Celebration

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 1 Aug 2009 22:19
 
Emancipation Celebration Parade - Part One
 
 
Saturday dawned bright and beautiful for the Bank Holiday in honour of freedom. Pam and Jim from Delicado, Pete from Troutbridge and us got on a maxi-taxi, a mini-bus, for the 50p per person journey from Chaguaramus to the capital Port of Spain. This journey takes over half an hour in good traffic and we could not believe the price of the fare. As soon as we got off the bus we could see the back end of the parade, met up with Uncle Sam the Varnish Man, who promised to find us transport when we needed to get back as the bus service was taking the rest of the day off and most ordinary taxis would be too busy celebrating.
 
 
 
   
 
 
Time to catch a few minutes sit down before the long walk in the sun, off to find the rest and a few last minute adjustments
 
 
 
 
Even Egypt was represented
 
 
 
 
 
It seemed like every village in Africa was represented
 
 
 
 
 
But all the more stunning when we saw groups together in beautiful outfits
 
 
 
 
A very different way for us to see Customs and Excise
 
 
   
 
 
A stately gentleman and a couple of lovely ladies I stopped to chat to
 
 
 
 
The real deal
 
 
   
 
 
A Beez t-shirt, a lady I danced with and the tallest hat. Considering we were in the 0.00000000001% we were made truly welcome. Everyone got on with enjoying the day and at no point did we feel like we should not be there, uncomfortable or part of the day. Everyone was happy to pose for pictures and when I was bopping a lady asked me where I was from and welcomed me to Trinidad. As a group we got mentioned on one of the trucks and we were clapped.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
We walked past the Prison, the Cathedral and the Mosque - places to explore when we return in September
 
 
   
 
 
St Mary's College, the UK trained GP and the Dentists where you have to Beware of the Dog - there must be a story in there somewhere.
 
 
   
 
 
A jolly dancer,  we were all singing along with the disco truck
 
 
   
 
 
One of the stilt walkers had to stop for dad to do some minor adjustments. The rest took the opportunity for a sit down. Dad and the final knot.