5) This is the Stolemeyer's Castle. It is right on the Savannah, and is part of the "Magnificent Seven," seven old mansions that line the west side of the Savannah. Others can be seen on the Week 5 page.
6) This is the Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove panyard. The arranger for Phase II is world reknown pannist Boogsie Sharpe, who recently nearly died and underwent emergency surgery. When Boogsie took us to his panyard, members of the broadcast media just happened to be there to get shots of him in the yard to air in between bands during the Finals coverage. Phase II is, I think, Exodus's primary concern going into Finals. His band is motivated. They nearly lost their leader (permanently) and were delayed in their preparation for Panorama, but climbed rapidly between preliminaries and semi-finals.
7. And this is Boogsie Sharpe. I'd just met at his home only an hour before, but we have many mutual friends, and there is, of course, something of a brotherhood among panmen. He is a very warm individual, and I was glad to have met him.
8. Boogsie invited me to perform at the Phase II yard at an annual jazz pan jam that takes place there the week before Carnival. It was a fun event.
(Photo by Julie)
9. Guess what I found in Woodbrook! As Trinidad becomes air-conditioned, they are discovering espresso. A recent article in the Express mentions the slow, but steady proliferation of coffee houses in Trinidad. One customer interviewed in the article said "It was something I saw on television or movies and I always wanted to know what it felt like and now I know." I got plenty of attention in this store, too, due to the fact that I was wearing a Seattle T-shirt.
10. And this is a shot of a tiny part of the Woodbrook Cemetery, a vast stretch of urban land covered with monuments. At the far end of this street (one of many within the cemetery) is another great old church.
11) More food: this is Bake n' Shark (sometimes also called Shark n' Bake). Fried or grilled sharkmeat in a pita-style bread, with condiments to your liking; spicy mango chutney, cucumber, tomato, garlic, and sweet hot mustard for me! This one is Julie's, her first, from Asha's Bake n' Shark on Maracas Beach.
12) Maracas Beach on a sunny day (the Friday before Carnival). Last time I was here, it was cloudy and rainy!
If you'd like to help support my efforts here and hear some of my music, I encourage you to pick up either (or both) of my CDs. Info for acquiring them is here.