December 18 – Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
The island country of “Republic of Trinidad and Tobago” is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean that was inhabited by indigenous peoples until it became a Spanish colony in 1498 – the country obtained independence in 1962 and became a republic in 1976. Port of Spain is the capitol of Trinidad and Tobago.
Here is our Blog entry for the day:
We had a tour today of the Anogostura rum distillery and drive around the city. We got to the rum distillery which was close by and got met up by one of the tour guides there who took us into the bottling part of the distillery so we could see how that’s all done. Then we went in a museum and saw the butterfly collection of the person who started it all the then into the whole Angogostura rum museum where the guide it explained everything that let up to the distillery being what it is today. We found it pretty boring and wayyy too long. At the end we went to a gift shop and got some little bottles of various rums and bitters as free samples. Next we drove to a botanical garden which was next door to where the president lives and works. The we drove high up top to get some great photos of the port.
Then it was back to the ship for more trivia (We won! yay!) and then dinner. There was no show tonight but they were showing “Christmas Vacation” which is always funny so Adam, David, and Cindy went to that while Susan tried her luck (but had none) in the casino.
Part of the ‘bus tour’ of the distillery 
More of the Bus tour – this is where they assemble and casks 
Off the bus and walking for the next part of the tour – no cameras allowed in the bottling area 
More of the distillery tour 
Some of the products created here 
When the queen came to tour the distillery – they had to create a private restroom for her – the red door is it – she never used it!
After the tour, they took us to the Museum that covers the history of the distillery and some of the local history. The tour guide knew a TON of history about this area but we found it to be a bit too much information – so we wandered around…
Queen Elizabeth came to the distillery and here is her official appointment plaque 
Susan with a cannon in the museum 
Adam and Susan with the Angostura Museum canon 
David having some fun with the cannon 
Butterflies in the Butterfly museum 
More Butterflies 
Cindy in the Butterfly museum 
David and Cindy at the Angostura Museum 
David and Cindy goofing off with the cannon in the museum
After the museum then we went to the gift shop…
Distillery gift shop 
More of the Distillery gift shop 
The line to purchase items at the gift shop
Then our tour was finished – so we boarded our bus and went on a small tour of the city and a stop at the Botanical Gardens.
Our guide pointing out the rainbow birch 
Cindy at the Botanical Gardens 
The gardens were right next to the President’s house and office – while we were boarding our bus to leave, she came by with her motorcade but we were not able to get photos because it happened so fast!
The President’s house – they have an official looking ‘changing of the guard’ that we just missed photographing 
Another view of the President’s house
Then we drove around and saw some of the local architecture:
An example of some of the architecture in the area 
More architecture – this was a college 
More local architecture 
National Academy of Performing arts – fashioned after the Opera House in Australia
The final part of the tour was a drive up to a high vantage point to see the city from above – it was pretty nice to see!
Then it was time to return to the ship and get ready for sail-away.
Ahead is more Sea-days — another 2 full days in the Atlantic Ocean and then a full day in the Amazon River – before our first stop in the Amazon.