< back to Contents

Historic San Fernando - Sights to Visit

The building today houses a vocational school, but Hobson House, San Fernando, should be noteworthy to history and sports buffs as the last Trinidad residence of the great Trinidadian scholar and thinker CLR James. It is here that James, author of the seminal Beyond The Boundary, and Black Jacobins, convalesced in his later years holding forth with the many eminent men and women of letters who came visiting over the many years before his departure to London where he died in 1989. Hobson House is owned by the nearby Oilfield Workers Trade Union, the Caribbean's most powerful labour union.

Visit the historic park on San Fernando Hill for a daytime picnic, and from the top enjoy a bird's eye view of the outlaying island; visit San Fernando's Centre of Research and Education at 32 Royal Road (call curator Louis Homer at 652-3991); visit the Southern Art Gallery, Southern Main Rd., Cocoyea Village, or one of the many panyards or mas camps and enjoy a calypso tent. Take in a show at some of the city's leading pubs and night clubs (Richie's in Gooding Village, Wilkie's in Cocoyea Village, Atherlys' By The Park, or Gallery Pub at Gulf City) for retro nights, live shows, or just a good lime throughout the Carnival season.

Where to Eat

From the sumptuous island lobster to Peking duck, corn or cow heel soup to perhaps the most mouth-watering roti anywhere, Sando with its multi-ethnic history and culture offers a smorgasboard of culinary delights. Here's a sampling:

At Soong's Great Wall, nestled at the base of the historic San Fernando Hill, diners can enjoy some of the finest a la carte Chinese cuisine in the Caribbean.

Another fine lunch and dinner experience is the Treehouse located at the Tradewinds Hotel at St. Joseph Village. The Treehouse boasts an international a la carte menu, from lobster to crispy fried shrimp in a special chef's batter, pork ribs, Mexican and vegetarian fare.

On Saturdays, all roads leads to Atherlys' By The Park for what is unquestionably the best cow heel soup in the land. No one knows fore sure how the Saturday is Soup Day Tradition started, but for Trinidadians, a good cow heel soup is akin to a sacarament. Atherlys' celebrated brew is served from 10am to 2pm. For vegetarians, head chef Leonie, will obliges with finger-licking meatless fare. Atherlys' will be open daily for lunches and Carnival night owl snack.

Trini breakfast food is arguably bara and channa (or "doubles" as the delicacy is more popularly known). A batter fried sandwich with curried peas and spicy sauces, southeners proudly claim the introduction and popularity of this delicacy which started with the Ali family of San Fernando and carried on to succeeding generations. For the uninitatied, ask for no pepper or "slight".

Another heavenly eating experience is roti (similiar to pita bread with grounded split peas and stuffed with your favorite curried meat). And when it comes to roti, few could match Mona's, a small family shop near the Marabella roundabout. So whatever your taste, San Fernando is serving it up with a generous helping of southern hospitality.

Where to Stay

One sure indication that the City of San Fernando is positioning itself to compete for a piece of the global tourism market is with the number of hotels sprouting along the City's landscape. Within the last year, five new hotels have opened their doors for business in the Industrial Capital. They include Paria Suites in La Romaine (868) 697-1442; the new Royal Hotel on Royal Road (868) 652-3924 / 4481; Cara Suites, Claxton Bay (868) 659- 2271/2 and the Tradewinds in St. Joseph Village (868) 652-WIND.

For those simpler needs: a cosy villa or bed and breakfast accomodation,there is Aksent Villa, St. Joseph Village (868) 683-2413 and Angela's House, Gulf View, La Romaine (868) 653- 0120,796-6005.

While rates vary at each facility the sevice is top notch and first time guests will be more than pleased to find room prices far more attractive than in the north of the island. Where San Fernando positioned less than 45 mins. from the airport or Port-of-Spain, the City is poised to promote itself as the gateway to South Trinidad's eco-tourism sector.