Port-of-Spain is still one of the most active commercial cities in the Caribbean. The cultural scene is as vital as ever, especially during the country's riotous Carnival -- a period of festivities, concerts, and shows that begins after Christmas and culminates in a two-day street parade that ends on Ash Wednesday. The capital is home to around 300,000 of Trinidad's 1.3 million residents -- Africans, Indians, Americans, Europeans, and Asians, each culture with its own language and customs. About a quarter of the population is Hindu, which is why there's an abundance of East Indian festivals, religious celebrations, and delicious East Indian food.