My adventure began in MN. Predictions of heavy snow during my scheduled flight had me worried about missing my connecting flights to Trinidad...predictions reduced to some light snow...when I left my house there was no snow on the ground!!!
I got up at 2 am to leave at 2:30 for my 5 am flight to Miami. Then off to Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Met Saurel and Susan at the airport in Miami and boarded a full flight of people going to Carnival.

We arrived about 7 pm (2 hours ahead of Central time) with Susan's uncle Michael picking us up from the airport.  We got into the Carnival spirit with the steel band that was playing right outside the airport.

Steel band in the background

Costumed dancers at the airport

Stilt Walker. Need lots of balance to dance like this!

First thing out of the airport was the realization that Trinidad drives on the left side of the road! They put me in the front (driver's side) and it was a panicky feeling. As Uncle Micheal made those turns in the wrong direction I had to hold on tight!!   I noticed most roads in town are two lane roads(one lane each direction)-and very narrow. 

We arrived at Susan's aunt and uncle's house and got settled in and then it was time to go out on the town at 10:30. We headed to the Savanah Park- 199 acres with a large outdoor (covered) amphitheater among other things. Calypso Rose was performing which made Susan very excited because Calypso Rose gained her popularity during Susan's teen years. Calypso Rose is 76 years old and still preforming.  She just won France's equivalent to the Emmys for her new album.

Calypso Rose on stage

Then came Trinidad's equivalent to Michael Jackson...Machel Montano. He was there as a tribute to Calypso Rose. Fun to see...

Michel Montano

Walking out of the Amphitheater I noticed an extraordinary tree...a Boabob Tree.  We had a book I read to my kids about a Boabob Tree so had to have a photo!

Across the street was this impressive building from the colonial era. A government building.

We got home about 1:30 am and I fell into bed. With the exception of a few hour long catnaps on the plane, I had been up almost 24 hours.  I'm not the same person I was in college when I did this on a regular basis. No dogs barking or noise outside was going to keep me awake!