Toco

The North East most tip of the island, the area where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.  The point where you can stare as far as the horizon without the hint of land, making it look as though you’re alone in this world.  Even though the sister island of Tobago only lies 35 kilometers northeast of this point, you cannot see it from here.  Toco is the closest point from Trinidad to Tobago.

Yes the day started adventurous as we, having a week of schlepping our son to his science camp in the North Eastern town of D’Abadie, had nothing better to do with our time, than to tour the region and its beaches.  Our plan was not to bathe, but more to mark locations for later family visits.  So we travelled to local malls, shopping districts and yes, beaches where we have not been in over 20 years.  Today’s venture Toco, via Valencia.

The day started without an inkling of morning's promise, the mist, moist and tranquil with the notion of a shower, but alas the blaze of the sun showed its power over the other forces of nature.  A gentle kiss of the scent of tropical flowers, and fruit, yeah, it is the season of mangoes and they are everywhere.  The road long and winding, through many small villages, where you wonder if the natives travelled out much, as their lives proved to be a simple one.  Fishing, farming, owning a small shop of trinkets, or snackettes or a mini restaurant, seemed the order of business.  Then there was the occasional offering of a place to stay for a weekend, a week, etc.  Also of mention are the many bars along the route. 

 

We have befriended the smart phone app ‘waze’, and this app makes finding places so much easier as the streets of Trinidad and Tobago are installed.  The road surface is better than I expected.  Outside of the one area around the quarries where the heavy duty trucks are prevalent, everywhere else was smooth sailing.

 

In Toco there is a lighthouse which overlooks the Northeastern oceanic approach to the island.  This lighthouse built in 1897 is no longer in use, but it is a historic site and the grounds are well upkept.  This area is referred to as ‘Punta Galera’ (now Galera Point).  Galera is derived from the word ‘galea’, the name ‘Galeota Point’ (Galeota also derived from Galea) was given to the southeastern point of the island by Christopher Columbus, this name was accidentally given to the northern point as well and the name stuck.

In the old days there were no roads connecting Toco to the rest of the island, instead in 1818 Toco was accessed via the round island steamer service which was started by Governor Ralph Woodford.  This service allowed trade of goods and cocoa (one of the main products of the region).  The first roads were built to this area by 1930, linking the area to Sangre Grande.  Toco is the home of the 2012 Olympic Gold javelin winner Keshorn Walcott.

After our long almost two hour drive we have arrived.  We are greeted by many food vendors along the beach.  We chatted with one of the native “Sonia”, she had a welcoming and delightful personality.  She showed us an area that she referred to as the swimming pool, where the water was calm, and the waves broke further out to sea and the deepest area was lower than shoulder height.  We stood and soaked up the view of the coconut and local almond trees along the beach front.  Against our faces a gentle sea breeze, the waves lapping at the delight of the northeasterly trade winds, the beauty of God's creation for us all to see, smell, play in and digest.  The beauty of a small land, an island, southerly lying just above the coast of Venezuela, rich in natural resources with a diverse culture and people.  A land that I call ‘home’.

Road view of the ocean

  A beach along the way

Are we there yet?

On the way

The breeze

Calmness of Toco swimming pool

Different exposure of beach

Macro view of coral

Thought it was a nice cloud

Fishing village indeed

Lighthouse view

From the lighthouse, spray

These birds posed for me

Bridge only allowing one car at a time

© 2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited.