Monday, November 27, 1995 - Trinidad

This was an exciting day for Trinidad. The ceremonial opening of the new Parliament occurred this morning. I was downtown and could have seen the whole thing, but I didn't know what was going on until I heard a newscast while I was riding a bus, so I missed it. All I got to see were the traffic police, spiffy in new uniforms with white jackets, black trousers, and black leather belts. They looked quite impressive. I rode a bus to Diego Martin to see what was there. Went all the way to the end of the line. Then I got off and walked around. Found a museum that had been a plantation house in the 19th century. The plantation comprised 1659 acres and raised sugar cane. There was a large waterwheel that turned the machinery to grind the cane. Then a blight hit the cane crop, so the plantation turned to raising cocoa and no longer needed the wheel. The waterwheel is still there but is decaying. Spent the rest of the day walking around in Port-of-Spain trying to find a birthday present for Roy but not succeeding. Roy painted the mizzen mast. It looks gorgeous. My bargain permanent didn't take. I'll have to have it redone when I get back to California.