In 1498, a three ship expedition led by a driven promoter on his
third voyage into the West's
uncharted waters came to this enchanted gateway island a mere seven miles or
11 kilometers off the coast of
South America. Christopher Columbus, a passionate and religious explorer, upon viewing
island's three peaks now known as the "The Three Sisters" caused him to name the
island Trinidad in honor of 
the Blessed Trinity.
more 
Trinidad was ruled liberally by the Spanish whose
early settlers were primarily French planters and their slaves who had emigrated from
other Caribbean islands. As in New Orleans, the French introduced Carnival and many other
social customs to the island. The Spanish Crown's most important Governor (from 1784 to
1797) was Don José Maria Chacon, a multilingual Spaniard with a black mistress and
mulatto children was most responsible for the British colonizing Trinidad. Chacon executed
a well negotiated surrender preceded by a weak fight with the British. Apparently, he felt
abandoned by the Spanish and trusted the British more than the French whom he called
"treacherous friends." The British followed their 1797 Trinidad
appropriation with an unopposed takeover of the nearby Tobago from the French in 1803.
Slavery was abolished in 1833 by the British Parliament. By mid-century, the island's
already cosmopolitan mix turned to India to find cheap labor for the islands main product,
the labor intensive sugar cane crop. Unlike the former slaves, the East Indians, as
indentured servants, were allowed to keep their customs which included religious festivals
with drumming, dancing and processions. Today the cultural mix of Trinidad is described
as: 40% black, 40% East Indian, and 20% other, but all identify themselves first as
"Trinis" or trinidadian. Trinidad's sister island, Tobago, was named in 1502
for the tobacco the local Carib Indians smoked. Merged by the British into the main island
in 1889 when its limited, typical West Indian plantation economy struggled, Tobago is said
to be the self-contained Caribbean paradise described by Robinson Crusoe. Discovery of
Tobago's unspoiled classic island beauty is accelerating these days being led by
increasing European interest. The soothing natural rhythms of Tobago's seaside economy are
the much sought after tonic for the cosmopolitan frenzy of Port of Spain, particularly
following Carnival. Unlike other Caribbean islands, Trinidad is blessed
with many natural resources. The island's prior ancient status as part of the mainland
means it shares substantial marine oil and gas reserves with its neighbor Venezuela and
the 1970's oil boom wealth transformed T&T into democratically middle class nation.
Yet the resource most highly valued in Trinidad is its people who often emigrate to take
advantage of their education and skills. Every year, Trinidad with less than 2000 hotel
rooms, will host tens of thousands of returning natives for the great Carnival and family
reunions.The resulting friendly celebratory atmosphere is most infectious
| and the positive energy will vibrate in you year-round if you let the spirit move you. The majestic crown of world's greatest Carnival must be won anew each year by all citizens in an incredible eruption of creativity, performance and revelry. |  |
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