Our Tobago Villa

...a great place to unwind Caribbean style

Minutes after landing at Crown Point Airport, we were at our Tobago villa, one of a group of similar villas, each separately owned and sitting in an enchanting tropical garden. Our idyllic Tobago villa came complete with three beautifully decorated air-conditioned bedrooms, a wonderful cook and a private pool.

 Voyage of Discovery 

This was definitely a great way to start what promises to be a very Caribbean vacation.

The first order of business after unpacking was to find a beach, and what luck, we were in walking distance of two of the best beaches in Tobago (pronounced To-bay-go). Obviously, being that close to the beach we donned bathing suits, jumped into your rental car and set off with towels in hand. Oh well, so much for a healthy walk. It's hot here, so I guess we had a valid excuse.

 Perfect Pigeon Point 

Moments later we are at Pigeon Point Beach, a picture postcard, white sand beach with calm, clear, aqua-blue waters.

After parking, we could not contain our eagerness to explore this beautiful Tobago beach. Pigeon Point is simply ideal for taking great Tobago beach photos, and long romantic walks. We even found a group of small gift shops tucked away between the coconut trees.

With the beach fully mapped and charted, it was time to take a little sun (Trini lingo for "suntan"). We purchased a couple of drinks that screamed tropical vacation, grabbed two beach chairs, selected a quite spot on the beach, rubbed on the required amounts of suntan and lay down.

This is what we had been waiting for, the opportunity to unwind in the sun and swim in the clear blue Caribbean Sea.

 Evening at your Tobago Villa 

As the day faded into warm tropical evening we returned to our Tobago villa, there to be greeted with a home-cooked meal. (Before leaving for the beach, we'd requested curry crab and dumplings, a Trinidad and Tobago delicacy, for our first meal.) It's so good to have someone else do all the cooking and cleaning while you're on vacation.

Evening is such a special time in the Caribbean. Sitting in the veranda, dining al fresco, a warm tropical breeze caressing our faces, drink in hand and feet up, we felt like a million bucks. There was no need to dress for dinner at our private villa.

 Important Guest 

Later that evening, we were startled by a cacophony of crowing and flapping sounds. A Cocorico was attempting to perch on the hedge close to the veranda. This comical, chicken-sized bird, with a bright red wattle, reeled drunkenly when the hedge gave way under its weight - of course, there was a wild dash to locate our cameras.

While a common enough bird in the forests across Tobago, it is not as common for a Cocorico to introduce itself to visitors in this way. So, after being welcomed in such a manner by the national bird of Tobago, we felt free to consider ourselves Tobagonians from that point on.

 Life is Good in Tobago 

The following day it rained. We had planned to visit Store Bay - but no matter. Every day is great day to be in Tobago. It's always warm on this tropical isle, even when it rains. As a result we played a game of "catch" in the pool, enjoying gigantic tropical raindrops as they erupted on the surface of the water. Later, we took cooking lessons from our charming cook as she prepared another delicious Trinidad and Tobago recipe.

Even during the rainy season, we still had spectacularly sunny days. With Trade Winds forever encouraging the clouds onward, showers don't last long here, and they are usually followed by bright, crisp skies when the world looks like if it has been scrubbed clean, especially for you.

 Afternoon Adventures 

On such sparkling afternoons, what better to do than to take a drive around this enchanting island? We jumped into our rental car, left our Tobago villa behind and set off into the wild blue yonder with our trusty map in hand.

If you're not as adventurous, then you can hire a taxi to show you the island's highlights. My husband's granddad always said, "if you want to learn about the place you're visiting, take a taxi" - the very best Tobago Tourist Guides.

Our Tobago villa ruled! We've returned again and again for aditional Tobago vacations. On one very romantic beach vacation my darling husband proposed; on another, we enjoyed a short Tobago honeymoon. To us Tobago is and integral part of our Amazing Trinidad and Tobago Vacation experience, like dessert after the main course.