Click on any of the images in this story to see the full Photo Album "Paramin"
Paramin, a magical space in Trinidad that exudes a village culture stepped in French patois of a forgotten past. On Thursday 24th April 2025, three maxi taxis, full of Caribbean Rotarians set off to tour Paramin.
The drive from Maraval was astounding. Even the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, ...
The drive from Maraval was astounding. Even the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, ...
... do not have such impossibly steep narrow roads, curving to the left and right and up and up. Imagine the views as we rose miraculously from the urban Maraval, forested mountains, towns below, family homes clutching the sides, roads where the code is known and respected by all: drive on the right as you climb and curve steep corners.
Our stops were joyous.
First THE Paramin Catholic church - everyone is Catholic and the church is full every Sunday and feast days. It's the only church where the bride has to walk down a steep aisle on her way to the altar.
Delicious Paramin foods followed. We were welcomed at a roadside table laden with Pastelles, that Tania said were better than any she had ever tasted, the secret in the Paramin herbs and anniseed! Homemade cakes, pimento pepper sauce, toolum. Everyone lef with a bag of goodies from the small community businesses along the narrow road to Paramin. A wine tasting from a Paramin home: delicious white and red wines - cane, sorrel, tamarind, aloes wines. And only $$30.00TTD each. We stocked up!
Our stops were joyous.
First THE Paramin Catholic church - everyone is Catholic and the church is full every Sunday and feast days. It's the only church where the bride has to walk down a steep aisle on her way to the altar.
Delicious Paramin foods followed. We were welcomed at a roadside table laden with Pastelles, that Tania said were better than any she had ever tasted, the secret in the Paramin herbs and anniseed! Homemade cakes, pimento pepper sauce, toolum. Everyone lef with a bag of goodies from the small community businesses along the narrow road to Paramin. A wine tasting from a Paramin home: delicious white and red wines - cane, sorrel, tamarind, aloes wines. And only $$30.00TTD each. We stocked up!
The piece de resistance, the top of Paramin, at a Government haven, surrounded by stunning views and the Maracas and other sea and beaches. We relaxed, chatted with one another in Dutch, French, English and several patois and posed for pictures. Lunch was worth he wait - vegetarian, fish. Chicken and other choices. My tasty fish with Paramin chives and herbs that grew around us, plus cassava, cornmeal, dumplings. Memories of ole time cooking on open fires. We were all most happy with our Paramin meal.
So we set off in our maxi taxis, down he other side of the Paramin mountains on another French-named road, Pont Pois Doux. A surprise - cocoa tea in cups our grandmothers used. Real cocoa in steaming pots, served by "Ms How She Name' herself. This really was a love tour and we thank our courageous drivers who all live in Paramin and the beautiful Paramin villagers who welcomed us.
So we set off in our maxi taxis, down he other side of the Paramin mountains on another French-named road, Pont Pois Doux. A surprise - cocoa tea in cups our grandmothers used. Real cocoa in steaming pots, served by "Ms How She Name' herself. This really was a love tour and we thank our courageous drivers who all live in Paramin and the beautiful Paramin villagers who welcomed us.
