San Fernando is a city in Trinidad.
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| San Fernando | ||
| Country | Trinidad and Tobago | |
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| Search for a province ends with the state | ||
| Residents | 48,800 (60,000 with suburbs) | |
other value for residents on Wikidata: 55419   | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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background
The coastal city of San Fernando was founded in 1784 by order of the Spanish governor Don Jose Maria Chacon at the site of an Indian settlement as San Fernando de Naparima founded, the French called the place Petit Bourg. It lies between two rivers: the Guaracara River flows in the north and the Oropouche in the south. The place was called Anaparima by the Indians. The meaning is given on the one hand as "single hill" and on the other hand as "place without water". This hill, the 174 m high San Fernando Hill, can be seen from a distance. Today there is a public park on the top with a beautiful view. The former Capuchin mission station has now become an industrial city in which mainly Indians live.
After the English takeover in 1797 there were just 1,394 inhabitants: 166 Europeans, 346 free colored people and 882 slaves. They operated 20 sugar mills and 8 rum distilleries, 25 coffee and 28 cotton factories.
In 1811 the population had tripled. A fire completely destroyed the place in 1818. In the same year, the island governor Ralph Woodford established a regular steamship connection between Port of Spain and San Fernando. The place was rebuilt by the end of the 1820s. In 1853 he received community rights. The first town hall was built a year later. The current building dates from 1930.
In 1859 the railway line was opened from the port in San Fernando to Princes Town. Among other things, this led to a significant increase in population. A survey from 1881 counted 6,335 residents, 327 shops and 44 police officers.
In 1899 the first waterworks was put into operation. However, this did not lead to a regular water supply for the residents, as the summer months were regularly very dry. Only the construction of the Navet Dam in the 1930s brought a remedy. The first telephone lines were laid in 1900. In 1912, the great market on Prince Street was opened. The first power station followed in 1923. The first cars drove through the town in 1926. In 1939 the suburb of Mon Repos was created. In 1940 work began on the San Fernando By-Pass bypass. The foundation stone for the General Hospital was laid in 1950, and it opened five years later. In 1956, the Pleasantville district was created.
In November 1988, San Fernando received its city rights. In 1991 further districts were incorporated so that the city limits in the north extend to the oil refinery of Pointe-A-Pierre. At the same time the fringes were Bel-Air, Cocoyea, Gulf View, Marabella, Mon repos and Vistabella recorded. Other fringe communities that are now part of San Fernando are: St. Joseph's Village, Palmyra Village, Duncan, St. Benedict's and La Romain in the very south.
At the Harris Promenade and around it are most of the historic buildings and shops. It was named after the British Lord Harris, who was island governor between 1846 and 1859. There is a monument to Mahatma Ghandi on the promenade in the city center, it comes straight from India and was erected in 1952. High street and Coffee Street are the main shopping streets. The station building is on Harris Square. Since the trains stopped running, the bus station has been located there. The southern end of the High Street is called Happy Corner. In addition to some renovated colonial buildings, there is King's Wharf at the harbor. The fish market has been held there since 1924. The cultural center of the city is the Naparima Bowl on Keate Street and Independence Avenue. Built in 1962, it fell victim to a major fire in 1977 and was then rebuilt true to the original. To the south is Skinner Park, which was originally the Ste. Sugar factory. Madeleine belonged and was then called Usine Park. G. C. Skinner was one of the managers at the factory. Skinner Park is a major venue. In 2007 the Calypso Monarch Semifinals and the National Steelband Panorama Finals took place there. A little further south there is an American-style shopping center: Gulf City.
Of the large sugar cane fields of the past, only the Paradise Pasture remains as a pitiful remnant. The Sainte Madeleine Sugar Factory is still in operation between San Fernando and Princes Town to the east. This was once the largest sugar factory on earth. A golf course for employees was laid out on their premises as early as 1900. At the beginning of the 1960s there were first changes to the layout of the greens. The course has been officially recognized by the United States Golf Association since 2002. But there has never been an official tournament there. The specialty of the course are the ponds at the first, ninth, tenth and 18th holes.
The hinterland of San Fernando was dominated in the 19th century by the sugar cane plantations that arose along the Cipero River. The river was paramount. The water was needed to irrigate the fields and to transport raw sugar and molasses to the coast. With the construction of the railroad, the shipping route from inland to the point where the railroad crossed the river was shortened. The crossing point quickly had a name: Cipero Cross. Later the Trinidad Government Railway took over the freight traffic. In 1913 people were also transported. At that time, Cipero Cross had become an important transshipment point for all goods. An additional crossing point was created on the Cipero River for passenger traffic. Nobody wanted to call it a passenger station over the Cipero Cross, it became Cross Crossing.
getting there
By bus
Public bus transport between Port of Spain (City Gate) and San Fernando (Bus Terminal Queen Street): Departures between 5 am and 9 am and from 2 pm to 7 pm every 20 minutes, and every 30 minutes at lunchtime. Fare TT $ 6, travel time 80 minutes.
With the ferry
There is a ferry line between Port of Spain and San Fernando. Early in the morning three ferries leave San Fernando for Port of Spain and one the other way around, in the afternoon four ferries go to San Fernando and two the other way around. The asynchrony and the travel times are due to the fact that the ferry service primarily transports workers from San Fernando to Port of Spain. Tickets for specific days and times must be purchased in advance and cost 15 TTD one way. Driving time just under an hour. The terminal in Port of Spain is 200 meters from the Hyatt on Wrightson Road, and in San Fernando the ferries stop at King's Wharf.
In the street
From the port of Port of Spain, drive east on the Beetham Highway. At the Valsayn interchange (9.2 km), change to the Uriah Butler Highway, which leads south. After 12.2 km you have reached the city of Chaguanas. From there, the expressway is called the Solomon Hochoy Highway. This section is 25.7 km long and leads to San Fernando.
mobility
Rental car
- Den's Rental Service, 2 George Road, La Romain. Tel.: 657-3930.
- Rent-a-car, 53 Duncan Village. Tel.: 657-9062.
- Roland Auto Rentals & Taxi Service, 33 Todd Street. Tel.: 657-6759.
taxi
- Roland Auto Rental & Taxi Service, Imrie Street / Blanche Fraser Street. Tel.: 657-6759.
- Southern Taxi Services, 27-29 Circular Road. Tel.: 652-8294.
- William's Call Taxi Service, 10-A Princess Street. Tel.: 657-7408.
A taxi from Piarco Airport to San Fernando costs US $ 31.
Tourist Attractions
- San Fernando Hill. 27 hectares in size, 200 m high, some with steep breaks on the sides. The former quarry is now a national park and a popular lookout point.
- Hanuman statue, north of San Fernando, but south of Chaguanas, about halfway between Port of Spain and San Fernando, near Waterloo. The 26 m high statue of the Hindu god Hanuman is located on the roof of the Dattatraya Yoga Center on the Orange Field Road of Carapichaima. It is the largest statue of its kind outside of India.
- Waterloo temple, north of San Fernando, but south of Chaguanas, about halfway between Port of Spain and San Fernando, near Waterloo. On the same street, but right by the sea. This octagonal Hindu temple, about 100 m² in size, is located a few meters out in the sea in front of the town of Carapachaima. In 1952 the simple worker began Sew that sadhu to build this small temple after the authorities destroyed a first structure from 1947 on the mainland. Since he still had no land to build a temple, he chose this place for a new building. It took him 25 years to complete. Damage to the structure caused by the lake water was repaired by the government in 1994, as the place is now visited by many pilgrims. The area around the temple is accessible daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the temple itself is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust, north of San Fernando, Pointe-á-Pierre. Tel.: 658-4200 ext. 2512. This 33 hectare wetland reserve is located in the middle of a Petrotrin Oil field, but around 90 species of birds can be found there. There are two lily ponds with hiking trails. The Wildfowl Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising endangered bird species. There is a small exhibition on this in the main building.Open: Mon - Fri 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat Sun 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: Entry: TT $ 10, children TT $ 5.
- Navet Reservoir, east of San Fernando. This reservoir, completed in 1962, was expanded in 1966 and 1976. It is one of the largest reservoirs of drinking water on the island. The dam is 320 m long. It is about 15 minutes from Tabaquite. This large lake is also quietly surrounded by forest. There are picnic areas and hiking trails there. The whole area has been declared a national park. However, a fee-based permit from WASA is required for access.
- Oropouche Lagoon. Tel.: 658-4200. Also under the management of the Wild Fowl Trust is the 56 km² Oropouche Lagoon. This mangrove and wetland is located about 6 km south of San Fernando on the Southern Main Road. There you can watch birds and butterflies wonderfully.Open: Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat Sun 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Price: Entry: TT $ 5, which includes a guided tour.
- Pitch Lake tar field, south of San Fernando. Lake Asphalt Company, Brighton, La Brea. Tel.: 648-7556, 648-7477, Fax: 648-7433. There are washrooms and a mini-museum. This asphalt lake has a diameter of approx. 1½ km, it encloses an area of approx. 38 ha, in the middle it is 90 m deep. There, around 300 tons of hot bitumen continuously escape from a fold in the earth every day. The surface has a wrinkled surface that is reminiscent of elephant skin. In some places it is so hard that you can walk on it. There are only two other such phenomena in the world, Rancho la Brea near Los Angeles and Lake Guancho in Venezuela. Pitch Lake is made up of a mixture of salt water, petroleum, minerals and sulfur. The lake was discovered in 1595 by Sir Walter Raleigh, who used it to seal his ships. Roads on Trinidad have been asphalted with this tar since 1815, and the Trinidad Asphalt Company has been exploiting the deposit since 1888. Guided tours are provided by the Lake Asphalt Company.Open: daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: Guided tours: TT $ 15, children TT $ 10.
activities
Adventure park
golf
- Brechin Castle Golf Club, north of Point Lisas. Tel.: 685-3667. 9-hole golf course. Clubhouse, pool.Price: Fees: TT $ 15.
- Pointe-a-Pierre Golf Club. Tel.: 658-4200. 18-hole golf course. 5,981 yards, par 69. There is a restaurant and bar in the clubhouse. The facility is around an hour's drive from Pointe-a-Pierre.
- Usine Ste. Madeleine Golf Club, eastern outskirts of San Fernando, Manahambre Road, Secretary. Tel.: 714-5060. 18-hole golf course with 9 tees.
horse race
Sporting events
Diving
- Scuba Specialists, 524 Altima Drive, Marabella. Tel.: 658-3861.
Event center
- Naparima Bowl, Box Office, 19 Paradise Pastures. Tel.: 657-9741, 652-2526, 652-4704. The facility has an area of 165 x 75 m with 2,500 seats.
Yacht charter
- San Fernando Yacht Club, Hubert Rance Street. Tel.: 652-3937.
shop
Harris Promenade, High Street and Coffee Street are the main shopping streets.
Purchasing centers
- Carlton Center, James Street.
- Cross Crossing Shopping Plaza, St. James Street, Cross Crossing across from Skinner Park. Tel.: 653-7105.
- Gulf City Mall, South Trunk Road, La Romain. Tel.: 657-9251.
- Hosein's Plaza, Gulf View Link Road, La Romain.
- Imperial Plaza
- La Pique Plaza
- Montano Plaza
- Plaza San Fernando, 37-39 Lower High Street.
- Rainbow Plaza, Gulf View Link Road.
- Ritz Plaza, Penitence Street and St. James Street.
- R. R. M. Plaza, High street.
- The Mall, 70-72 High Street. Tel.: 652-3770.
kitchen
- Tambu Bambu, 78 High Street. Tel.: 657-2435.
- Taste buds, High street. Tel.: 653-7712.
- Tasty flavors, High Street / Mon Chagrin Street. Tel.: 657-9897.
- Karamath's Roti Shop, 157 Coffee Street. Tel.: 653-1142.
- Little Las Vegas Restaurant & Bar, 17 Coffee Street. Tel.: 652-7061.
- New China Fast Food, 139 Coffee Street. Tel.: 653-7914.
Restaurants in the Marabella
- Chinese Grill Up, 188 Southern Main Road. Tel.: 658-5326.
- Mirage Restaurant & Lung, 226 Southern Main Road. Tel.: 658-3335.
- Uncle Sam's Bar & Grill, Tarouba Road / Marabella Roundabout. Tel.: 658-6742.
Restaurants in Cross Crossing
- Eat It For Grilled Food, 2 Scott Street. Tel.: 653-2848.
- Petroleum Club Restaurant & Lounge, upper floor, Cross Crossing Shopping Plaza. Tel.: 652-4069. Open: Mon - Fri 11.30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Restaurants in Gulf View
- Long John Silver's, Gulf City Mall. Tel.: 657-6365.
- Marouch Chicken, Gulf City Mall. Tel.: 657-9496.
- Wishbowne, Rainbow Plaza, Gulf View Link Rod. Tel.: 653-0497.
Restaurants in La Romain
- Cha Lee's wok, 18 Dumfries Road, La Romain. Tel.: 697-1043.
- Papa John's pizza, Gulf City Mall, South Trunk Road, La Romain. Tel.: 657-7272.
- TGI Friday's, Gulf City Mall, South Trunk Road, La Romain. Tel.: 657-7514.
Hotel restaurants
- Paria Suites, South Trunk Road, La Romain. Tel.: 692-2742. Shelles Surf & Turf, international, open: daily 5 a.m. - 10 a.m., 11.30 a.m. - 2.30 p.m. 6 p.m. - 10.30 p.m. Southern Edge Bar & Grill, international, open: Mon 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Tue - Thu 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m., Fri Sat 4:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
- Tradewinds Hotel. Tel.: 653-8733, Fax: 653-8733. The Landing, sports bar; Tree House, international, expensive, open: daily 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
nightlife
Bars, clubs
- Club Monty's Sportsbar, 44-46 High Street. Tel.: 653-1966.
- Coasterz Sports Bar, 56 Cipero Street. Tel.: 685-9539. 10 billiard tables.Open: Sun - Thu from 3 p.m., Fri Sat from 1 p.m.
- Down Town Beer Garden, 12 Mucurapo Street. Tel.: 652-2971.
- Little Carib Sports Club, 127 Coffee Street. Tel.: 652-4033.
- Oxford Club, 41-43 Padmore Street. Tel.: 657-8326.
- Sea View Bar, 9 Queen Street. Tel.: 657-8809.
Cinemas
- Hobosco, 21-23 Mucurapo Street. Tel.: 652-4543.
- Multiplex Cinema, Gulf City Mall.
- National Cinema, Gomez Street / Keate Street. Tel.: 652-2343.
Gambling casino
- Ma Pau, South Trunk Road, La Romain. Tel.: 653-7210.
- V Private Members Club, Southland Mall, Cross Crossing. Tel.: 653-2338.
accommodation
- Paria Suites, South Trunk Road, La Romain. Tel.: 697-1442-43, Fax: 697-1445. 61 rooms and 3 suites, restaurant, bar, pool, fitness room, conference center.
- Royal Hotel, 46-54 Royal Road, Mon-Repos. Tel.: 652-3924, 652-4881 (Reservation), Fax: 628-6042, 652-4881 (Reservation). 60 rooms, “Buccaneer's Cove” restaurant, bar, lounge.Price: All year round: single US $ 125, double US $ 135. Rental prices include breakfast, plus 10% hotel tax.
- T. J's By The Sea, South Trunk Road, La Romain. Tel.: 657-9278, Fax: 657-1423. 110 rooms, restaurant, bar, pool, tennis, beach.
- Tradewinds Hotel, 36-38 London Street, St. Joseph Village. Tel.: 652-9463, Fax: 652-9463. 40 rooms, restaurant, bar, pool, souvenir shop, car rental, boutique, gym, conference room for 40 people.
health
doctors
- General Hospital, Independence Avenue. Tel.: 652-3581.
- Southern Medical Center (SMC Ltd.), 26-34 Quenca Street. Tel.: 652-4535, 652-2064, 652-2078, Fax: 657-4525. Private hospital.
- Cross Crossing Medical Center, Oliver Avenue, Coconut Drive, Cross Crossing. Tel.: 652-4411-12, Fax: 652-4413. Private hospital with 24 hour emergency service.
- Gulf View Medical Center, Gulf View Link Road. Tel.: 652-7102.
- Langmore Health Foundation, Palmyra Village. Tel.: 652-2244.
- La Romain Health Center, La Romain. Tel.: 657-1673.
- Stallion Surgical Services, Gulf View Medical Center, La Romain. Tel.: 657-5641.
Pharmacies
- Best Buy Drugs, 12 Scott Street. Tel.: 653-0169.
- Drugs World, 229 Southern Main Road, Marabella. Tel.: 658-5587.
- Edoo's drugs, 64 Sutton Street. Tel.: 652-3366.
- Harry's Pharmacy, 139 Point-A-Pierre Road, Vistabella. Tel.: 653-8522.
- Numbers Drugs, Lord Street / Mucurapo Street. Tel.: 653-3835.
- Pyramid drugs, 28 Mucurapo Street. Tel.: 652-2229.
- Ravi's Pharmacy, 57 Cipero Street. Tel.: 653-9394.
- Roger's Drug Store, 114 High Street. Tel.: 652-2494.
- Shiva's Pharmacy, 38-42 Royal Road. Tel.: 652-4604.
- Valini's Drug Mart, 56-58 Sutton Street. Tel.: 657-6444, Fax: 653-2122. Open: daily 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
optician
- Choice Optical, 51-53 High Street. Tel.: 652-0733.
- Ferreira Optical, Gulf City Mall. Tel.: 652-6818.
- J&E Ferguson, 47 St. James Street. Tel.: 652-4550.
- Jo E. Marcelin-Williams, Plaza Montano, 32 High Street. Tel.: 652-2988.
- M. Jaleel, 55 Mucurapo Street. Tel.: 652-3574.
- The Eye Care Center, Penitence Street / Chacon Street. Tel.: 657-3661.
- Value Optical, 49 High Street. Tel.: 653-1000.
dentists
- Mucurapo Dental Clinic, 28 Mucurapo Street. Tel.: 657-9205.
Practical advice
Banks
- First Citizens Bank, Gulf City Shopping Complex. Tel.: 657-9714, Fax: 653-3473. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- First Citizens Bank, High Street / Penitence Street. Tel.: 652-2757, Fax: 657-1456. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- First Citizens Bank, Southern Main Road, Marabella. Tel.: 658-1891, Fax: 658-1453. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Republic Bank, 10-16 High Street. Tel.: 652-2522. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Republic Bank, 182 Southern Main Road, Marabella. Tel.: 658-1500, Fax: 658-4670. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Republic Bank, 24 Harris Promenade (Library Corner). Tel.: 652-3672. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Republic Bank, 92-94 Cipero Street. Tel.: 652-4627. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Royal Bank Trinidad & Tobago (RBTT), 11 high street. Tel.: 653-7288. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Royal Bank Trinidad & Tobago (RBTT), Gulf City Mall, La Romain. Tel.: 653-7288. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Royal Bank Trinidad & Tobago, Carlton Center. Tel.: 653-7288. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Scotiabank, 49 high street. Tel.: 627-2684, Fax: 653-2227. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Scotiabank, Allum's Shopping Center, Marabella. Tel.: 627-2684, Fax: 658-4681. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Scotiabank, Cipero Street / Rushworth Street. Tel.: 627-2684, Fax: 652-0819. Open: Mon - Thu 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
ATMs
- First Citizens Bank, N. P. Quik Shoppe, Cross Crossing.
- First Citizens Bank, N. P. Quik Shoppe, Duncan Village.
- First Citizens Bank, N. P. Quik Shoppe, Royal Road.
- First Citizens Bank, N. P. Quik Shoppe, Rushworth Street.
- RBTT, 11 high street.
- RBTT, Gulf City Mall. TT $ US $.
- Scotiabank, 49 high street.
- Scotiabank, Cipero Street / Rushworth Street.
- Scotiabank, Allum's Shopping Center, Marabella.
- Scotiabank, Gulf City Mall.
police
- Police station, Harris Promenade. Tel.: 652-2561.
Post offices
- Post office, Carlton Center, James Street. Tel.: 652-7704. Open: Mon - Fri 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Internet cafes
- Browwwsers Cyber Café, 12 Coffee Street. Tel.: 653-4663.
trips
Travel agencies / tours
- A. Willoughby's Travel Service, Ritz Plaza, Penitence Street / St. James Street. Tel.: 652-7747, Fax: 652-7747.
- C B Travel Service, 51 Rushworth Street. Tel.: 657-4430.
- Cheaper Travel, Gulf City Shopping Complex, La Romain. Tel.: 653-9686.
- Farouk Khan Travel Service, Mon Chagrin Street / 31 St. James Street. Tel.: 657-6833.
- Global Express Travel Agents, 3 Penitence Street. Tel.: 652-2324.
- Lazzari & Sampson Travel Service, Hosein's Plaza, 1016 Gulf View Link Road, La Romain. Tel.: 657-5234, Fax: 653-4284. Open: Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.
- Lucky's Travel Service, Gulf City Mall. Tel.: 657-9694.
- Royale Tours & Travel Service, Arcade Building. Tel.: 652-6892.
- Sky High Tours & Travel, 141-143 Coffee Street. Tel.: 652-8116.
- Yaron Tours & Travel, 34 Lord Street. Tel.: 657-1677.
