Tobago

Early rise this morning as the ferry leaves at 6:30 and you need to be at the ferry terminal two hours before, hang on this is a boat not an aeroplane.

Any how taxi to the ferry terminal for 4:30, as must do as told, arrived and hardly anyone around, checked in like you do at the airport then went to find breakfast, everything closed. Not happy.

Walked to the breakfast shed which is about 200 metre along the road. They were cooking but still not open. Upon getting back to the ferry terminal a small portable cafe had just opened up so I grabbed a cheese roll, coffee and some nibbles.

It's 5am and it is getting a little busier. 5:30 still no movement in the seated area. Why did I get here an hour ago?

The gate opened and people moved towards the stairs then everyone stopped. So I stayed in my seat.

What was happening was everyone was going up the stairs and going though airport X-ray security. It's a ferry!

My turn, stood in line an got approached by security, sorry sir you can not take large bags in board.   So I checked in my ruck sack. Queued again, approached by security once again....  You bag needs to go to check in, huh!  I have all my valuables and equipment in this bag, no sorry can not take it in board. So I took out my laptop, and equipment and my all important  passport and finally checked in my hand luggage.  Hang on this is a ferry not a plane, so what is this all about?

Got through security and in to another waiting lounge all divide in to sections.  Sat down and waiting.

Then all of a sudden a loud bellowing voice like a Sargent major called out, "Listen up everyone, you WILL follow procedures, you WILL listen to me, an you WILL follow all the rules. We all be going in sections. Section 1 please stand, everyone not in section  one SIT".  At this point I moved from section 8 to section 6 while Sargent major was facing the other way.   Hang in it's a ferry, what is all this about?

Short walk on the the ferry and I found my seat, lots of space available.   The seats recline so a snooze is in order.

Last night while liming Cedric met an old school friend and after chatting for a while he asked where I was staying on Tobago?  Of course I had not booked anything yet, he said one minute and after a short phone call he said you can stay with Yoland Trim at Crown Point and her number is 788-3610, okay I said. The Cedric said I'll get chubby (mobile number 768-3377)  to collect you from the ferry terminal. So all sorted for Tobago.

Time for a snooze before my relaxing few days on Tobago.

Woke to people throwing up for the test of the three hour sailing, so I put my headphones on a settled back down again.

Finally arrived at Tobago joined the queues to get off the ship and collected my bags. Then another queue, wtf, this is a ferry port and Tobago is the same country as Trinidad right?  Security check, everyone had to line up as if we were criminals, they asked for my ID, I gave them my driving license as it was in my pocket. Then another guard asked to see my passport, he look though my larger than normal passport, with so many stamps inside he could not find the entry stamp to Trinidad. Final he did. Then a sniffer dog checked everyone's bags and finally they let us go.

Next was to meet Chubby at KFC, I went along the line that I'm the only white man here so I expected he'll find me first. I was right, he drove me to the guest house and I checked in. I did not know how much the room was going to cost, room is really more like a small apartment, kitchen, fridge, bathroom, table, all the mod cons. But no wifi, how will I cope?  She said it would cost $625 Trinidad dollars, so quite reasonable compared to the prices I had been looking at on the Internet.

Next stop the beach, and I've been told I will be hassled and offer trip here there and everywhere.

Hum, cafe latte blended with ice nice for a hot sunny day, just what I need before heading to the beach.

There is something missing...!  Jody...!  She should be here enjoying this with me. We'll have to get her work life balance sorted when we get back.

It's funny that with all travelling the actual travelling and the journey to your location can be really bad, apprehensive and even worrying when you are in the mist of it all. Going in to the unknown, not having a plan, just going along seeing what happens and comes your way. But then you arrive at your destination and the journey you had, no matter how bad it was it all goes away like a cloud blowing away in the wind. Such is travelling.

So Jody when we going on our next journey together?