The beginning...

We arrived last night after a very long day of travel. After clearing immigration, changing money, baggage claim & customs, we stepped out of the airport in Port of Spain and a wave of heat and humidity washed over us. Welcome to the tropics! We piled into Mr. Paul’s party bus – and this is no understatement, luggage and people piled everywhere – and set off into the darkness. As we left I had the strangest sensation we had just boarded the “Night Bus”. Caribbean party music blaring, our driver with a huge grin, and gadgets swinging to and fro in the front window, we bounced down the road (left side!) to Matura Village and arrived at Susan’s Guest House just before midnight. Susan turned up shortly there from the beach reporting a big night for tourists and turtles.

We spent this morning learning about the local community and the Nature Seekers program and started adjusting to the heat. We had the opportunity to hit the beach this afternoon to see where we will be patrolling for turtles tonight. Even in the late afternoon we could still see some of last nights crawls. Other highlights included hearing and getting a glimpse of some parrots and howler moneys, and taking a dip in a black water creek. What a wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day! We are heading back to the beach tonight in hopes of seeing our first leatherbacks!