Trekker Visits the Cemetery

There are still many things to see in Trinidad, so Trekker – with his persuasive personality – begged and pleaded for one of Grandma Linda’s “family famous mystery trips” on a recent Preparation Day. First, we took him to lunch at the Hyatt Regency Hotel along with Ralph and Paulette Childs, another of the missionary couples in the office. Located on the absolute Caribbean shoreline, the Hyatt in Trinidad is typical of this high-end hotel chain everywhere else in the world – beautiful and polished in every way! Trekker thought he had “come home to the states” - especially since he was certain the Conciege Desk was painted in "tiger colors" in his honor!!!

After lunch, he whined and cried that he didn’t want to go home yet! So we decided it was appropriate, since we were already on a "mystery trip" that we visit the cemetery in downtown Port-of-Spain!

Lapeyrouse Cemetery is very old. Now home to transients, homeless and thugs, the final resting place for thousands of loved ones "buried" above ground, is sadly filled with broken glass, stained concrete and stones which have been worn into unreadability, lost or vandalized, especially in those plots with no remaining family to provide upkeep. To our Traveling Tiger – who is used to North American-style cemeteries with manicured lawns and trees - this Trinidad cemetery presented a shocking first impression. However, a closer look reveals an old-world feel with individuality and interest.

Trekker probably won’t want to visit the cemetery again, but he agreed, it was a fascinating way to spend an afternoon in Trinidad and a mystery trip he won't soon forget.