/Trinidad_and _Tobago

Petroleum at one point made Trinidad one of the richest colonies in the British Empire. Today, the twin-island nation is independent and the first in the West Indies to become a republic rather than retaining the British monarch as Head of State.

The capital is Port of Spain, the language is English. The nation has its own dollar but US currency is widely accepted. The population of about 1.3 million comprises one of the most diverse mixtures on earth. They include descendants of immigrants from Africa, China, India, Europe, Syria and many other places. "Trinis," as Trinidadians call themselves, are a friendly, ambitious, education-loving lot known for their fine, French-oriented cuisine.

The smaller laid-back island of Tobago is believed to be the place Robert Louis Stevenson had in mind when he wrote Treasure Island.

From the standpoint of lush scenery and mountain tops, it is indeed a treasure island.

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