VENEZUELA and T&T 2009

Today at the Halfway House it was Daniel's third birthday, so we celebrated with a little party of cupcakes and treats, and all the children got very hyper, and consequently very grouchy thanks to the E numbers... But as usual, it was a really fun day - we have been enjoying working there so much. It's so satisfying, getting to know the children's personalities (even the babies'!) and them getting to know us. Some of the newer arrivals, like the very precious Sade (who is about two, and seems to have the most perfectly self-sufficient interior life..), are really coming out of their shells too, which is lovely. Our last day there keeps being delayed! I think we are getting quite attached to the kids.

We've been doing a lot of sightseeing and shopping in Port of Spain both after work and on our days off. Last week we went to Emperor Valley Zoo, which brought back lots of childhood memories for me, and saw lots of indigenous animals. The highlight is always the birds - vibrant scarlet ibises (the national bird), adorable rows of screech owls, brightly coloured toucans, and huge, technicolour macaws that look even more unreal 'in person' than they do on postcards. After that, we wandered over into the fabulous botanical gardens for a late afternoon stroll, and then walked around the Queen's Park Savannah (the huuuuuge grasy park in the middle of the city, where all kinds of sports are played). As we walked back to the office, we took the chance to see the Magnificent Seven - a whimsically random collection of old houses, our favourites being the 'gingerbread' ones, with their faded paint and delicate white lattice woodwork.

We've also gone downtown Port of Spain a couple of times - our first visit took in a lot of the colonial architecture, like the Tim Burton-esque Lapeyrouse Cemetery, full of spindly family mausoleums, and then beautiful Woodford Square and the grand British-built Red House, the main seat of the government. This was even more exciting for me, since I am just reading V.S. Naipaul's memories of working there as a boy! And there has been a lot of shopping, taking advantage of all the great fruit stalls and rasta crafts, plus one pound pirate dvds! (We know own the 6th 'Harry Potter' already, despite having also seen it twice in the cinema on this holiday alone....) And when we are at Mary's for the day, we have just been enjoying patronising our 'local' coffee shop (we have one already).

On Saturday, we went with Aunty and Uncle down the islands again, for a big group event on Gaspar Grande. For the boat trip over, the rain was torrential - we have also been enjoying some really dramatic rain this week, loving the deafening sound of water on the roof and the breeze through the house; unlike in England, it is always followed by brilliant sunshine. Luckily we had some of that sun on Gaspar Grande, so the afternoon was spent sunbathing and swimming in the lovely, warm sea, going out far enough to admire pelicans up close. Alice is proud to report that she actually has (faint) tan marks! That night we went for a little party at Caribs Rugby Club, where we had some great food (of course..) and met lots of lovely and hilarious people! And on the Sunday we went down to the south of Trinidad to visit some more of my family - the Farmers - and had (surprise surprise) even MORE nice food and conversation.

Lots of love, Hannah and Alice