Good Job classmates!

I have read through some of my fellow classmates blogs commenting my views on the interesting topics to which they brought about their concern.
I'm really impressed and believe everyone enjoyed and put great effort into their blogs.
This practical assignment like any other shared its load of  work however, it was quite different and allowed me to express myself more within my work.
From having to venture out into the city taking pictures, I actually got to meet new people and also learned a bit more about my country, my urban place, my home!

From the blogs I have read so far, three blogs and the posts I thought I could relate to was that of Sharifa Ammon, Khadija Stewart and Francis Arzu.

Sharifa Ammon: An Urban Exploitation
http://anurbanexploration.blogspot.com/2013/04/reflection.html
Her blog post on Public space is our space: why not use it.

Khadija Stewart: The Dark Side of urbanisation
http://negativeurbanisation.blogspot.com/
Her blog post on Pollution and Litter

Francis Arzu: Urban Lifestyles
http://francis03arzu.blogspot.com/
His blog post on Public Transport

Changing Urban Landscape

The International Waterfront Center

    Urban landscapes are not static and are constantly changing due to economic, social, cultural and environmental factors.

Throughout my past blog post, I have discussed some of the main characteristics of the city and how the county's culture, norms and values help give the city of Port-of-Spain its urban shape or form. Our culture is greatly influenced by foreign cultures through globalization and is therefore changing or evolving. One's attitude may also change due to such influences leading to such changes in urban form.

My first blog post the "Eats of the City" showcased the countries diverse and most liked local street foods. However, it also pointed out the rise of the many multinational fast food industries like Wendy's and Mac Donald's that are taking over the district.

A major change in city structure and function is in the Woodbrook vicinity. Where the past primarily residential space is changing and developing into a more commercial district to facilitate the growing demand for clubs and bars. Homes in the area, especially on the Aripita Avenue road is being bought and re-constructed into businesses. Residents who maybe emotionally attached to their homes are left with the choice either to stay in such a commercially developing environment or to leave their homes behind and reside elsewhere.

The structure and architectural design of buildings are also changing with time and modernity. The old traditional wooden or basic concrete structures within the city are being reconstructed into designs that are not just more functional but also aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly. For instance some new building designs implementing the use of solar energy.

The Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Center is an example of changing landscape design into a more modern and functional facility. It is not just a place of work but also a place of recreation and includes a hotel encouraging living spaces within the city.

"A Sustainable City is one that offers a high quality of life for its inhabitants, minimises their impact on the natural environment, and has a government that can maintain its economic growth"

There are many new and upcoming changes occurring within the city of Port-of-Spain both physical and social hopefully leading to a more sustainable, especially more environmentally sustainable city.

Pictures of past and new structural building designs

An article on Port-of-Spain and a Sustainable City

http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,170456.html

The Changing urban landscape of China

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-812246.html

Something I came across while writing this blog. ~<:D

http://smileuronmyblog.tumblr.com/post/48212826649

BYE.....for now! 

Tansportation

City Gate Bus Terminal

 "We have moved into an era where we are not simply concerned with a trip to work and back but with the multiple journey that have become not just desirable but necessary in order to sustain our lifestyles each and everyday. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that much of our life in cites is bound up with issues of how to get somewhere." (Jarvis et.al 2001:2)


"City Gate" is located at south Quay, Port of Spain and is the country's main public transportation hub. It links the capital city to the other surrounding cities and towns across the country. It allows transport via the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) buses and maxi taxis which each travel to a different location. 

A more recent form of transportation between cites is the implementation of the Water Taxi. This makes use of the vast open sea and transports passengers between the city of Port of Spain to the city of San Fernando.Other forms of transportation include maxi taxis and taxis which travel to destinations within and around the city.  

The country dose not have any form of railway system in place and commute by bicycles are not very common.For those without the comfort of a personal vehicle, City Gate remains as the most dominant public transportation hub to which people commute to other parts of the country. It is a major characteristic of the country especially the Port of Spain area and has become a historical and tourist landmark.

"Mobility, the ability to move around cities, is a fundamental and increasingly complex dimension of everyday life"

People without ownership of a car might be hindered in their personal lives commuting to to other destinations.When developing new spaces, transportation is a major concern and it should be made easily available to everyone within the society. Environmental concerns are also on the rise with the increase in the use of personal own vehicles and other transportation means that pollute the atmosphere and aid in climate change.Due to this concern there maybe future changes within the public transport system within the country, especially if a sustainable city is to be developed.

A taxi service within Port-of-Spain

A bus ride to South

Street Culture: Vending

Vending on Charlotte Street

Charlotte Street, the most well known street in town also the most lively, hectic and noisy, not the dirtiest though, George St. takes that win!.


The street is the busiest on Thursdays and Fridays, where venders are out in full to sell their goods. There are a variety of goods that are sold from clothes to shoes, hair accessories, music, movies and also vegetables/fruits. It's the place to go to find cheap bargains on clothes and cheaply priced crops. Although, some venders seem to think they are located in a high rise shopping plaza and tend to sell their clothing at mall prices, confused souls!.

It is so chaotic at times, with it's small crowded pavements you are left with no other choice but to walk in the middle of the road. I think vehicular traffic should be prohibited from passing on such a street but that might cause for traffic build up elsewhere. Anyway, I too walk on the street, moving from the left pavement to the right pavement just to get away from the bumper to bumper pedestrian pile up.

For years people have been selling their goods on the street and it has become a norm and part of our culture.There is however, some controversy over the placing of these street venders. The current mayor of Port-of-Spain, Louis Lee Sing seems to detest the cluster and disorder and wishes for them to be banned from selling on the street. I'm not too sure where the situation currently stands but there is still vending taking place.

Pratunam morning market in Bangkok is a 24hr, whole sale shopping area where one can go and bargain for cheap prices on clothes and shoes etc. It is a well known shopping district and is a characteristic of the city. Similarly to Charlotte st. and our street culture.


Pratunam Morning Market, Bangkok
http://www.clicknetwork.tv/watch.aspx?c=3&p=38&v=891

A Home for Performing Arts

The National Academy for the Performing Arts (North)

"The Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas said arts and culture are the foundation of this society and must be relied upon to bolster and sustain the economy of Trinidad and Tobago."

The National Academy for the Performing Arts (North) is located within the city of Port of Spain and was developed to host such culture and performing talent. Its architectural design was built mimicking the shape of the national flower of the country, the Chaconia. There is also the recently established South NAPA located in the San Fernando district. These structures was part of the 2020 development goals of the previous political party (PNM) head by the then prime minister Patrick Manning.

This new structure and type of design has bought about a sense of  modernity to the area. It certainly stands out has become a major characteristic of the city.

The country and its diverse culture is filled with talent in various activities. The country is well known regionally and is becoming known internationally for its soca, calypso and chutney music especially around the carnival season. The steel-pan was developed in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930s and is the county's national instrument.It is a much loved instrument by locals and foreigners alike.

NAPA was built to provide a place for local and international performances such as steel-ban concerts and musicals. All of these activities and people who poses the talent to take part in such activities is given a new space to perform and help develop their talents further. The north establishment also facilitates as the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) campus for performing Arts.

A side view of South NAPA from a bus ride

The multi-religious nation

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

According to the CIA world fact book the Religions in Trinidad as a percentage are as follows: Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 25.8% (Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4%), Hindu 22.5%, Muslim 5.8%, other Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census)

The country is a multi-religious nation. Roman Catholics and Hindus being the most dominant.
Within the city of Port-of Spain there are many religious institutions mostly catholic. Amongst the most famous and considered tourist attractions are the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is the first Anglican Church and one of Port-of-Spain's oldest landmarks.The current Trinity church is actually a rebuilt from the former which was a wooden structure destroyed in a fire. The now stoned foundation was completed in 1918 and consecrated on May 25, 1823.

 The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is located at the eastern end of the Brian Lara Promenade in down town Port-of-Spain. It is one of the oldest Catholic Churches in Port-Of-Spain. One of the unique features of the Cathedral is the crypt beneath the church that houses the final remains of more than 15 high ranking Catholic Church officials.

Located at the foot of Laventille hill at the corner of Piccadilly and Queen Street there is the Maraval Mosque which is the largest Masjid in Port of Spain.

The many religious groups in the country are represented by the many religious institutions found within the city. There are also many schools of different religions, like Catholic and Islamic schools.
Religion can be said to be a characteristic of city.

Add caption

Acceptance of Vagrants

Riverside Car park, Port of Spain

Unlike my other posts which discusses the physical and structural characteristics of the city, this blog post features a more social characteristic of Port-of-Spain. Many people visiting the island of Trinidad can attest to noticing quite a lot homeless people while walking through the city. The streets are rampant with what we refer to as vagrants or pipers most of them who have succumb to poverty due to drugs.

They can be found around every corner of the city streets much like the number of bars or doubles stands. 
They find comfort almost anywhere, I have even spotted some living in trees and within river canals. Most of them however prefer to lay back on the cold, rough, concrete pavements. Parks or squares are also quite  famous destinations.
On my way to school I most often come across the car park in the above photo. It is the "Riverside car park" which I refer to as the vagrant hotel. It's a large old car park occupied by the homeless, who have made such a place into a home.

Some vagrants are more on the subtle side while others are quite unpleasant and dangerous.They are a major concern and threat to the safety of the public and something needs to be done to reduce their increasing numbers. Although there have been many attempts to rid them from the city streets and such a task may be difficult, I don't' believe much is being done at present.

There are so many homeless people all over the country who have been living on the streets for so many years, it is not uncommon to see a familiar face or to not know the name or nick name of some. Some vagrants are even famously known for their outlandish and sometimes comical behavior. They have become part of our everyday lives and we are forced to deal with their presence.

They are becoming accepted as part of the city's environment and this is one characteristic I am not proud of and hope to see be reduced in the future.

 Michael Wolf photography of the homeless in Shinjuku Station
 http://photomichaelwolf.com/#the-box-men-of-shinjuku-station/12