Tobago

[tobagotwo]

A couple of shots from Tobago.

A turtle nest, where we watched a 500-600 lb. Leatherback lay her eggs the night we arrived, and a Tobago sunset (required tropical picture)...

 

[tobagotwo]

More Photos

More Photos

(1) Every morning, the Tobagonian fishermen bring in the nets. The beach dogs frolic alongside, knowing they may be offered a snack once the catch comes in.

(2) Our "adopted" beach dog, Stumpy, who slept outside our room and wouldn't leave our sides. She had apparently just whelped pups, and they had been taken, so she was quite sad when she came upon us. We eventually offered her some cheese, as she likely needed calcium, and there is not much dairy on the island (cheese and sometimes ice cream; an occasional parmalat pack). Part of her tail was missing from some earlier adventure, thus the nickname. Of course, by day three, she was getting Vienna sausages for breakfast and dinner (no canned dog food to be found). She was happy and frolicking again by the time we left.

 

[tobagotwo]

(1) A view of Tobago (Speyside) from Little Tobago, an island off the southeast corner of the main island, the Atlantic side. We hired a boat to drift-snorkel across the face of it there, as it has some of the most beautiful and diverse snorkelling scapes. It has a strong and unpredictable current, and if the boat were not there as a safety net, we would likely have been swept into the deep Atlantic, to reach Africa in about six days.

(2) A view of my dinner, at Jemma's Tree House Restaurant. Perched above the water at the edge of the beach in an almond tree, it was expanded some years ago, but still retains much of the flavor of its origins. Jemma has now turned to creole cooking, but she still has an amazing ability with lobster. As Pat is allergic, this is mine. It is a Southern Spiny Lobster, longer than my forearm and hand, no claws, a wider tail than our Maine variety, and two nice tubes of lobster meat where its antennae were attached to its head.

 

[starkone]

It looks like a dream!
You are one lucky guy!
Karen

 

[Glenda]

Have a wonderful time! Thanks for the pictures, they are great.

 

[Debrinha GT]

Poor wee dog!!

Poor wee dog!!

Did you not consider taking the dog back to America with you? I know it's not as simple as that, but yet I wonder, what's going to happen to her now?? I hope she finds other nice people to give her a bite to eat and some attention!!
Débora

 

[tobagotwo]

We made it our business to find out about Stumpy, as we were obviously concerned as well. Stumpy has an owner, a woman who lives down the beach from the hotel. She had been adequately fed and was gentle and obviously cared for. She was just on vacation with us until her blues passed. She is fine, now, and back cavorting with her sister and the other beach dogs.

(1) This huge vacation house, with its view of the Mt. Irvine golf course (with so many gorgeous spots, why a view of a golf course?), caused many complaints when it blocked others' views. The builders and owners of this vacation getaway? Harrison Ford and Callista Flockhart.

(2) A friend. There were many, many friendly lizards and geckoes. Sweet, friendly, insect-eating things.

 

[Karlynn]

All you're doing is heightening my desire to run away from home. If I go AWOL, have them start looking on beaches anywhere it's secluded and warm!

 

[gadgetman]

Bob,

Your pictures brought back memories of our FIRST overseas assignment in the Air Force. GUAM!!!! I couldn't even find it on a map. The island was 8 miles long and 4 miles wide. We did a lot of snorkling and fishing while there. I even made a trip to Siapan, a smaller island off the coast of Guam. Of course this was 1968/1969 so things have changed a lot now. It is now "Hawaii" for Japanese tourist. We talked to someone who was there in the late 80s and he said you couldn't even get to the beach were we used to snorkle. Hotels took it over.

Looks like a great get-away place. LONG LIVE STUMPY . Is this our new VR.COM mascot???

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[tobagotwo]

Interestingly, Tobago has taken the opposite track on beaches. All beaches on Tobago are public. As an example, the fish-netting photo is from the beach at the Rex Turtle Beach, where I stayed. That's not a "show" put on for tourists. There are some resorts (obviously), but they're legislated to no more than two-story affairs, public beaches, and there is no "highrise-hotel-beach-ocean" syndrome going on as of yet.

I believe they intend to keep it that way.

There are a Hilton and some other very expensive resorts inland, but they don't tower over the scenery either.

Tobago is 26 miles long, and I think about eight miles wide at its widest point. I'd not have thought of Guam as a destination. Sounds like it's too late now, anyway.

Best wishes,

 

[gadgetman]

GUAM. Where America's Day Begins!!!

GUAM. Where America's Day Begins!!!

Got my "free" room and board from the military. Don't think I could afford the trip now. Probably wouldn't recognize it either.

We've been to Cozumel and Cancun during our cruises. Don't remember which one but we took a catamarin out and swam with Sting Rays. That was an experience. Beautiful beaches at both places, although the Cruise Ships have taken over.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[tobagotwo]

Cozumel's great for snorkelling, as you can go right off the hotel beach. El Presidente had probably the primo combinaton when we last went for snorkelling opportunity (you can snorkel along for almost a mile from their beach), reasonable price, and acceptable quarters. Of course, things do change.

Yes, we're "destination people." Couldn't possibly wait through a cruise to get to the place we want to be.

They also have a national park (Chankanab?), where you can snorkel and swim with dolphins, but the dolphins are definitely working, and it's not what it would be like in a more natural setting. I think I recall that they had a place called "Sting Ray City," but I'm not certain it was at Cozumel.

And in the center of town, there is a restaurant that makes the best, most tender octopus I have ever had...

Cozumel is a very nice vacation, indeed.

But I still love Tobago and its people, its limitless fruit trees, its rain forest, its great, green, natural beauty, its rugged shores. The people there call it paradise themselves, and have great pride in their island's beauty. Hope they can keep it as much as possible.

Best wishes,

 

[Marguerite53]

Hello, BOB!

Hello, BOB!

Hi there! Aren't we all glad you got that new camera!! What fun you are having. Sounds like heaven! So sweet of you to take some time to share it with all of us.

I've been away, to sunny LA area for our oldest child's college graduation. Never been more proud. Really amazed at the feelings welling up in me about this event. He won an award, we had brunch with professors, had great celebratory meals with his friends and their families. Packed him up for summer at home and then he will go off to the East Coast in August for grad school -- fellowship and full scholarship for 5 year PhD program. Yeh, those islands sound good, but I dunno. I think I did okay sitting in the hot auditorium with a bunch of 20-somethings in long black robes!!

Gadgetman!!! Danny, I LIVED on Saipan in 1968!! I was 15 at the time. Father in US Govt. special assignement type thing. Anyway, would love to hear what you remember about the islands. (tho maybe everyone else wouldn't!! PM me??) I had a step-brother (Air Force pilot) visit fairly recently and sent photos -- unrecognizable. Hotels everywhere. On Saipan, did you ever go down to Marine Beach or stop at Escolastica's for pickled papaya?? Go to the Grotto, or see Suicide Cliff? or Bird Island? We would go to Guam only for shopping. (not much selection at JoeTen's in Garapan). I always preferred Saipan, but probably because I was a teenager there and knew all the hot spots (like playing hide and seek with our jeeps in the full moonlight(no headlights) in and around the abandoned WWII airstrip.

Bob. Keep sharing those photos and lovely island exchanges. I was in the Caribbean in the British Virgin Islands 25 years ago -- that's what I see in your photos. A drier island than the Hawaiians or Pacifics. Do you have any monkeys where you are??

You know how to travel, my boy!! You're doing it so right! Enjoy the rest of your time there.

Marguerite