International Buzz
Archived: 3 Awesome Spots To Stop At, While In Trinidad
Trinidad. A true cosmopolitan spot. A home to some of the most wondrous landmarks and landscapes in the world, both historical and contemporary. Despite its remarkably small size, it is nearly impossible to compile a list of all the sites that a tourist should put on their checklist of places to visit. The options are endless.
Imagine you were given an unfortunate ultimatum and you had to choose three places to visit on a trip to Trinidad, where would you go? Thankfully EBUZZTT has come to your rescue. Many incredible options had to be excluded in compiling this list but we assure you that these three were carefully chosen as it gives the visitor an all-round experience of our beautiful cultural blend. A beach, a lake and as simple as it sounds, an avenue…
Maracas Bay
Maracas Bay, Trinidad.
The famous Maracas Bay of Trinidad. Quite possibly the most popular and most prized beach in all the land, loved by tourists and locals alike. It is probably the number one choice on similar lists throughout other travel guides but it is number one for a reason. I may quite possibly be the only person living in Trinidad who had never visited Maracas Bay until the age of eighteen (which was only a few years ago!). I was afraid it seemed too good to be true. But on my eighteenth birthday history was made. All fears were alleviated, all rumors confirmed!
The winding hilly drive with a crisp, cool air and breathtaking overview heightens the anticipation. Ensure that you make a stop on the famous ‘lookout’ and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the capital city, Port of Spain. Before you know it, you’re greeted by the loud crashes of blue foamy waves and a blood-warm sand that caresses your feet and assures you that you will never want to leave. But if you must, be sure to try our famous Bake and Shark (or Bake and Kingfish if you so desire) with all the toppings and condiments that your heart desires!
The Pitch Lake
The La Brea Pitch lake in Trinidad.
The La Brea Pitch Lake is the world’s largest natural deposit of emulsified asphalt. Once considered to be the 8th wonder of the world, it attracts thousands of tourists annually and has much historical significance dating back to the days of our first peoples, the Amerindians. The Amerindians believed it to be a sign of punishment from their gods but it was re-discovered and re-contextualized by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595 to be a resourceful occurrence. (Talk about a difference in perception!)
Visitors have the opportunity to take photos and videos of the lake and it is even possible to walk across into the lake. At times, visitors can submerge themselves into the pools and cracks that have formed within the lake. The mineral waters have been known for its healing properties for skin diseases, acne, and infections. A historical landmark and it fights acne? What more can you ask for?!
Ariapita Avenue
One of the hot spots along Ariapita Avenue, deemed by most as the hub for entertainment.
Trinidad is forged from the love of liming …oh and liberty too! There’s nothing that Trinis love more than to lime (a.k.a ‘hang out’). We make everything a lime, literally EVERYTHING. So there’s no surprise that we have designated an entire street known as “De Avenue” solely for the purpose of liming. Your trip to Trinidad and a taste of our culture is incomplete without a visit to De Avenue. It is lined with an array of nightclubs, lounges, pubs, bars, restaurants, and street vendors selling burgers, gyros, hot dogs, wings and fries and so much more. You can hop from one venue to the next as much as you wish. The roadsides become liming spots in itself and are always decorated with scores of well-dressed limers. In the United States of America, New York is considered the city that never sleeps. Here in Trinidad, it is De Avenue that never sleeps. On any given night the streets come alive with the sound of music, humming car engines, boisterous laughter, and drunken chatter. We are a party nation, so any trip to Trinidad is incomplete without a taste of our exciting nightlife.
EBUZZTT CONTRIBUTOR: Reiana Bharat
International Buzz
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International Buzz
Trinidad and Tobago’s Kes The Band Shares Feel Good Soca Vibes on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk.
Internationally acclaimed, Trinidad and Tobago band, KestheBand scored big points, delivering a vibrant, culturally rich performance on NPR Tiny Desk Concerts. The pre-recorded showcase was uploaded to YouTube, for the viewing enjoyment of over 12 million, on Friday, May 8th. It was recorded at NPR Music Headquarters in Washington, DC.
The set featured classic Soca hits including ‘Hello’, ‘Fallin’, ‘Rum and Coca Cola’, ‘Jolene’, ‘Cocoa Tea’, ‘Wotless‘ and ‘Savannah Grass’. Also featured in the spotlight were three other Caribbean musical superheroes – Calypso Queen, Terri Lyons, Ace pannist, Dane Gulston and St. Lucia’s very own, Teddyson John. Their accompaniment added both visual and acoustic appeal to the showcase, likewise the men who musically embellish Kes The Band.
Lead vocalist of Kes the Band, Kees Dieffenthaller, reflecting on the historic moment for the band, said it was an honor. “Performing at Tiny Desk is an incredible honour that we’ve dreamed of for a very long time. This moment is a powerful reminder of how far Caribbean music can travel when it stays true to its roots. To strip it down, feel every note, and share that energy with the world in such an intimate space—it’s something we’ll carry with us for the rest of this journey.” Dieffenthaller added, “We are vessels of sound and song, and this moment is so much bigger than us: it’s about our culture, our people, and our joyful connection we bring through music.”
NPR Tiny Desk host and series producer Bobby Carter praised the band’s performance. He need that Kes the Band brought something truly special to the NPR Tiny Desk, defining that special something as a sound that feels both deeply rooted and globally resonant. He said that ahead of Caribbean American Heritage Month, celebrated across the US throughout June, Kes The Band’s performance is a celebration of Caribbean culture in its most dynamic form.
The outstanding showcase comes as KestheBand completes the European/UK leg of the ‘Roots, Rock, Soca’ Tour, which officially kicked off in Paris, France on April 30th – including historic sold-out dates in London and a double-run in Amsterdam. The tour, hosted in collaboration with Live Nation and WME, is set to kickstart its North American journey with Seattle, Washington State on May 28th and marks the beginning of an expansive international journey connecting audiences through Caribbean sound and spirit.
