Travels New

Trinidad: January - February

The new year found me still in Trinidad. Trinidad seems to have become my new home. I plan to get some sailing in this year, if possible.

New Years Day Gam

The New Year's Day GAM was hosted by Jesse at the Wheelhouse Pub. Jesse provided BBQ chicken and we contributed side dishes. It was great to catch up with everyone. Jesse provided us with a forcast of the improvied checkin procedures coming in the New Year.

Asa Wright Nature Center - Day Trip

The weather was perfect. I spent most of the day at the lodge watching the birds at the feeders and neighboring trees. The Tanagers were out in force.

My camera mojo is begining to catch up after a long layoff.

Trinidad: Carnival in February

Trip to the Old Yard at the University of the West Indies

This was my third or fourth trip to view the classic carnival that the University of the West Indies puts on. They present the origional carnival characters for us to enjoy. The students and faculity bring the characters to life. The setting is much more personal than the bands on Carnival Tuesday.

Some of these characters include:

Moko Jumbie: A stilt-walking character, originating from West African tradition, believed to be a guardian watching for evil.
Midnight Robber: Known for a large hat, cape, and long, boastfli speeches (robber talk) threating to rob passersby.
Blue Devils (Jab Molassie): Characters covered in blue paint, oil, or mud, who often portray demons or imps, cracking whips and demanding money.
Dame Lorraine: A satirical figure wearing exaggerated, voluptuous clothing, mocking the former French plantocracy.
Pierrot Grenade: A scholar figure in a patched costume, known for intellectual satire, witty wordplay, and storytelling.
Baby Doll: A woman dressed as a young girl, carrying a doll to symbolize a child, who confronts men in the crowd to claim they are the father.
Burrokeet: A "donkey-man" character from Spanish tradition, where the dancer appears to be riding a small donkey made of bamboo and cloth.

Trinidad: Feathered Friends in May

Trip to the Macaw/Parrot Rescue Center - Feathered Friends

This was Jesse's and my first trip to the "Feathered Friends" center, located just north of Port of Spain in the northern range.

The center is dedicated to: Rescue & Rehoming: They take in surrendered, neglected, or rescued parrots to rehabilitate them and give them a high quality of life. Free-Flight: The sanctuary is built on the philosophy of free-flight, allowing rehabilitated birds to explore the outdoors while returning to the sanctuary voluntarily. Education: Tours are designed to spread awareness and discourage keeping parrots as caged pets.

We visited Feathered Friends in May of 2026 for the first time. We were overwhelmed by the Macaws and Parrots freely flying to the site. The owner was very generous and committed to his program. He was also a wealth of information on the birds. The center provides close encounters with the birds and many great photo opportunities.