Trinidad and Tobago - general information. Trinidad Island: origin of the name, where it is located

The island of Tobago is located approximately 30 km northeast of Trinidad. This island is much smaller and calmer than Trinidad. The rolling plains of Tobago are covered with dense tropical forests, making the island ideal for ecotourism enthusiasts. The island's forests are considered one of the oldest forest communities in the Western Hemisphere and have long been protected.

Weather in Tobago

Beaches of Tobago

On the coast of the island there are many picturesque sandy beaches. Basic tourist centers concentrated in the southwest of the island near the city of Crown Point. There are many diving centers here, since the southern border of the distribution of coral reefs lies in the coastal waters of Tobago.

Tobago Island

Entertainment and attractions in Tobago

The evergreen forests of the islands are carefully protected, for which numerous reserves have been created for such a tiny territory, as well as the unique marine reserve “Buccoo Reef”. In that natural park you can see picturesque harbors, many tropical fish, different types corals The nearby Bon Accord Lagoon is home to hundreds of nesting birds, including Caribbean swallows, flycatchers and white-tailed nightjars.

Local attractions include the villages of Mount St. George (Georgetown, the first British capital of the island), Goodwood, Roxborough, Goldsborough and Pembroke, the colorful First Historical Cafe in Studley Park, beautiful building the old sugar plantation Richmond Great House (now home to a hotel, restaurant and extensive collection of African art and textiles), Argyle Falls (the highest on the island - 54 m), beautiful Kings Bay (one of the few places on the coast with nice beach with a fairly developed infrastructure), as well as the conservation areas of Speyside and Little Tobago Island, which protect the nesting sites of many seabirds.

• Where to stay: on the main island of Trinidad, where there are hotels for every taste, in particular in its capital Port of Spain, or on the miniature and calm Tobago.
• What to see: a vibrant and eclectic capital

The island of Tobago is located in the Caribbean Sea, 23 miles from the island of Trinidad. During its history, this small island changed hands more than 30 times.

The island was first discovered Christopher Columbus August 4, 1498 and named Bella Forma (an island of remarkable shape), according to another version - Isla de la Asuncion.

In September of the following year, 1665, the colony was attacked and plundered by them under the leadership of Robert Searle And Stedman.

In January 1666, the colony was attacked by an English squadron of four warships under the command of Captain John Points(John Poyntz). The British captured the colony, taking 150 people prisoner, but their hopes for a good profit were not justified: Searle and Stedman cleaned out the colony very thoroughly. On this occasion, the Governor of Barbados, Lord Willoughby in a letter to the Secretary of State of England dated January 29, 1666, he reported that the pirates had completely destroyed the Dutch settlement on the island, leaving the British nothing to profit from. Points soon left the island, leaving a small garrison there. The expedition probably assumed further colonization of the island, but in August of the same year the French from Grenada landed there, killed the English garrison, and then left the island themselves.

The following year, 1667, the Second Anglo-Dutch War ended. The peace agreement secured the rights to the island to France, so in the same year Abel Tissot(Abel Tisso), a French nobleman, was sent to the island as governor. Several hundred families of colonists arrived with him on the island. But on December 18, 1672, the colony was again attacked by the British under the command of Tobias Bridges(Tobias Bridges). His expedition left the English island of Barbados on six ships carrying 600 soldiers. Seeing such a number of troops, the Dutch chose to surrender without a fight. After the honorable surrender of the island by the Dutch, Bridges plundered it and abandoned it. The French colonists who found themselves on the island were taken to Martinique, since France was an ally of England in the Third Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch were allowed to remain, but the cattle and slaves were taken to Barbados, as were the fort's guns. The fort itself was destroyed.

The island was next colonized on September 1, 1676 by the Dutch, who brought there a huge number of blacks acquired from slave markets in French Guiana and Maria Galante. In the same year, two Dutch squadrons approached the island, one of which was commanded by Commodore Jacob Binks, and second - Jan Bondt. The Dutch, expecting an attack by the French, erected coastal fortifications on the island, including Fort Sterreschans.

On February 20, 1677, a French squadron under the command of Count d'Estre, on whose ships there were 4 thousand landing soldiers. In early March, the French attacked the Dutch, who by that time had been approached by a Dutchman on his ship. Jan Erasmus Reining, who supported his compatriots and even managed to capture one French ship. However, the results of the battle remained unclear: the colony remained in the hands of the Dutch, but d'Estre reported to the king about his victory. On December 6 of the same year, d'Estre reappeared in the waters of Tobago and repeated the attack, this time achieving success (including including thanks to the desertion of the squadron under the command of Bondt), captured the island and captured the Dutch governor. Commodore Binks was killed in that battle.

Meanwhile, the political situation in Europe has changed again. The Dutch War of 1672-1678 ended with a signing, which, among other things, secured the rights to the island for the Netherlands; and already in 1679 it was again colonized by them. In 1681, the Duke of Courland transferred his rights to the island to several London merchants under the general leadership of John Points (the same one who plundered Tobago thirteen years earlier). After all the agreements were reached and the relevant papers were signed, the sending of the expedition to the island was suspended by the English Privy Council for unclear reasons. Despite the fact that the British Government in 1687 declared the deed of gift to the island from the English monarch to the Duke of Courland null and void, Points made several more attempts to establish a colony on the island. Then, for about 10 years, England showed no interest in the island, and during this time several small pirate gangs settled there. Finally, in 1698, the English warship Speedwell was sent to the island with soldiers on board, since the English government was informed that the Courlanders were going to establish a new settlement on the island. Therefore, the captain of the Speedwell had orders to detain any ship spotted in Tobago waters. In 1699, the British Government once again declared the legal nullity of the rights of the Duke of Courland to the island.

In 1702, a group of several merchants, led by the same captain John Points, approached the English monarch with a request for permission to establish a settlement on the island. The request was rejected, and instead the island was declared neutral territory in 1704, but a year later France founded a small military base for raids on English colonies on nearby islands.

In 1721, the Governor of Barbados was given the privilege of granting licenses to establish plantations in Tobago for the cultivation of certain colonial goods. The island by that time was again a filibuster base. The report of the Governor of Barbados in 1725 also states that the island "still used by the French as a military base." In response from Europe he was instructed “to confirm in every possible way England’s right to the island, but to avoid direct clashes with the French.”

In December 1722, the waters of the island were visited by a pirate gang led by Thomas Anstis. The pirates were about to leave their ships in one of the secluded coves of the island, but were taken by surprise by the English warship Winchelsea, which burned all the ships in the bay except Anstis's brigantine, which managed to escape.

In 1731, Jacob Kettler's son Ferdinand attempted to sell his rights to the island to the Swedish crown, but the Swedish ambassador in London made inquiries regarding the actual state of affairs and wrote to his overlord not to have any business with the Courlander. However, somehow in 1733 a party of Swedish colonists consisting of 25 families and a number of slaves arrived on the island. The enterprise was not successful: the colonists were killed by warlike Indians.

In 1748, the governor of French Martinique, the Marquis de Quelus(de Caylus) tried to colonize the island again, for which he landed a small party there and even erected a fort. However, the British Government, having learned about this, sent an official protest to France. This had an effect, de Quelus' activities were stopped and the governments of both countries signed an agreement to consider Tobago neutral territory.

The Seven Years' War that broke out in Europe gave the British a free hand and in 1762 they occupied the island, declaring it the property of England. The Peace of Paris of 1763, which ended the Seven Years' War, legally secured England's rights to the island and already in November of the following year he was appointed lieutenant governor here. Alexander Brown(Alexander Brown), and in December, a British general (Robert Melville) was appointed governor of Grenada, Tobago, St. Vincent and Dominica, who divided the island's lands into lots and began selling them at auction to everyone. Soon the first lot - 500 acres of land on the coast of Courland Bay - was sold to a certain James Simpson.

The first town founded on the island in 1768 was Georgetown, located on the coast of Barbados Bay. The governor's residence was built in another town, Scarborough, founded in 1769. The following year, a slave uprising broke out on the island, which was suppressed. At that time, the English colony on the island numbered 209 whites and 3,090 slaves.

Subsequently, slave uprisings broke out on the island with enviable regularity, but, in spite of everything, by 1775 the English colony already numbered 2,300 white colonists, 1,050 freedmen and 10,800 slaves.

In 1777, the island was attacked by American soldiers, who robbed the colony and escaped safely. At that time, the island exported mainly cotton and a small amount of indigo dye. The population of the colony reached 10 thousand people (this number probably includes slaves).

In 1779, the French captured Grenada and captured the English governor-general. Two years later, in April 1781, the French attacked Tobago: the island was occupied, and its lieutenant governor Ferguson was captured. The French did not abandon the island; instead, they claimed it as their territory and even repaired and fortified their old fort, built by the Marquis de Quelus.

The following year, 1783, the Treaty of Versailles was signed in Europe, under the terms of which (among other things) the island of Tobago was transferred to France. He was sent to the island as governor Philbert de Blanchet(Philbert de Blanchard). Things were pretty bad in the colony, with the island's white population down to 800 people. It took several years to rectify the situation, but in 1790 there was a mutiny among the French garrison of Scarborough. As a result of the unrest, a fire broke out in the city and it burned to the ground. To add insult to injury, in August of that year a hurricane hit the island, causing significant damage to the colony and plantations.

On April 15, 1793, the island was attacked by the British and captured. The British installed a puppet Government there with a legislative Council. During the year, militia units were formed, as well as the “Black Jaeger Corps”. The corps consisted of 100 slaves who could be entrusted with weapons. The officers were, of course, white. The Tobago government issued a proclamation calling on all the male population of the island to swear allegiance to the British Crown. Many French colonists who had remained on the island since its occupation by France refused to swear allegiance, so they were arrested and tried as war criminals.

Tobago became French again nine years later. General was appointed as the new governor of the island Sabuje(Sabuguet), who arrived on the island on September 29 along with part of the French troops that were supposed to form the garrison of the island. Having landed in Courland Bay, they occupied Fort King George, which was surrendered by the British led by Brigadier General Carmichael(according to a report from Sabuzha on October 7, the fort was surrendered without a fight). Sabuje also reported that “The British abandoned all their weapons and even artillery and fled to the homes of the colonists”. The government and council of the island held an anonymous vote, the results of which showed that the majority of the colonists were in favor of bringing the island under the protectorate of the French Republic, however, the colonists voted to leave the previous laws and constitution of the island.

The British returned to the island in 1803, landing an armed detachment in Arnosville. One of the slaves George Winchester, volunteered to lead the detachment to Mount Grace. The British managed to take the French garrison of the fort by surprise, so the latter surrendered without a fight. George Winchester was given his freedom for his service and was also awarded £30. “for the formation and development of your business.”

In 1805, the island's waters were visited by an admiral who was looking for a French squadron in the Caribbean.

In 1814, the war with Napoleon ended and, according to a peace treaty, the island of Tobago again ceded to Britain, whose colony it remained until August 1, 1962, when the island gained independence.

What is attractive about a voyage to Tobago? Firstly, not every land in the Atlantic can boast the official and more than deserved title of “Best Caribbean Island”. Secondly, the conditions created by nature and human hands are absolutely suitable for a decent holiday. Thirdly, it’s simply beautiful here. So breathtakingly beautiful that the only disappointment will be the moment of parting with this fantastic fairy tale!

Tobago on the world map with hotel prices

Tobago Island on the world map or detailed map The islands can be viewed using the navigation buttons (+/-). Caribbean islands on the map

Tobago is part of the archipelago belonging to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and is part of the so-called arc of the Lesser Caribbean Islands. The flowering region is located between the coastlines washing it Caribbean Sea and the majestic Atlantic Ocean. This is one of the two largest exotic islands The state, relative to the island of Trinidad, is located in the northeast, separating its brothers by about 30 km. The area of ​​the tourist Mecca is about 300 km², the width is approximately 14 km, and the length does not exceed 41 km.

The large mountain range that dominates Tobago, just under 30 km long and 640 meters high in places, is a continuation of the Venezuelan mountain ranges. The island is separated from the continent by the picturesque Gulf of Paria and two straits: Boca del Dragon (Spanish: Mouth of the dragon) and Boca del Serpiente (Spanish: Mouth of the snake). The administrative center is Scarborough.

Holidays in Tobago

The cleanest air, considerable distance from the polluted continents, enveloping waters of the greenish-blue sea, excellent service, a lot of attractions, a great selection of offers to spend time usefully and brightly - this is all Tobago.

The range of entertainment offered to guests is impressive. Tired of the bustle of big cities, travelers bask in the sun, washing away stress in the miraculous Caribbean Sea; adherents of ecotours enjoy exercising under the shade of evergreen landscaped forests and go on super-exciting sea fishing. Extreme lovers will appreciate excellent diving, mountain climbing, and fast water skiing. Those who dream of not only getting their fill of impressions, but also improving their health, will not be disappointed with the results of pleasant procedures. And those who come in the hope of participating in original holidays, exploring the local colorful culture and seeing intriguing rituals will certainly take part, study and see.

Nature of Tobago

Enthusiastic euphoria from the freshness of fragrant Eden, salty saturated air, indescribably beautiful views guaranteed. The blessed land is lush tiers of tropical thickets on the mountain slopes, sparkling waterfalls and clear rivers, polyphony of birdsong, unique harbors with coral inflorescences.

Due to its location and origin, the island has the richest vegetation: green spaces cover almost half of Tobago, there are more than fifty valuable species of wood, and there are huge plantations of cane, cocoa and other crops.

Pigeon Pike, Flagstaff Hill, Manowar Bay with beaches of brownish volcanic sand, caressed by divers Pirates Bay, the outskirts of Castara, untouched by civilization, the crescent-shaped Parlatouvie Bay, Bon Accord Lagoon, Argyle Falls, secured territory Speyside, the marine reserve - all these are real natural masterpieces.

Sights of Tobago

The small area of ​​the island is literally replete with attractions, and each one deserves attention. Experienced tourists who have visited Tobago more than once recommend visiting:

1. The 250-year-old Fort King George, almost fifty meters high, has survived to this day and can be seen from almost anywhere in Scarborough;
2. Located in the old hospital, the Crafts Center, where visitors not only learn about the process and exhibits, but can also purchase intricate souvenirs;
3. A large collection of artifacts is kept by the Tobago Museum;
4. Whim Manor is a former plantation with colonial-style buildings;
5. The town of Charlotteville, considered the unofficial capital of local fishermen;
6. Built in 1811 from coral limestone, Fort James Island's oldest settlement is Plymouth;
7. Manowar Bay - a fishing tournament named after the island is held here every July, with tastings of marine delights, spectacular ceremonies and fun processions;
8. The deserted and most beautiful beach on the coast is Bloody Bay;
9. First Historical Cafe is a historical cafe on the territory of the flowering Studley Park.

Attract the attention of tourists Caribbean island Tobago began just a few years ago, today it is one of the most actively developing and progressive beach resorts. The main attractive features of the island remain luxurious tropical forests, an abundance of beaches with pristine beauty and a unique undersea world. From the second half of the 18th century administrative center The island is the town of Scarborough. The miniature town is ideal for hiking, at every step here you can find interesting monuments stories, attractive restaurants and souvenir shops.

The main symbol of Scarborough is the ancient Fort King George, which is visible from literally any area of ​​the city. The height of the fort is 47 meters, it was built in 1779 and for a long time remained the main defensive structure on the island. The ancient fort has survived to this day almost in a recreated form; it was completely restored and restored; today, a variety of tourist establishments are located in historical buildings.

Thus, in the building of the old hospital today there is a Crafts Center - one of the most interesting cultural institutions of the island. Its visitors can not only appreciate the diversity of the culture and traditions of the indigenous population, but also purchase a lot of interesting handmade souvenirs as a souvenir of the trip. Nearby is the Tobago Museum, whose collection is also very interesting. A significant part of the exhibition displays artifacts from colonial times; the museum also contains finds from an earlier period. Copyright www.site

After viewing the collections, travelers will enjoy strolling through the nearby landscaped gardens, just beyond which lies one of Tobago's main architectural landmarks, the Whim Estate. Once upon a time, large-scale plantations were located on this site; today, only a preserved building built of red brick reminds of the old days.

Outside the fort there are also many interesting sights to explore. In the capital, the building of an ancient mill has been preserved, which today houses one of the popular hotels. It is noteworthy that it was decided to preserve the huge mill wheels in the building, which were made in the mid-19th century. Among the outstanding architectural landmarks is also the Court House, which was built in 1825 and is currently home to the Tobago Congregational House.

The town of Charlotteville, located in its northeastern part, is considered a unique “fishing capital” of the island. This city is ideal for getting to know the culture and life of the indigenous population. In the vicinity of the city there is a huge number of interesting natural attractions, including Manowar Bay, the most high point islands - Pigeon Pike Mountain, as well as Flagstaff Hill - one of best places on the island to admire the surroundings.

(Trinidad) is the largest of the two islands in the Caribbean that make up the state of Trinidad and Tobago.

Districts

• North Trinidad is mostly lively and consists of big cities, but also includes places with a more measured and leisurely lifestyle - such as beaches north coast and tropical forest.
• East Trinidad is a more provincial region. The University of the West Indies is located here.
• The center of Trinidad is an area of ​​agriculture and heavy industry, in the center there is a strip of mountains covered with tropical forest.
• South Trinidad is the center of oil production and the labor movement.
• The southeast of Trinidad is a rural and largely backward region, but there are many business centers involved in offshore oil drilling.

Cities

• Port of Spain - capital
• Arima
• Pointe-a-Pierre
• Point Fortin
• Point Lisas
• San Fernando

How to get there

By plane

The nearest airport is Piarco International, located near the cities of Trincity, Arouca and St Helena.

You can also arrive first at neighboring island– Tobago – to Crown Point International Airport, and from there fly to Piarco (Scarbrough), which will take you only 15 minutes, or take a ferry from Scarbrough to Port of Spain.

On a ferryboat

Until 2014, the C/Prowler ferry operated on Wednesdays from Pier 1 to Chaguaramas in Guiria in Venezuela. In June 2014, the ferry service was discontinued (with the possibility of resuming in the future).

For more accurate status information ferry service on the date of your planned trip, you can contact the ferry service office by calling 868 634 4472.

Cost of transporting passengers (data as of May, 2014)

Cost in Trinidad and Tobago dollars

Ticket price for children under 12 years old

Welcome back (in advance) booked ticket)

Welcome back

One way

On a cruise ship

Cruise ships arrive sporadically, docking very close to downtown Port of Spain.

Facilities at the pier site include a small indoor sales area in a converted warehouse, adjacent kiosks selling mostly locally produced goods, and a transport area offering travelers tourist buses and taxi.

Despite the fact that markets and department stores can be easily reached on foot, locals still do not recommend doing this, since, firstly, the port area is a rough terrain that is inconvenient for walking, and secondly, there are wide streets behind it with intense high-speed traffic, which is quite difficult for an unprepared person to cross.

Public transport

The bulk of the population lives along the East-West Corridor. And accordingly, the bulk of shops, eateries and entertainment venues are concentrated here.

The East-West Corridor is a chain of cities and towns located along main transport routes. It originates in the west in the capital city of Port of Spain and ends in Arima. Transport following this route is in free access.

Taxi

The main advantage of a taxi is that you make fewer stops along the way (that is, you get to your destination faster), and you can ask the driver to load bulky bags into the trunk.

Taxis can be taken at special “taxi ranks”, which are available in all largest cities and at popular tourist attractions. Legal taxi driving licenses always begin with the letter "H", which stands for "Hire".

Taxis, in most cases, travel along a specific fixed route. The exception is for taxis that deliver passengers to neighboring areas, but in this case you must inform the driver of your destination. You may have to wait until there are enough passengers to fill all the seats in the taxi (usually 4) before departure, which can last for hours.

If you don’t want to wait or need to go on a different route, discuss with the driver whether it is possible to rent a taxi just for you and how much it will cost.

Always ask the driver where exactly the route goes and whether you are at the right parking lot. Many taxi stands that take passengers to various destinations are located very close to each other. Fares are fixed (usually between $3 and $5 TT, but can be as high as $20 TT for longer journeys), please inquire with the driver before departure.

Warning: Not all taxi cars are equipped with air conditioning.

Private taxis

These taxis differ from regular taxis (which the passenger hires himself and specifies his own destination) in that they are owned by a specific transportation company and driven by hired drivers.

You can call them from anywhere in the city, and they will definitely come for you. Traveling in these cars is much more pleasant than in regular taxis: they have better service, they are newer, and they have air conditioning.

Their disadvantage is the very high fare (expect at least $100 TT)

Maxi

Maxis are personal minibuses that operate along major routes, picking up and delivering passengers to any point within those routes. They accommodate 10-30 passengers.

Maxies are always painted white with horizontal lines (red, green, yellow, brown and black) on the sides. The color of the line indicates that it belongs to a particular route, but not necessarily. Typically, maxis traveling along the East-West Corridor from Arima to Port of Spain have a red line on their side, while from Port of Spain to Chaguanas there is a green line.

You can take a minibus on any of the main roads (that is, on all roads whose names contain the word “Main” - main: Eastern Main Road, Western Main Road, etc.). An example would be the Priority Bus route (going from Arima to Port of Spain).

Maxi's on main streets are usually crowded and slow, but they are cheaper. The fee depends on the distance traveled, but be prepared to pay at least $3 TT regardless of distance (this system is also known as Short Drop).

To board a maxi, give the driver a sign by holding his arm up and indicating with his fingers how many passengers want to board. Ask the driver if he is taking the exact route you want.

In order to disembark from the maxi (before reaching final stop), you need to press a special device that emits a sound signal and is located under the passenger seat.

If you do not know the area, then you can ask the driver about where you need to get off. Some maxis (mostly the larger ones) have a conductor. He collects fares and directs incoming people to where they can sit. He can be easily recognized by the wad of money in one hand and his hasty shouts to potential passengers.

Air conditioning is usually not available in maxis.

Main attractions

• The Asa Wright Nature Center is the largest bird watching center in the world. You can stay in small houses here, but you don't have to stay overnight to visit the center. Knowledgeable guides will take you around the plantation where cocoa beans were once grown and tell you about all the birds, lizards and other animals you will meet along the way. The center's staff places fresh fruit on the plantations every day to attract birds, meaning that even sitting on the spacious, cozy veranda, the guest can enjoy watching the local fauna. The entrance fee here is $60TT (10 US) for foreigners and $30TT (5 US) for locals. This payment allows you to be in the park all day.

• Carnivals. Steel drum, soca music, calypso and all other traditions originating in Trinidad and Tobago are celebrated at the Carnival, which takes place two days before the start of Lent. Arrive early if you want to take part in the local fun events leading up to Carnival itself, some of which are completely free. Ask local residents, is it possible to attend rehearsals of groups practicing their steel drumming before a performance.
• Caroni Bird Sanctuary. The afternoon tour of the reserve begins at approximately 4 pm. Contact any of the operators to book your place on the boat that takes passengers across the Caroni Swamp. You will be able to see a breathtaking sight of local birds soaring in the sky colored by the sunset. Don't forget to bring a good camera, as well as insect repellent and suntan lotion.
• Diwali holiday. Ask locals about celebrating this festival of light. They will be able to tell you a lot of interesting things.

• Maracas/Tyrico/Las Cuevas – magnificent views of the landscapes of land and sea open from the northern shore. And, driving along it, you will definitely come across the village of Blanchisseuse and meet many more interesting things on your way. Rent a car and spend the whole day here. Just be especially careful when driving - the road here is very winding.
• Mount Saint Benedict is a Catholic monastery located on the top of one of the mountains of the Northern Range, near the village of Arima. Visitors are very welcome here. For them, there is also a charming hotel - Pax Guest House - where on Sunday afternoon everyone is served incredibly delicious tea. (Food is also available for guests staying overnight). Bakery and confectionery products are baked by Benetictine monks themselves, which confirms their exceptional freshness and taste. The payment for tea is purely symbolic. The atmosphere of the entire complex is imbued with calm and tranquility, and due to its location on the top of the mountain, it is also cool here (you may even need a sweater in the evening). For visitors in good physical shape, the complex has Stations of the Cross - stations starting at the foot of the mountain and ending at the church itself. They are located along the road, which extends along a rather steep slope, which requires considerable physical and mental strength to climb.
• Hiking trails – allow you to go hiking along walking paths with small waterfalls and streams along the way where you can swim.
• Pitch Lake in La Brea made of liquid asphalt, in the south of Trinidad. Not far from the lake is located sea ​​beach, so you can combine walking tour with swimming in the sea.

• Toco/Matelot/Grand Riviere. Here you can enjoy stunning scenery, visit several beaches and even see leatherback turtles that crawl ashore every night during egg-laying season.
• Tobago's beaches are a great choice if you're looking for a camping spot. And the Buccoo coral reef, Nylon Pool, and Fort King George are worth seeing.

Food. What to try?

• National cuisine Trinidad has been influenced by the traditions of many cultures, mainly Indian and African (also called Creole cuisine). It was also influenced by Chinese cuisine (the number of Chinese eateries exceeds only the number of bars), and, in some respects, English and French. More recently, American eateries have become widespread here: Subway, KFC and Pizza Hut. Now you can find them on every corner.
• Most Trinidadians prefer meat dishes of all kinds, but due to the large Hindu population, there is also a considerable range of vegetarian dishes available.
• Among the local fast food, the most popular is Doubles, a snack that can be purchased at a street stall. Cheap and tasty - which is why many people prefer to snack on them - it consists of curried channa (also known as chickpeas or chickpeas) sandwiched between two baras (fluffy soft unleavened buns). It is served like a sandwich wrapped in wax paper. You can order extras in the form of mango or other chutneys such as pepper sauce.

• Locals name the varieties of doubles by the amount of pepper added to it: “without”, which means that there will be no pepper at all, “slight” - lightly seasoned with pepper, or “blaze” - with the addition of a whole spoonful of pepper.
• On the counters of doubles sellers you can usually see fried pies with potatoes, called “aloo pies”, to which you can also order any additive. Prices range from $3 to $4 TT, but if you happen to visit Penal in the south of Trinidad, the orange hut opposite gas station NP, then you can buy them there for only $2. Apart from doubles, they also sell kachourie and saheena (made from green vegetables) which also taste amazing. They are served with a sweet sauce without a hint of hot pepper flavor, unless of course you ask for it. Not all places that serve doubles can offer pepper-free options.
• Doubles are eaten by first unrolling the paper and then separating the top bar. Break off a piece from the separated bar (and if you have ordered extra pepper or chutney, now is the time to spread it over the surface of the bottom bar) and scoop out some channa before drinking. Once the top bar is finished, move on to the bottom bar until all the channa is finished. You can get really dirty in the process, so before drinking doubles it’s better to find some place where you can wash your hands. Warning: At least one channa pea is bound to slide off the wax paper and onto your shirt or shoe.