World, are you ready?

Current Location - London...Yeh Boiii!

[sidduamin]

Pigeon Point

This island keeps giving. Pigeon point is a national park of the highest quality, and it's clear why it is has the busiest beaches on Tobago. The pristine water and the complementing pier make this spot postcard perfect. My wife and daughter certainly take the views of this place up a couple of notches - as if that was even possible!

We're easily into double digits of rum punches and, as usual, this gem of an island delivers with food of the same quality as we enjoy each other's company.

Some more time to pause, reflect and be thankful of what we have.

[sidduamin]

Black Rock, Tobago

Birdie's place is nestled on a rocky outcrop which affords it its own private beach. A little venture down whilst the sky shows its moodiness did little to lower the excitement levels of the family.

We're here for the next week and are relishing the prospect of the discovering some of the more famous beaches on this part of the island.

[sidduamin]

Bye Bye Castara

Tomorrow we move down the coast towards the bustling South West of the island. Our last evening in this tranquil corner of the Caribbean allows us to take a long pause and a heavy sigh of relief that a true escape from our hectic London lives is possible.

We've had the most lovely hosts who have cooked us a farewell dinner. As usual on this island, there are many superb dishes made from the highest quality of shrimp, found in these waters. Our stay in charming Castara is signed off in style.

[sidduamin]

Buss Up Shut, Beers and Boogie

The island just keeps giving. A low key day sees us go back to our favourite kitchen for round two of 'Buss Up Shut (Bust up shirt)' which consists of perfectly flaked paratha, a shrimp curry and potato and channa, served with a tastebud-tingling pumpkin relish.

I wouldn't have thought it but when your drinking Carib as if it is water, the odd stout to mix it up keeps things in harmony.

[sidduamin]

Boxing Day - Adventure Day, Northern Tobago

The road north forgets to be kind, dark and winding, scarred with potholes, each turn a leap of faith through thick green silence.

Waterfalls wait beyond the bends, cool hands on sun-burned skin, their voices steady and old, teaching you how to slow down.

Hidden beaches appear without warning – no signs, no crowds, just soft sand, clear water, and time folding in on itself.

At dusk, cliffside bars come alive, rum catching the last light, music floating between sky and sea, laughter leaning over the edge.

And when night pulls the road closed again, you drive carefully, smiling, knowing Northern Tobago gives its best only to those willing to wander.

[sidduamin]

Christmas Day, Castara Bay, Tobago

What a dreamy day spent sipping delicious punch, inebriating Guinness and getting stuffed with roast turkey and trimming. From the bar, to the sea, to the restaurant and repeat.

Our first Christmas Day away from the UK has been one to remember and treasure. The sea even gave me a little souvenir giving me a cut up foot after getting a little too excited.

We walked up to our cottage to play some Xmas games as it got dark and retired completely content.

[sidduamin]

London to Trinidad and Tobago

Another Caribbean adventure begins. It feels like a long couple of days travelling, with near flight misses breaking sweat and four hour delays frustrating but finally we hop onto and off Trinidad, landing on our final destination of Tobago.

Of culinarily note is the filled fry bakes that were demolished for breakfast. A very doughy filled battura with spiced potato. So sinful but delightful first thing in the morning.

The short 20-minute journey between the country’s two islands proves eventful with the third of three aircrafts being finally declared fit to fly. All that quickly evaporates into the setting Tobago night as we mark our arrival with some fine rum punch at Anchor Bar on Mount Irvine beach en route to our Castara cottage.

[sidduamin]

Festive Feasting

With the lads. Camberwell’s finest treats us well.

[sidduamin]

Adventure Day

Swimming in waterfalls, visiting a chocolate production estate, relaxing at a local beach, and dining at a cozy two-cover restaurant for our family of four.

It’s rare to find such beauty and enjoy it in solitude, but Mount Carmel waterfall gave us just that. As we bathed in the plunge pool, with the sun finally peeking through the morning’s stubbornly lingering clouds, a sense of absolute relaxation and satisfaction washed over us. In that moment, it felt like everything we were seeking on this trip came together in a single instance. These moments, surrounded by nature’s beauty, are where busy thoughts dissipate, and the mind is at complete ease. While such experiences are not always easy to come by, when they do, they are incomparable.

We’ve been covering a decent number of miles on the island, and this poor car seems to have had the life driven out of it. The phrase "no need to treat her gentle, she’s a rental" comes to mind. And with the condition of these roads, along with some of the driving we’ve witnessed, it’s easy to understand why. In retrospect, unlike Barbados and Antigua, driving in Grenada isn’t particularly pleasant. Still, congestion charges and parking wardens seem like a distant concern when you’re cruising up and down Main Eastern Road—or anywhere else on the island, for that matter.

As the shadows lengthen, we find ourselves at our daily patch of sand, hoping the waters will be calm enough for the kids to entertain themselves. Local children splash around near the wave barriers, which give Bathside’s beachgoers the best of both worlds: calm, paddling waters, dramatic crashing waves, fried chicken, beer, and local families and groups of friends enjoying the simple pleasures of a Sunday afternoon.

Our evening takes us to the north of the island, through the tiny town of Sateurs. There, we enjoy an intimate, exclusive-feeling dinner at the hotel-cum-restaurant run by an emigrated couple. The food is good—not world-changing—but the setting is idyllic, the hosts gracious, and the overall experience personal, making it feel worth every dollar.

[sidduamin]

La Sagesse beach is beautiful but not the best we've swam. The Lime Squash with rum sipped by the beachside bar more than makes up for it.

[sidduamin]

Grande Anse to Hope City

It’s time to move. We’ve a habit of not staying still on the islands of this stunning archipelago and as we approach the half way point of our sejour, the wilder East coast awaits us. 

I wouldn’t have imagined that the kids would be trying tea so young, even more so that it would be blue in colour! The Tower estate’s sprawling flora, which is situated en route, provides a little shelter to the first really rainy day, and BooBoo’s enthusiasm in the gardens puts a smile on our faces. 

An impromptu BBQ pork and chicken eaten on the car bonnet provides a nice little pit stop before we head to Hope City, where we'll spend the rest of our time here. 

Friday night in Grenville seems to have a buzz - a very local one, which I love - but not that suited to the kids. We're all happy to retire to the luxury of our hilltop residence and, my word, the sleep is good!

[sidduamin]

St. George’s

I wouldn’t quite say that we are beached out, but a little bit of variety feels welcome so we head into the capital for a little exploration via a local breakfast.

The gregarious nature of people here is a breath of fresh air, with literally every person passing our table wishing us a good morning. I’m really feeling attuned to the pace of life here and everything just feels so easy going, with days passing by without doing all that much.

On foot and by locomotive, we explore the charming town surrounded by the swarm of today's German cruise passengers. It doesn't take too much away from the experience but the ebbing and flowing of tourist activity is largely based on the comings and goings of the cruise ships. I do get the feeling that the tourists that are here for less than even a day are experiencing the island somewhat vicariously through the rest of us non-day trippers!

Crossing between the two sides of St. George's is quite the drive, with sweeping views of marinas and hillside. The lushness and inviting bays complement one another and are pleasing on the eye.

Keen to visit every cricket ground on this planet that I can, I am somewhat disappointed that the national cricket stadium is under renovation through Chinese funding, so we see very little of it.

[sidduamin]

Morne Rouge Beach

A new year and what a place to be to reflect on the year that’s been. We have so much to be grateful for and, whilst 2024 has been a tough year, it has ended with so many positives.

A beautiful sunset with my closest after fresh fish and some wipeout-style fun on the water has capped a genuinely wholesome day.

[sidduamin]

Magazine Beach and St George's University

New Year's Eve and the stress and tension of life in London has subsided very quickly. The pace here is very slow and easy to adapt to. Today, with the lack of shops and restaurants open, it feels like we'll need to be pretty self-sufficient during the day. Despite this, I take my chances and try to find some food at a local 'food court'. I am unsuccessful.

A silver lining to my failed lunch quest was the opportunity that materialised to have a wonder around the island's primary university. I'm struggling to think of a more impressive campus. The peach-washed buildings and charming bus station at the entrance of St George's university with barely a soul in sight accentuates the feeling of serenity as I wonder through the grounds. Already incredibly impressed, I stumble upon the private beach and socialising area which could be the equivalent of our student unions, perhaps. Life as a Grenadian student with sea, sun and sand between lectures feels like worlds away from blustery Leeds!

[sidduamin]

Grande Anse Beach

This beautiful mile and a half stretch of golden sand is supposed to be one of the best in the Caribbean and we can certainly see why. Whilst the weather was slightly underwhelming, and the water choppy, it didn't detract from the utter sense of relaxation that we managed to find. The double rum punches certainly helped ease our way into island life.

[sidduamin]

Grande Anse, Grenada

Good morning Grenada. We've been looking forward to you for oh so long x

[sidduamin]

December 2016 - Parsons Green

Xmas drinks and lunch with the boys never dull. Some real creativity (and lack of) for secret santa.