Ferry coming over from Venezuela was smooth and eneventful. It was the most overhyped event since Bobby Riggs vs. Billie Jean King in geriatric tennis. The hucksters made it sound prior as if it was crowded, exclusive, tickets hard to get, etc. We are told all other means of getting to Trinidad were either dangerous or unreliable or no longer existed. Early purchase and all that was heavily encouraged. So many people at the cash machines in town, and all the hotels full, that it was credible such activity was related to cramming the ferry. Not so. Got on board, and there were only ten of us paying passengers – ten foreign fools who had paid through the nose! But we were all ardent travelers, got to compare destination notes a lot, and had many stories to trade. Much of the time was spent making fun of ourselves and the minefields we had encountered and the myths we had bought into in our journeys. But we were getting out of Venezuela. And the drinks coming over were free.
Taxi driver at Port Chaguanas in Trinidad (named Junior) took me and British purchasing agent Steve Chandler, who I met on the ferry -- and whose job was eliminated but then received a large redundancy payout to finance his travels for nine months -- to a cash machine first. TT’s (Trinidad and Tobago Dollars) exchange in the machine for about $6 for each US dollar. There is no black market for cash here. Then to Steve’s hotel, so I didn’t have to bother with researching that. He already had gotten a double room that just happened to come with two beds, so we split the cost. Mind at ease. And zero effort. Muscles and coughing easing up a bit as well as a result. Then Junior came back at no extra charge, and drove us over to a restaurant sort of like TGIFs called “Trotters” and headed out again to drive his aunt somewhere. Steve and I were both looking forward to a proper meal, one without scoops of rice, dried meat, sloppy wilted salad without dressing, no mayo, and Tang or Coca Cola for virtually every meal. He had fish and chips (what a limey!). I had fettucine with crab and shrimp for $98. It was delicious, after some of the mundane crap I’ve had to eat the last two weeks (lots of hit and run coffee, Coca-Cola, and Doritos). Followed with a crushed ice rasberry margarita. Then another. Then a caipirinha. All great for the throat. Was amusing when looking at the drink menu, to see a margarita listed for $58. I thought they must have spiked that thing with black gum heroin or something near, to justify prices like that. But when it came down to the exchange rate, an oversized flavored and icy drink was still less than $10 US.
Junior came back and we treated him to a drink while finishing. He described the local nightclub scene and gave us a driving tour. Turns out that we are in St. James, a suburb of Port of Spain (Capital of Trinidad). Got to drive around the world’s largest roundabout (nearly a mile in diameter) and drive by the world’s most busy and successful KFC outlet. Seems as if they enjoy their chicken in Trinidad, because there were many copy cats nearby also selling the fowl in all its other permutations. Primarily Cajun and Jerk Chicken. Steve and I agreed we wanted real sleep and then beach time above all. So Junior offered to come back in the morning and take us there. I asked him to make it mid-day, so I could go to the health clinic. Ends up it is two blocks from the hotel.
Went in this morning. Amazing. Clinic was very crowded but there were no long waits. English is spoken here as the primary language. The care is really diligent. The facility is colonial, a little 1950 ish, and what we will call "quaint." Staffers are all considerate and polite. Numbers are not given and there is no queue but nobody cheats on the patient order to see a doctor. Got my diagnosis and treatment and meds for free. Unbelievable. Here is the shocking part … my chest x-ray results to eliminate pneumonia as a potential malady and my blood lab tests, were back within about five minutes [ Wendy, please take a note to staff on this ]. Who are these guys? Whole time, service with a smile.
That is the first thing you notice about Trinidad. No sneers. No suspicious looks. No “vertical scan” assessments – what is this guy worth, what is he carrying, and how much can I get out of him? Just smiles, a sincere desire to connect, and a desire to help. What a contrast over a 24 hour period ! So I am back at Steve’s B&B, writing on working Wi-Fi and basking at the prospect of restored good health and freedom from being pillaged at every opportunity. Relaxation mode almost into full restoration now. Not sure what is next. It is raining quite heavily at the moment. Might go with Steve tomorrow to Tobago to go scuba diving. Or stay another day here, then fly to Guyana on Saturday. But Guyana will be the next destination. Short post, enough for now. Going out to enjoy Trinidad! If the typhoon will let us …
Hey,Larry-
ReplyDeleteHow long was the fabled ferry ride - conflicting Internet reports range from 30 min. to 4 hrs.
Piqued my curiosity big-time with your clinic visit story. My guess is your blood was tested at the clinic with a simple point-of-care instrument and result read on the spot by the phleb or lab tech, no physician directly involved? Same w/ x-ray - read by person who took the x-ray (who may not have been a Rad Tech) and no radiologist (physician) read.
Personally if I lived on a lovely island and the sun beat on my head all day, I'd just walk out of your sight in the clinic and say 'That strapping lad looks good to me, mon, ain't gonna die today' and give you an RX with my biggest smile. Done! Next patient, please.