From Sweet Lime to Green Dragonflies

We eat our way through Port-of-Spain. Yesterday we had a pit-stop at a local caf'e/bar that seemed far off the beaten tourist path. Except for us, in the traditional tourist garb, shorts and cameras. We got a typically Caribbean response:Friendly! "Watch your wallets! First time here? First carneval? How do you like it?" We do like it! Especially the friendly, caring strangers we meet, all the time.
Today The Children's Carneval snaked it's way slowly through town. Brightly costumed kiddies, competing with the tropical birds with their crayon-colored clothing, feathers and paint. Lots of mini indians, birds and animals. Their little queens and kings had a lot of costume to carry. And the smallest got carried themselves. Some were high above us on impossibly lonnnnng stilts.

After a morning in down-town we take a hike over to Ariapita, the restaurant street. A lot of places are closed during carneval. But "Sweet Lime" is open, though with a slightly reduced menu. The blaring radio has the same Soca songs we hear each ride into town in the white-and-yellow maxi-taxi. Chicken and chips and pilau give us energy to carry on.
And, later, the Crown's pool gives us a relaxing rest. The guys have a pow-wow mid-pool, the gals sun themselves under the now overcast skies. The pool's bar isn't open, but no worry. We've shopped at the ("Drink and Drive"?) gas station: rum!
After a rum punch we're off to "Battimamzelle. This "art nouveau' decorated restaurant is part of the Coblenz Inn, up past the big Queen's Park Savannah, in a nice residential area. That's not far from the big plantation owner houses, the "Magnificent Seven". "Battimamzelle" is the local name for the bright, irredescent dragonfly.