Travelin' Tuesday: Trinidad & Tobago

This trip was 20+ years in the making!

In Miami before flying to Port of Spain

My dad was born and raised on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and has always said that he would take my brother and I back to see where he grew up.  Every year he said we would go, and every year we came up with other trips that ended up trumping T&T until 2009 when I finally got the ball rolling.  We all had a substantial amount of airline miles, coupled with some credit I received for giving up my seats and we were able to book tickets on the cheap.

The trip got off to a rocky start when customs took longer than we expected and we missed our connecting flight from Trinidad to the smaller sister island of Tobago where my dad actually lived.  We killed time in the airport with some classic fried chicken (don't worry we did taste several island delicacies while we were there).

Once we finally made it to the island of Tobago it was dark and we were tired, but so excited that my dad's friend was putting us up at one of the island's beautiful hotels.

Welcome drinks at Coral Reef

Our time on Tobago was spent driving around and seeing first hand my dad's old stomping grounds.  I don't think I've seen my dad so proud to introduce his family to all of his friends and relatives that have never had to chance to meet my brother or me (Mom made a couple of trips to the islands back in the day).

That tree on the left was in front of my dad's home when he was growing up, now it's a doctor's office.

Coral Reef provided us with the tropical views you picture when thinking of an island in the Caribbean.  Granted it was more of a bay so we did have some rocks around the hotel to help with the waves.

Along with visiting dad's old friends, we made it to the higher point of Tobago and Fort King George which had some amazing views of the whole island.

While on the island we made sure to try some of the local favorites that dad grew up on including roti, conch & dumplings, and solo.

We spent a couple of days on the tail end of the trip back in Port of Spain, Trinidad at the Hyatt.

Our days in Trinidad were spent lounging by the pool, throwing back some island beer and enjoying one last meal as a family.

This trip produced memories that I will cherish forever.  There is nothing like seeing the joy on my father's face when he was reliving his youth.

Have you been on any vacations that have a connection to your family?