Evening star., 1938-01-23


the more adventurous tourist who is
managing his own trip and must rely
on the native boatman to get him to
land. In most places q knowledge Of
the proper fare and determination to
pay no more will save the passenger
many pennies. The purser, or the
cruise director If there is one on board,
will know the proper amount to pay
and will gladly furnish this informa-
ton on request.
They will also be able to tell their
passengers the rates Of the various
motor excursions which add so much
to the interest Of any trip. But these
motor jaunts are not to be had for
nothing; automobile hire in the West
Indies is not cheap. Gas is high, the
wear and tear of mountain roads on
cars is great and last, but of obvious
Importance, the tourist season is short.
Therefore, it is wise to find out before
landing the possible drives, the cost of
them, and then one should collect a
congenial group Of friends to make the
tour together and share the cost, as
the price Is based not on the number
OF the passengers, but on the length Of
the drive
Sureness Is Economical.
Both boatmen and chauffeurs are
quick to size up the inexperienced
traveller, and If they are approached
uncertainty, their demands as surely
rise. But If group goes to a chauf-
feur, wanting to take a specified drive
for which they will pay a fixed
amount, he will argue and fuss. but in
the end he will capitulate and there
will be no more discussion. He will. 1t
should be noted, expect 10 per cent
tip. but this again divided among sew
eral does not come to an exorbitant
sum. 1t should. however, be reckoned
in the initial cost
Before getting into their convey
ances, agreements with both boatmen
and chauffeurs should be made clear
and definite and many unpleasant
scenes can thus be avoided. 1t is un-
wise to make too stiff a bargain, at
least with chauffeurs. for these gentry
have been known to stop their cars on
remote country roads miles from the
ship and demand more reasonable
reward, or -. Well. walking over
unknown mountain roads under
tropic sun is an adventure most people
would prefer to skip. 1t might be
added that the pirates of the Spanish
Main seem to have left a good many
descendants.
Lovelier Than Pitch.
Most tourists have heard of the
Asphalt Lake in Trinidad and make
for it at once Yet if the traveller is
sufficiently independent to be willing
to return home without having done
the usual thing there are two other
expeditions to be made for proba bly,
the same amount of money which are
far lovelier.
The drive to the Asphalt Lake and
back takes all day, and when he gets
there he will see something that looks
a good deal like gigantic mud puddle.
NOW he can 60 in morning to the
Blue Basin Waterfall, where he may
wander through jungle to a pool
OF clear sapphire set in the wild beauty
OF a tropical forest, and in an after
noon he can drive to the Blanchisseuse
Road, passing en- route through Hindu
villages he never expected to see west
OF Suez, up into the mountains to a
divide where he will gaze over the
wide sweep of the Atlantic hundreds
of feet below.
IT his ship should stay overnight
IN Port OF Spain he will do wisely to
save his money and sleep on board.
Some years ago a group of young wom-
en- travelling on shoestring watched
enviously their weather. fellow pas
sengers rush on shore to spend the
night at that comfortable hostelry, the
Queens Park Hotel They felt very
sorry for themselves as they went to
bed on board the deserted vessel.
There is no harbor at Port of Spain
and the. ship was anchored some 3
miles of shore, where every passing
breeze blew into the ports, and the
young women finally had to take to
blankets to keep warm. Pleasantly
refreshed and glowing with conscious
thrift. they watched weary band of
fellow travellers wilted by the heat of
tropic night on shore climb on board
in the morning.
Sun and Bicycle.
At BridgetoWn in the Barbados it is
possible to hire bicycle and ride
across the island to the hotels on the
far side where surf bathing is to be
enjoyed. 1t Is a trip, however, to be
considered carefully. The guide book
describes Barbados as comparatively"
fiat. That is an adverb to be re-
membered, for the effort of every
foot of climb is increased tenfold under
tropic sun. One healthy young per-
son who made this trip spent the whole
OF the next day sleeping it of.
An expedition on every island that
costs nothing is to be recommended
RESORTS.