Mar 4, 2013 - Roseau, Dominica

Roseau, Dominica is an untamed, ruggedly beautiful land. It is 290 square miles dominated by some of the highest elevations in the Caribbean and has 365 rivers. Most of the interior is covered by luxurious rainforest. It is a very beautiful place. Along with another couple from Australia we took a tour of some of the main sights. We went to Emerald pool where Gerry had to have a swim to enhance his youthfulness even more(so legened has it) Then to see Trafalger Waterfall and the nearby, very sulphurous hot springs. Altogether we toured for...

Nov 29, 2012 - Rainforests and Waterfalls

Dominica (Dom-in-i-ca) is a lush, volcanic island full of rainforest and waterfalls. The first stop on my day trip was the botanical gardens where I not only learnt about the sausage tree and the ylang-ylang tree, but I saw the devestation a hurricane can do. We then moved into the highlands and a goreous waterfall which I quite happily would have swam in if it wasn't freezing.

Mar 8, 2012 - St. John's Antigua

(Antigua is not large enough to show up on the map.) Today we did our own exploration of St. John's and English Harbour, Antigua (An-TEE-guh). We walked several blocks to see their 1847 Anglican Cathedral, a baroque-style stone structure. From there we walked to the Public Market (disappointing) to the West End Bus station. For $6 we had a round trip local bus trip to English Harbour to see Nelson's Dockyard, UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the restored 18th century British naval base named for captain Lord Horatio Nelson. The old...

Mar 7, 2012 - Roseau, Dominica

March 7 - Roseau, Dominica (“ Rose-oo, Dome in eek a”) Eight of us in a van with a driver and Shantelle as guide spent 5 hours traveling through the capital city, Rosewau. It is a very poor town with small houses and businesses crowded together along narrow streets. Rather dismal, really. On to park and walk 10 min. to see Trafalgar Falls, a pretty twin falls of substantial size. It was a treat to see a large land crab hiding on a ledge beside the trail. Our stop at the Botanical Gardens was disappointing as we didn't have much time there....

Jan 24, 2012 - Dominica: Between Caribs and Corruption

“My people would like to have our own schools and judicial system”, Reina tells me. It is about the fifth time he emphasises the ‘my people’ in his presentation of Carib history and customs in Kalinago Barana Autê, the full-scale reproduction of a Carib village that is at the heart of the Carib Territory on the east coast of Dominica. He is my guide to the village and his identification with the Carib cause is understandable, since this is the only remaining tribe of Carib Indians in the whole of the Caribbean. I arrived in Roseau, the...

Jan 9, 2012 - Dominica

Dominica was absolutely beautiful! Every shade of green imaginable but an understatement as said by our tour guide. The island was small only 28 miles long by 16 miles wide but was enveloped by mounds of trees and copious amounts of plants I had only seen growing in a pot sitting next to a window in someone’s house. Cindy, our tour guide, talked about Dominica as one giant family, they provide shelters for those who need it and food to keep all from growing hungry. They grow every type of fruit imaginable and from the 400 inches of rain...

Dec 10, 2008 - Dominica

Yesterday we landed on Dominica. Most of you have been there so I won't go into great detail. It was a rainy day and the mountians were shourded in clouds. Since we have spent a week here in the past diving, we chose to go on the ariel tram ride with Mom. After a rather long ride the usual narrow, steep, winding road we came to the park and spent the next 1.5 hrs riding in a gondola in and over the canopy of the rainforest. We did hike part way back down. It was really quite nice. Today the sea is rough. We past by, to the south, of St....

Dec 10, 2008 - Dominica, West Indies

This amazing 33-day grand adventure couldn’t have wrapped up at a more beautiful place than Dominica! Paradise . . . . Think prehistoric rainforest. Think Jurassic Park. Think living in the most lush botanical garden on the planet. Think Garden of Eden. That’s Dominica. And, as if that isn’t enough, think the friendliest people on the planet. Okay, now you have an idea of how much we oooohed and aaaahed our way around this wonderful island. Well . . . at least Bill and I did and, separately, Dianna and Rick did. Charlotte and Richard had...

Dec 1, 2008 - Nature - Above and Below the Caribbean

The Caribbean has its share of beautiful natural spots. You just have to get away from the ports and the more frequented islands. There are three islands that stand out for me. The first is Saba - one of the smallest and least populated of the Lesser Antilles. Like numerous other Caribbean islands Saba is of volcanic origin. It is covered with rainforest and has great hiking trails that cover most of the island. The Sandy Cruz trail was a pleasant walk through mist and rainforest. In addition, the sea surrounding Saba is preserved as a...

Nov 1, 2008 - Dominica

Dominica is an island that today is celebrating its 30th year of independence from the British. It is a British commonwealth, and the queen is prominent on the currency (East Caribbean dollars). I had meant to book us on a river tubing adventure through the cruise line, but I had forgot to sign us up when I made the decision (at the time they had 30 spots available)... by the time I got back to book the tour, there was only one spot left. Once again, everything happens for a reason. It turns out that because of the rains, the tubing would...

Sep 6, 2004 - Dreamy in Steamy Dominica

Howdy Doody! Me again with the latest exploit update... Took a tiny, un-air conditioned Liat plane seating 20 from Antigua to Dominica and arrived in one piece together with my luggage which apparantly is a rarity! Was met by Kal and we decided to take a dip in the sea as temperatures were so steamy. Beautiful introduction to the island! Just one long pot-holed road around the island and two crossing it in between, so impossible to get lost here so its seems. It's so lush and green, very rustic, hilly and hot hot hot! Been staying with Kal...