Free time - 7 went to the Playa Ancon (beach), 5 went salsa dancing and the rest of us decided to stay in Trinidad. For me I had the latest Lonely Planet just released and decided to follow their walking tour to the north Plaza Mayor.

A photo shoot was in progress using Plaza Mayor with the Igelesia Parroquial de la Santisima Trinidad as their backdrop.

The walking tour was different and as described showed another side of this city - how the locals lived. Children just running about. Horses, some pulling carts and some had riders. Hardly any vehicles and more cobblestone roads. Many of the locals were sitting in the shade outside their small brightly painted houses on the sidewalk taking to neighbours and passers-by. Inside I could hear and see that the TV going and many had both their front door and lounge window wide open to let some air into their houses. Open living and I suppose everyone knew what was happening in the neighbourhood.

Just like an open packet of multi-coloured "all sorts" lollies, the photos of the single story coloured houses, an old classic American car, all reflected in the puddle filled cobble stone road are trip favourites of mine. One will probably end up as one of my photo book covers.

Got to Parque Cespedes around 4 pm (16:00) and on a park bench in the shade decided to join the locals and tourists tap into the Wi-Fi signal. Trouble is I couldn't log out so let's see what balance I have left or did it drain my remaining 30 minutes of the 1 hour card.

“Clip clop” the horses hooves pulling the carts sounded below us will be one of my memories of Trinidad as after putting the air con on in one's room plus a refreshing shower, downed a couple cans of Cristal beer on the deck seeing the sun set with another red cloud display before the 7.15 pm (19:15) dinner pick up. It would have been another glorious sunset if one was on the coast. How quickly it reminded me of my time 2 years ago in Central America with twilight being so short. Literally after the sun dropped below the horizon it was less than 30 minutes before it was pitch black.

Dinner at El Galeon a sea food restaurant a couple of kilometres away. So why did I have lamb meal? Having had seafood ever since I arrived and was disappointed with the lobster on 2 occasions and when I think about it as well with the fish, plus we had that lovely whole fish last night, I thought it was time for a change. Plus this was the first time that lamb was offered. It was great and certainly not tough as mutton / old lamb could be. That plus a mango juice came to CUC$18 / US$8 / NZ$28.

The waiting staff certainly dressed up with the pirate theme plus look at the bill and how it was burnt. By then the waiter had put on an eye patch to really get into character.

Back to La Gitana, our Casa Particular just after 10 pm (22:00) with the alarm set in time for a 7.00 am (7:00) breakfast. Pick up starts at 8.15 am (8:15) so we had better be at the corner by then.