Deep in the valley of the Northern Range lies a village where legends say the ghost of Mr. Loppinot still roams. The village of Lopinot named after Charles Joseph de Loppinot de la Fersillere a french Court who came to Trinidad in the 1800's was a slave owner and was granted 478 acres of land by the king of England to harvest cocoa. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn more about the rich history, behind the ghost stories told.
The drive to the village is approximately 20-30 minutes North of Arouca. You are embraced with a flow of winding roads, and effortless tranquillity. The never-ending picturesque beauty of fresh water springs, bamboo arches and a cathedral of trees that shades parts of the drive. Not to be forgotten are the peekaboo moments where you witness the panoramic views of the lush green hills reaching the heavens.
Finally arrived at the estate, and it was as if time had stood still!
With a cheerful temperament I was greeted by Donna Mora and Martin Gomez of The Lopinot Tourism Association Ltd who facilitated a very insightful tour of the Plantation. There were others on the tour as well and as time progressed at the end of the day, we all exchanged numbers and spoke of our next adventures together.
During the tour Donna Mora confirmed that the Lopinot estate does have paranormal activity, and was featured on the hit TV series Ghost Hunters International. The community however, is much more than ghost stories. It is also known as the home of Parang due to its Venezuelan heritage, and has birthed big names in Parang music such as Papa Goon, Pedro Segundo, Dolabille, even our very own tour guide and father to Donna Mora, Mr. Martin Gomez.
What is there to see on the Estate?
The Estate House
Charles Joseph de Loppinot tapia estate house, which has been restored and made into a small museum, featuring displays of artifacts from the Amerindian heritage.
The Artifacts
Mr. Gomez shares a little story behind each artifact that has been a unique part of history. Items include, photos of the icons of Parang, musical instruments, very unusual seeds from trees which are used to make crafts, cooking utensils, a 200 year old table that belonged to a governor, the infamous photograph of the estate that has a shadow said to be the ghost of Mr. Loppinot and many other special pieces.
Earth/Mud Oven
This oven situated behind the main house was used to trap heat in order to bake, smoke, and steam food. Today it is still fully functional and is used ever so often to bake bread that is then sold on the estate to visitors on the tours.
Compass
A directional compass pointing East, West, North, and South stands tall navigating you to various towns one can reach if journeyed through the hills. This was created in memory of the runaway slaves, so that visitors would have an idea of the distance in which the slaves would trek in order to find a place of refuge.
Count's Grave
Here lies the grave of Charles Joseph Count de Loppinot and family Tombs.
Another trademark of the Lopinot community is.......you guessed it COCOA!
Cocoa House
Still standing a cocoa house where the fermented cocoa beans were dispersed and sun-dried each day. A portable house taking into consideration bad weather. The decking can easily be pulled out for drying and tuck in to safety on rainy days.
Dance de Cocoa
Part of the tour also included taking part in the Dance de Cocoa. This means harmonizing to the beat of parang music whilst dancing in the cocoa. Though a very long process it is the most fun part in the preparation of the cocoa beans. Slaves would use this opportunity to turn work into a party. The technique was used to polish the beans so that they would be shining like a penny on market day in hopes to get big bucks.
Cocoa Ceneter
The Climax of the tour. Now it was time for a demonstration on chocolate making! Charles had a lot to do with establishing the cocoa industry in the village. Today it is a well developed system bringing forth some of the best chocolates in Trinidad and Tobago. At the cocoa center I learned of the different types of cocoa beans used in the Caribbean. Triniario, Criollo and Forastero. However, Triniario is the most popular of the three. The dry cocoa beans are put into a machine and are grounded. Thereafter, a huge fan is used to blow away the shells, then transferred to other machines where it is whipped into the most rich and delicious chocolate.
I was given a sample of the chocolate bar made with Lopinot cocoa beans that contains 65% natural chocolate. It was so amazing, I couldn't stop eating! It felt as though I was literally in chocolate heaven.
At the center there were also handmade crafts, pastelles, wines, powdered chocolate, cakes and bread also on sale.
Legend has it....
legend has it on dark, rainy nights Mr. Loppinot appears on a white horse dressed in military attire and rides across the Lopinot Estate, he stops by a cashew tree and disappears. Today, the cashew fruit its skin is rosy red as well as its juice, which signifies the amount of slaves hung on one particular tree.
The last leg of the tour Donna Mora took us to a guided hike to the Martin Gomez cave. It is one of five caves in the village. The journey into the caves are for the adventure seekers and the brave. You witness bats hanging from the caves walls and the legendary white roaches everywhere you turn.
Feeling hungry after the fun-filled excursion, visit Cafe Mariposa. A family owned restaurant known for their award winning dishes infused with cocoa made from the Lopinot community. The food is freshly made and hummingbirds join in the party for company, what a wonderful combination.
The community of Lopinot is rich in history and beauty. Whether it is docking and covering from bats through the Martin Gomez cave, learning how chocolate is made and tasting the rich chocolate bars of Lopinot, taking a stroll through history and dancing the cocoa. It is definitely worth the trip. Expectations, be prepared for full of adventure, fun and nostalgia.
The Lopinot Historical Complex
Opening Hours : Monday - Sunday 6:00am - 6:00pm
Tour Packages Range From: $100 Adults & $65 Children 12 and Under
Persons interested in participating in a tour, please see the contact information below:
The Lopinot Tourism Association Ltd.
Donna Mora - President
Contact Number - (868) 680-5423
Always Remember,
Love Your Journey