The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) is made up of two islands off the coast of Venezuela, Grenada and the Lesser Antilles. The combined area of the two islands and numerous smaller landforms is 1,980 square miles. While T&T is a fabulous tourist destination, its primary industry is in petroleum and petrochemicals. Vacationers and job seekers alike are always on the lookout for vacancies in Trinidad and Tobago.
Part of the nation's appeal as a vacation spot is its tropical climate. Basically, there are two seasons here; a long, hot summer lasting six months and a six-month autumn of rain. Another feather in its cap is the fact that T&T lie outside what is referred to as the hurricane belt. This is a section of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean that are battered each year by hurricanes from June through November. Trinidad, the big island, is a rectangular piece of land with a thick tail in the southwestern corner that points in the direction of Venezuela.
Trinidad itself occupies 1,800 square miles. The pointy end of the tail comes within a few miles of the South American east coast. Christopher Columbus, the Catholic, Spanish explorer, named the island for the Holy Trinity. Prior to that, it is unclear whether it was named after the hummingbird, or if its name, derived from the Arawak language, just meant "island."
The main cultural event on the islands is the Carnival. This is a two-day festival held the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday each year. Brilliantly colorful and more than a little bit racey, it serves as a get-it-all-out-of-yer-system party before the 40-day period of abstinence of Lent. A major tourist attraction, Carnival is two full days of parades, costumes, music and dancing. The precursor to Carnival, Canboulay, was the birthplace of calypso music. Today, soca has become very popular at Carnival, too.
Calypso music originated in T&T and dates back to the 1600s. It was heavily influenced by West African kaiso and the arrival of slaves from the French Antilles. Soca, on the other hand, uses instruments from the subcontinent of India and is affectionately referred to as "chutney music."
It was the French who brought Carnival to the islands, but they prohibited their slave population from partaking in the festivities. In the spirit of grace, the slaves started their own party and called it Canboulay.
The British authorities got involved and tried at first to ban the weapons the gangs used, mainly sticks and torches. When this did not quell the violence, they banned the festivities outright. This riled the ordinary citizens, who loved the Canboulay and were not that worried about the fighting.
The authorities finally wrenched control and a gentler version of the Canboulay emerged and this is what is celebrated today. It is still a spectacle to behold and well worth looking for vacancies in Trinidad and Tobago.
Part of the nation's appeal as a vacation spot is its tropical climate. Basically, there are two seasons here; a long, hot summer lasting six months and a six-month autumn of rain. Another feather in its cap is the fact that T&T lie outside what is referred to as the hurricane belt. This is a section of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean that are battered each year by hurricanes from June through November. Trinidad, the big island, is a rectangular piece of land with a thick tail in the southwestern corner that points in the direction of Venezuela.
Trinidad itself occupies 1,800 square miles. The pointy end of the tail comes within a few miles of the South American east coast. Christopher Columbus, the Catholic, Spanish explorer, named the island for the Holy Trinity. Prior to that, it is unclear whether it was named after the hummingbird, or if its name, derived from the Arawak language, just meant "island."
The main cultural event on the islands is the Carnival. This is a two-day festival held the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday each year. Brilliantly colorful and more than a little bit racey, it serves as a get-it-all-out-of-yer-system party before the 40-day period of abstinence of Lent. A major tourist attraction, Carnival is two full days of parades, costumes, music and dancing. The precursor to Carnival, Canboulay, was the birthplace of calypso music. Today, soca has become very popular at Carnival, too.
Calypso music originated in T&T and dates back to the 1600s. It was heavily influenced by West African kaiso and the arrival of slaves from the French Antilles. Soca, on the other hand, uses instruments from the subcontinent of India and is affectionately referred to as "chutney music."
It was the French who brought Carnival to the islands, but they prohibited their slave population from partaking in the festivities. In the spirit of grace, the slaves started their own party and called it Canboulay.
The British authorities got involved and tried at first to ban the weapons the gangs used, mainly sticks and torches. When this did not quell the violence, they banned the festivities outright. This riled the ordinary citizens, who loved the Canboulay and were not that worried about the fighting.
The authorities finally wrenched control and a gentler version of the Canboulay emerged and this is what is celebrated today. It is still a spectacle to behold and well worth looking for vacancies in Trinidad and Tobago.
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