Caves Bats and Lepers

Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Fri 3 Aug 2007 01:03
Before leaving Trinidad we decided  to visit the underground caves on Casper Grande, a small Island off Trinidad's west coast. Again it was arranged through Jesse James, he arranged a taxi from our marina to drive Yvonne and me with Chris and Tony from Waylander to a small dock where we were transported by boat to Casper Grande. We then had to walk maybe half a mile up hill to the entrance to the  caves. We then descend down a wooden staircase to an underground  sea level lake amongst stalagmites and tites and things. It was hot and humid work (how we suffer) so we cooled off in the saltwater lake. The local inhabitants you an see in the photo were clinging to the ceiling above our heads. Chris and Tony enjoy a swim too before returning up the stairs for a long walk back to the boat taxi.
 
The following day we checked out of customs preparing for our departure. The people of Trinidad and the country itself was very pleasant, the nicest country we have visited so far, and it was a shame to leave, but we think we may modify our plans to return sometime.
 
We left our Marina at 1000hrs with Waylander alongside, we decided to pay a visit to Chacachacare whilst still in Trinidad waters, despite having cleared out of the country. This island was a leper colony for many years  until a cure was found and in 1984 the lepers were moved to a hospital in Port of Spain for treatment. Its quite incredible to think that only 20 odd years ago this disease existed. The island had a doctors house, a nunnery, workshops and generators for electric, aswell as a village housing all the patients.
 
Walking through the undergrowth you an still see the houses and chapel  etc although everything has been looted now, but apparently years after one could walk through these houses and see them how they were left; as if someone said 'hey! found a cure, lets go!  plates and cutlery still on the tables or in the sink books on shelves, food in cupboards. It is such a beautiful island and anchorage as you can see but nothing has ever been done since the departure of the peoples. Nature just covering it over, very little now to see, no souvenirs of this place, just the odd finger or toe laying around the desolate buildings, (only joking).
 
Before leaving Trinidad waters completely we spent the following night in Scotland bay so we would have an easy 01.00hr departure for our sail to Los Testigos, our first taste of Venezuela. Adios Trinidad, we will return.
 
 

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