We take a slip from Ray, a glass-bottom boat tour vendor- though weve no intention of taking a glass-bottom boat tour, we can now use our contact with Ray to fend off any other vendors. The beach looks lovely, and we tell the chair and umbrella vendor well be back after lunch. We wend our way back to the Toucan Inn (Karin buys a pareo along the way). Back at the Inn, we don swimsuits (and Karin her new pareo) and we pack up for a day at the beach- towels, sunscreen, books, and Gatorade. Yes, Gatorade. Tending to dehydrate a tad easily, and weve started to travel with powdered Gatorade. We mix up and drink 4 gallons worth while were there- works like a charm! We head back down to Store Bay, where Vlad becomes unstoppable in his desire for a roti, early though it is. Miss Esmie, at her eponymous shop at Store Bay, is more than happy to accommodate. Vlad chows down a roti in the company of these hopeful kittens. Karin saves hers for later...

Crown Point arrival, Store Bay Beach, Arnos Vale Waterwheel

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ktravers > Our flight from Boston-Washington, DC- Tobago leaves at 10:00am, and gets into Tobago at a civilized 7:30pm (1 hour ahead of our US east coast time). Flight was uneventful, with plenty of legroom (important for someone like Karin who has suffered an air travel- associated deep vein thrombosis in the past!).

A ridiculously short cab ride away, and we are quickly seen to our room at the Toucan Inn by one of their consistently efficient and highly friendly staff. We have requested, and received, a garden room- it is simple, but clean and nice. And it has 2 twin beds! This sends us into fits of laughter as we contemplate our Rob and Laura Petrie existence for the next 2 nights.

ktravers > We have sadly missed our free rum punch at the managers party held that evening until 7:00pm, but were happy enough to get a table in the hotel-associated restaurant, Bonkers, and buy ourselves a round. Bonkers is delightful! Though some descriptions peg the place as packed, we find the room only lightly populated, with people seemingly enjoying being there as much as we. Its a delightful meal, and a fun spot.

After dinner, we visit Bonkers the macaw, and Toco the toucan. We cannot get enough of Bonkers sidling up to us, quietly and hopefully squawking, Hello!, and waving his claw at us- it is endlessly amusing.

ktravers > Toco, however, is NONE too pleased at our interruption of his sleep, and, abashed, we toddle off to our own.

ktravers > Morning finds us incredibly refreshed. The beds, though twin-size, are incredibly comfy, and the A/C on low gives just enough coolness. We head out for breakfast to the House of Pancakes, a brisk walk and our first in Tobagos sunshine. Its lovely and warm- a far cry from the cold cloudiness we left behind in Boston! Service is slow at the House of Pancakes, and they are out of the buljol Id wanted to try, but the pancakes ARE heavenly! And were treated to our first visits from the ubiquitous bananaquits.

After breakfast, we stroll down to Store Bay beach just to survey the scene and have some coffee.

ktravers > We take a slip from Ray, a glass-bottom boat tour vendor- though weve no intention of taking a glass-bottom boat tour, we can now use our contact with Ray to fend off any other vendors. The beach looks lovely, and we tell the chair and umbrella vendor well be back after lunch. We wend our way back to the Toucan Inn (Karin buys a pareo along the way). Back at the Inn, we don swimsuits (and Karin her new pareo) and we pack up for a day at the beach- towels, sunscreen, books, and Gatorade. Yes, Gatorade. Tending to dehydrate a tad easily, and weve started to travel with powdered Gatorade. We mix up and drink 4 gallons worth while were there- works like a charm!

We head back down to Store Bay, where Vlad becomes unstoppable in his desire for a roti, early though it is. Miss Esmie, at her eponymous shop at Store Bay, is more than happy to accommodate. Vlad chows down a roti in the company of these hopeful kittens. Karin saves hers for later...

ktravers > After the roti, we head down to the beach, where the beach chair vendor is happy to accommodate us with chairs and umbrella, commenting, Ah, I see your tummies are full now!. (Having not yet partaken of HER roti, Karin takes issue with this!)

A perfect day at the beach ensues. We rent a noodle and take turns developing challenging ways of floating on it- the fun return on the absurdly small sum we rented the item for is astronomical. Caribs are drunk, dogs are petted, sunshine is soaked in.

Here, Vlad noodles around in the water, seen through a couple of rented beach chairs.

ktravers > After freshening up, were off to an early Valentines Day celebration- Karin is taking Vlad to the Arnos Vale Waterwheel restaurant, which is north, toward Plymouth. Ronald, our taxi driver, gives us commentary along the lovely 20 minute drive. After some time, we spot a series of buildings nestled and glowing in the forest- Ronald turns off the road- this is the place- a restaurant built on the site of an old sugar cane factory, with the waterwheel that drove the cane-crushing machinery still standing. Its an incredible place- ghostly and romantic at the same time. It was a disappointment to hear that there was no musical show that night (these usually occur on Friday nights), but the evening was gorgeous nonetheless.

ktravers > Cocktails on the deck overlooking the waterwheel and assorted decaying, otherworldly machinery are magical.

We take a slip from Ray, a glass-bottom boat tour vendor- though weve no intention of taking a glass-bottom boat tour, we can now use our contact with Ray to fend off any other vendors. The beach looks lovely, and we tell the chair and umbrella vendor well be back after lunch. We wend our way back to the Toucan Inn (Karin buys a pareo along the way). Back at the Inn, we don swimsuits (and Karin her new pareo) and we pack up for a day at the beach- towels, sunscreen, books, and Gatorade. Yes, Gatorade. Tending to dehydrate a tad easily, and weve started to travel with powdered Gatorade. We mix up and drink 4 gallons worth while were there- works like a charm!

We head back down to Store Bay, where Vlad becomes unstoppable in his desire for a roti, early though it is. Miss Esmie, at her eponymous shop at Store Bay, is more than happy to accommodate. Vlad chows down a roti in the company of these hopeful kittens. Karin saves hers for later...