Trinidad: Carnival Fever

A city that transforms itself during Carnival, where the streets pulse with soca rhythms and the air carries the scent of the warm tropics. Port of Spain doesn't just host a celebration- it becomes one. Julia finds herself swept into this whirlwind of colour and sound, carried by the current of celebration and immersed in a vibrant atmosphere that is unmatched.

CURRENT COORDINATES

From the moment the sun rises, the energy is palpable. The streets are alive with vendors setting up stalls, the smell of fresh doubles wafting through the air, and steelpan bands rehearsing in the distance. Locals move with intention, securing last-minute costume adjustments, while first-time visitors try to take it all in. There's a certain magic in the morning light, a brief stillness before the storm of festivities takes over.

As the day progresses, the revelry intensifies. Masqueraders take to the streets in elaborate costumes, drenched in glitter and sweat, moving in sync with the booming basslines of soca. The concept of time bends, morning blends into afternoon, which stretches into evening, and still, the feteing (the nonstop partying that defines Carnival) continues. Julia dances alongside strangers who, for these fleeting days, feel like family. Every road becomes a stage, every moment a spectacle of joy.

LIQUID MOMENTS THAT CAPTURE TIME

FETE FUEL

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Julia Gin

• 0.75 oz fresh lime juice

• 0.5 oz honey syrup

• Small piece of fresh ginger, muddled

• Splash of Angostura bitters

• Soda water

• Ice

Method:

1. Muddle ginger in a shaker

2. Add Julia Gin, lime juice, honey syrup, and ice

3. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass with fresh ice

4. Add a dash of Angostura bitters

5. Top with soda water and stir gently

6. Garnish with a lime wedge and a piece of crystallised ginger

THE AVENUE AT DARK

When night falls, the city's energy shifts. Ariapita Avenue, simply "The Avenue" to locals, becomes the heartbeat of Trinidad's Carnival. Here, at Fitt St. Bar, Julia joins the flow of Carnival-goers fresh from fetes, their bodies still vibrating with the energy of the day's celebrations. The music keeps playing, and every new drink is another chance to make memories.

Not far off, at Frankie's Bar, laughter flows as freely as the cold beers. Locals and visitors alike crack open bottles of Carib and Stag, while others sip on Puncheon or mix their favourite flavour of White Oak rum. For many, this is a rite of passage, the place you stop by on your Carnival journey to meet old friends, make new ones, and recount the day's madness. But if Julia wants to really feel the roots of the culture, she heads to Smokey and Bunty, a place where generations of Trinis have gathered to "lime" (hang out, relax, and enjoy good company). It's not just a bar; it's a landmark in Port of Spain, the kind of place where you feel the pulse of Trinidad's history in every conversation.

CARNIVAL'S LASTING EMBRACE

Trinidad's Carnival isn't just something you experience, it's something that becomes part of you. The music may stop, but the rhythm stays with you. And as Julia leaves, she knows one thing for certain: she'll be back. Because once Carnival calls, you always return. 

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ESSENTIAL COORDINATES:

• Dexstar's Sports Bar & Lounge

• Fitt St. Bar

• Frankie's Bar

• Smokey and Bunty

  
  

FOR AUTHENTIC FLAVOURS: 

• Queen's Park Savannah Vendors - The essential street food experience during Carnival

• El Pecos Grill - Buffet-style food that reminds you of your auntie's cooking