I'm writing (starting) this blog from the Buccaneer Restaurant on Grafton Beach in Tobago (see pic of how close my table is to the water). I just returned from my 8th trip to Trinidad & 4th trip to Tobago. And as always, it was an incredible trip. Some things the same, some things new. But, all amazing. Obviously, the islands are beautiful (Tobago = Paradise), the food is good, the Carib (Caribbean Beer) is great, but most importantly, in my opinion, the people are terrific and the hospitality is second to none.
I enjoy catching up with the Digicel Pro League visionary and leader Dexter Skeene who is doing an amazing job of building the Pro League into the premier league of the Caribbean. He's a passionate, strong leader who is doing great work in T&T. I arrive on the late flight (get in @ 11:30pm Atlantic time, two hours ahead of Dallas) and for the first time in my travels, there's no other flights landing at the same time so I get through Immigration and Customs in literally 1 minute. Doesn't hurt that I had the First Class Upgrade on AA (thanks, AA)...
I check into the Hyatt Regency (my home away from home in Port of Spain) and hang outside for a couple hours doing work on their outside deck on the ocean (wired from flight and can't sleep plus body thinks it's two hours earlier). I get a few hours of sleep in a great room overlooking the ocean.
Then, first meeting of the day in POS before jumping on a plane to Tobago. It’s a quick 15 minute flight on Caribbean Airlines (nice new plane) and Tobago Meetings get started. I meet with different Football leaders and government/business leaders on the island before checking into the Grafton Beach Resort. Good view from the Hotel which is an open air hotel with open lobby, bar & restaurant, nice looking pool with a bar in the pool (although I did not have a chance to enjoy the water).
At night we have a Dinner Meeting at the really cool open air restaurant on a hill that is surrounded by villa's. While I almost always have fish and seafood in Tobago, I go with the steak and a local soup callaloo which is really good. The food in T&T always has amazing spices. Dinner meeting ends at midnight and we have a carib at the bar before calling it a night. I get to my room and open the sliding glass doors and enjoy the waves crashing and ocean breeze. Needless to say, I get an incredible night of sleep.
Next morning, I have a chance to catch up on PMI Biz at the hotel lobby before I go to the Buccaneer for lunch. Literally, 10 feet from where the waves are crashing. I have a carib beer (not normally for lunch but I'm working at a beach so it would be rude not to) and grilled tuna (fresh caught right before I sat down). The Tuna is grilled with a blend of spices. Really good.
I meet with a few Tobago leaders before heading back to Port of Spain. In Port of Spain, I check back into the Hyatt and meet with Digicel Pro League leaders, a good meeting, followed by dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant at the Hyatt. Nice restaurant. I had a great shrimp with pineapple appetizer and grilled tilapia for dinner. Once again, incredible spices on the tilapia and I had a side of fried plantains with a carib to wash it all down. And they bring Indian flat bread that is grilled with different dipping sauces. Too good...
Got back to the hotel room, caught up on emails then crashed for a 4am AT wake-up call. True to form, in the title of this blog, Paradise never gets old... Until next time, T&T.
Thanks for checking in. Safe travels.
Sincerely,
Hitch
