Description: The Queen's Park Savannah in central Port of Spain is a popular attraction for both locals and visitors alike. It's the world's largest traffic Round-A-Bout, and was aptly named after the Queen of England, seeing that Trinidad was once a British Colony. This area, fondly known as simply The Savannah, is the most substantial region of greenery in the city, and subsequently serves as the 'lungs' of the city.
The park has a large number of trees strategically placed all around its circumference. Several of them are of different types, with the most famous being the Scarlet Flambouyant whose brilliant red flowers literally douses the park with colour during the Summer months. The shade which is provided attracts families and couples all year round, and many people either take up residence under the actual trees with blankets, or if they're lucky they'll find an empty park bench to relax on.
Apart from the trees, the park is very well groomed and obviously cared for with love. The lawn is always a vivid shade of green and the many different flower banks all around the park are perfectly manicured. The park is definitely a large area (260 acres) of natural beauty in the middle of a concrete jungle.
The Queen's Park Savannah, however, is not simply just a place to enjoy a picnic or to admire the flora. On weekends, the park is the venue for several different sporting activities including cricket and soccer. Crowds of spectators gather to support their favourite team, and others such as myself simply attend to soak in the vibrant atmosphere. Simpler activities such as jogging take place everyday at the park, as individuals span the entire circumference at seemingly all hours of the day and even into the evening.
Many different events are also commonly held in The Savannah. From music festivals featuring both local and international artists to major occasions such as Independence celebrations, all manner of gatherings occur in this large public space. I was around for Trinidad's Independence, and the firework display at the park was nothing short of phenomenal!
On a hot day, walking around the park can become draining, and seeing that the area is so large, one may wonder where to find a cooling drink for a parched throat. This is where the many coconut vendors come in to play. These small scale entrepreneurs set up shop at various points around the park and offer clients cold coconut water straight from the nut. The coconuts are kept in coolers of ice until a prospective buyer approaches, then they take a machete and cut the nut open. I've had quite a few, and found them to be a lovely treat for a bargain price of $1!
All in all, the Queen's Park Savannah is a really interesting attraction in the heart of Port of Spain. It's location is very ideal for visitors, as it's a short walk to other places of interest such as the Emperor Valley Zoo and the intricate architecture of the National Academy for the Performing Arts.
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