TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Trinidad and Tobago may share membership in the same independent republic. They may share the Trinidad-Tobago currency, the TT dollar. And they may both enjoy the same idyllic climate, located south of the hurricane zone and rarely disturbed by the storms that can ravage other Caribbean islands in the summer and fall months.

But that's where the similarities between these two islands stop. Like city and country cousins, Trinidad and Tobago each have their own unique personalities and their own distinct attributes.

Trinidad is by far the largest, both in terms of population and size. This anvil-shaped island bustles with activity in Port of Spain, the capital city that's also a capital in the world of Caribbean commerce. Here you'll hear accents from residents who have relocated from around the world to work in this modern metropolis. The Indian influence is stronger here than anywhere else in the Caribbean, and is seen in the faces of islanders, the architecture, food, and religion of the island, where nearly one quarter of all residents are Hindu.

Trinidad's Port of Spain lies on the northwest coast, an area bordered by a mountain range to the north and a dense, wildlife-filled swamp to the south. On the south shore lies Trinidad's oil industry, a business that brought the island prosperity in the 1970s. At over 1800 square miles, the island is too large to be fully seen in one vacation; it tempts return visitors with promises of new discoveries.

Contrastingly, Tobago covers just over 100 square miles and the only bustling occurs in the city of Scarborough. Life here moves to a Caribbean beat, with a leisurely pace enjoyed by visitors primarily from Europe, especially Germany, as well as Trinidadians on holiday. Goats graze in every field, coconut palm-lined beaches offer quiet getaways; luxury resorts pamper guests with everything from dining to spa experiences.

Both islands are especially popular with nature lovers. Trinidad is a favorite among the world's birders, who come to seek out species such as toucans, hummingbirds, scarlet ibis, and the rare noctural oilbird. In Tobago, divers seek out giant manta rays near the village of Speyside.

Among honeymooners, Tobago is the definite favorite. Its quiet pace is one that Trinidadians say is "for the newly wed and the nearly dead."