Tobago divin' & drivin'

So far, we really like this island and its people.  Not so much the curvy narrow roads and long distances we have to drive on them.  The guesthouse I chose for us is 14 miles from the dive shop and pier.  That doesn't sound like much for the US, but it takes us an HOUR to drive there.  Steve has been a dear to tackle this every day that we've dove, as I can sit and read.  I found this actually helps keep me calm, so that I don't watch the road and wince every time we come within inches of the rock face or cement barriers (keeping us from sliding off the cliff).

I've found that I just haven't taken nearly as many pictures on this island, as previous ones.  This is probably because the topography is similar to others (volcanic peaks and valleys covered in rainforest) and the tight curves don't allow pictures on the fly, nor stopping for scenic overlooks.

Sunrise from our apartment deck

The drivers here are quite interesting.  Oncoming cars all seem to want their 2/3 of the road, and don't dare come as close to road edges as Steve does.  It's common to have a car stopped in the driving lane (there are no shoulders) picking up a pedestrian, and it seems to occur frequently around blind corners!  Other cars are just parked in the lane, as the driver sits and visits with friends on the street, or runs into the mini-mart for something.  To pass the stopped car, you have to wait for oncoming traffic to go by, then move fast before your window of opportunity closes with a truck barreling at you spewing black exhaust.

A Jacobin

The hummingbird feeder at the dive shop provided fascinating diversions while waiting between dives.

Ruby-topaz hummingbird

That picture above isn't great on focus, but it showed the gorgeous iridescent colors of the cap and throat.  Those little guys were really skittish and fast, and I was quite lucky to get that shot. 

Red-billed tropicbird

We went hiking on an uninhabited island named Little Tobago, where there is one of the largest nesting colonies of tropicbirds in the world.  We were lucky to be able to walk right up to a couple of nests.  It was very interesting that in one, the "chick" was the size of the mother, but didn't have the red bill yet, and the nest right next to it, had a fluffball of a chick.

The diving has been really good, but I haven't taken many pictures, as the current makes it difficult sometimes, and the little critters I'm becoming more interested in are quite challenging to get to hold still ;-)

juvenile Queen Angelfish

One of a pair of octopi wedged under a coral head

Blennies are tiny fish (1 inch long) that live in holes in coral, and stretch out to grab passing stuff in the current.

Bye!