Englishman's Bay

Monday 11 Jan 2016

Tobago - Castara

The bird-watching starts early here! Out on the balcony not long after seven this morning.  The usual suspects were already flitting around. Whilst the Mot Mot is perhaps the most spectacular, the Antshrike comes a close second. The male is speckled black and white all over whikst the female is almost russet coloured, both have a crest on their heads.

Following a leisurely breakfast, we grabbed the snorkelling gear, a cool box and swimming towels and headed to the car. We drove about three kilometres to the turn off for Englishman's bay, a rather muddy bumpy dirt track heading through the trees. At the small car park at the end of the track is Eula's as small beach restaurant, a souvenir shop (actually a shack constructed oh corrugated iron) and a man selling ice-cream from the back of his car.

The beach, just beyond the car park is beautiful and shaded by palm trees. We were surprised to discover how much swell there was pushing waves well up the beach. The beach clearly shelved rapidly down into the water. We walked along the beach almost to the end on the left-hand side where a small stream empties into the sea. Even here in the sheltered corner the swell up,the beach was significant.

After watching the waves for a while, we gave up and settled down to relax and read. For much of the  morning, we were the only people on the beach. Later, the sea seemed to calm down a little and I ventured out in snorkelling gear. Sadly, the underwater visibility was poor, so I gave up after about10 minutes. There were a few other people swimming, but getting out of the water was difficult due an undertow as the waves went out.

We stayed on the beach for a while longer and at around 1330, we packed up and took all our kit back to the car. We visited Eula's the other day for a beer, but chose to eat there today. It's a simple formula. Read the menu from the chalk board, tell the chef, grab a beer from the giant cool box and head upstairs to the dining area which, though roofed, is open to the elements. We both had sautéed shrimps, which I'd have called prawns. Lynn had hers with rice and salad whikst I had mine with roti, curried potatoes and lentils. Roti is a very thin flatbread or pancake made from flour and ground lentils. It is ideal for mopping up the sauce after you finish eating. Another delicious meal in a fpgreat location  for little more than £7 per head.

After dinner, we returned to Castara and bought some more salad items and then returned to our eyrie overlooking the village. We have new neighbour's in the apartment next to ours, two girl who I think are Dutch. We have spoken to them but not established exactly what nationality they are.

We had a lazy afternoon, only venturing out for an ice-cream fix and a resupply of Stag beer. Later, after sunset, we had a light supper of Salad with either sardines or corned beef. We know how to live it up here in Tobago.

We added another bird to our sightings,Brown Boobies, no smirking please, these boobies are expert at fishing, diving into the water from a great height. Just for the record, topless is frowned upon here. In bars, shops and restaurants there are big signs saying 'No Barebacking'! This to discourage men from entering without a shirt on. It's also illegal to drive without a shirt on here. Who say I don't provide useful tourist information!