I spent a little over a year living there and have visited a number of other times. This is a post from about 2 and a half years ago which I am dusting off to soothe my winter weary self. I am betting I am not the only one looking for some sun so I hope you enjoy.

Maracas Bay is on the north coast if Trinidad. Along the north coast is a low mountain range that extends the length of the coast. The highest concentration of the population lives on the southern side of the range so accessing Maracas Bay requires a long ride over the mountains.




Though it's a long trip it's well worth it. The road itself winds through the mountains and gives many gorgeous views. You leave the hustle and bustle of the East/West corridor and find yourself in the rural villages of the mountains. Here and there as you make some sharp turns you find a tiny, lone house nestled in among the hills and thick greenery. There is a spring along the road before the final ascent which is a common stopping point for a rest and refreshing wash down or drink. At the last crest, just before you descend to the bay, just about where the top picture was taken is a large parking area and scenic overlook. Years ago there were just a couple food vendors and a lone calypsonian who, for whatever tip you would give him, would make up a song about each member of your carload. The last time I went there were tons more vendors but the same calypsonian was there.


The beach itself is wide and flat. There is ample space in the sun or in the shade of a palm tree. At the back of the beach there used to be rustic thatched roof huts selling a special treat, shark and bake. The huts have been replaced with more permanent buildings but the shark and bake was every bit as tasty the last time I was there. For very little money you can have fresh shark meat on a sandwich made of fried bake (deep fried bread). Add some fresh hot pepper sauce and you've got a good bellyful of some fine Trini beach food. I don't know if it is still permitted or not but years ago, kids would also walk the beach selling coconuts or fresh fruit as well.

The scenery is beautiful, and the water is clear and warm. But beware of the currents we were always told. Most of the times we went it seemed mild and we thought perhaps the locals were over-reacting. But one time we did experience the strong, dangerous rips. We were mindful, but it was so hard to believe it was the same beach.

Maracas holds special memories because it's the place each of my girls had her first "sea bath." Diana couldn't wait to get into all that wet and loved every minute of it. Well, until she caught a bit of a faceful. She recovered quickly and was back into it sooner rather than later.

















Calypso was much less enthusiastic. She pretty much just tolerated, well, cried through the 30 second dip. She grew into a beach girl a bit later in life. She enjoyed her second visit when she was 2. Her first dip in the ocean was still in Trini water though which is only fitting since it's where she was born.