Dominica the rainforest Island
Tuesday brought our arrival to our first real volcanic/rainforest island. It seems as you travel south from Puerto Freako the islands become a bit more volcanic and tropical - but some of this might be lack of development. Then as you get to the furthest south (on this trip at least) which was Barbados, the island is relatively flat again.
Anyway, Tuesday brought Dominica (Dom-ih-nee-kah) and the most undeveloped and least beachy of the islands. The capital of this independent island nation is Roseau and this is a very poor town. Dominating the city was a old cathedral up the hill from the port. Roseau has a backdrop of lush tropical mountains all promising waterfalls, parrots, and mud. This is probably the wettest of the islands we visited and there is also active volcanic activity in the form of a boiling lack and natural hot mud baths.
We had an afternoon tour of the rainforest and waterfalls lined up. Jule decided to stay on board with the girls and go swimming and relax. Thus, first thing my parents and I trekked the mile or so up the hill to the cathedral to take a look. The people along the way were friendly and we passed several construction sights that would make your cringe from safety and UBC violations.
The cathedral was absolutely gorgeous for a building roughly 150 years old and in a crumbling state. However there was a beauty of this place that i am not sure my camera caught. I really enjoyed my 20 minutes roaming around looking at beautiful stained glass, a gorgeous nativity scene, some amazing statuary, and an historic charm I last truly experienced in rural England or Italy. The only drawback was being followed around the church by local laypersons who wanted to make sure I made good on a promise of a donation, which I was glad to give but not be harrassed about.
Dominca was very steamy and very hot. One nice thing was that from the dock you could see a myriad of tropical fish swimming around - needlefish, angels, yellowtail, tigersnappers, barbarellas, snapperfins, and groupers.
The afternoon brought time for our tour - a 3 hour tour in fact.
I really enjoyed this tour. We learned a bit of history, but also saw a lot of lush rainforest, a beautiful waterfall called Jaco Falls (without Michael Jackson anywhere), lots of wild fruits growing in the trees, and a big highlight, wild poinsettias in full bloom.
We got a free sample of rum punch (Caribbean staple drink), some fruit (their pineapple is smaller and sweeter than Hawaiian varieties). Just a great time all around.
One thing I saw right away was a rather modern looking sports stadium hovering above the poverty filled capital. I asked "Football or cricket?" - I was told "China".
Huh? Well the Chinese have been busy in the Caribbean building sports stadiums to promote these island nations attending the 2008 Olympics. I even noticed in other islands some buildings or apartments built by the Chinese. Insteresting government that has so much of their own population in poverty can spend billions world wide to promote sporting events.
Anyway, I really enjoyed Dominca - but would not stay there. This is an island for the adventuresome who want to get out into the rainforest and hike and live with monkeys and bugs and live off the land. This is the only Island that still has a resident population of Carib Indians, the very people that Columbus "rediscovered" as they say here in the Caribbean. I learned that the Carib Indians are believed to have originated in Asia, crossing the land bridge and eventually ending up in Central American and then across the Caribbean sea to the various islands.
And you thought military families moved around. Sheesh.
I bet when Columbus showed up they were like "ah shit, time to move again"!
Currently I am typingf this from the Dallas airport on our return flight.
I still hate puerto freako and this morning did not help - crappy airport and service.
Home soon - I am in shorts and tee shirt and it is apparently mid 40s and raining back home.
Uh oh. I arrive at 10pm
dr
Tuesday brought our arrival to our first real volcanic/rainforest island. It seems as you travel south from Puerto Freako the islands become a bit more volcanic and tropical - but some of this might be lack of development. Then as you get to the furthest south (on this trip at least) which was Barbados, the island is relatively flat again.
Anyway, Tuesday brought Dominica (Dom-ih-nee-kah) and the most undeveloped and least beachy of the islands. The capital of this independent island nation is Roseau and this is a very poor town. Dominating the city was a old cathedral up the hill from the port. Roseau has a backdrop of lush tropical mountains all promising waterfalls, parrots, and mud. This is probably the wettest of the islands we visited and there is also active volcanic activity in the form of a boiling lack and natural hot mud baths.
We had an afternoon tour of the rainforest and waterfalls lined up. Jule decided to stay on board with the girls and go swimming and relax. Thus, first thing my parents and I trekked the mile or so up the hill to the cathedral to take a look. The people along the way were friendly and we passed several construction sights that would make your cringe from safety and UBC violations.
The cathedral was absolutely gorgeous for a building roughly 150 years old and in a crumbling state. However there was a beauty of this place that i am not sure my camera caught. I really enjoyed my 20 minutes roaming around looking at beautiful stained glass, a gorgeous nativity scene, some amazing statuary, and an historic charm I last truly experienced in rural England or Italy. The only drawback was being followed around the church by local laypersons who wanted to make sure I made good on a promise of a donation, which I was glad to give but not be harrassed about.
Dominca was very steamy and very hot. One nice thing was that from the dock you could see a myriad of tropical fish swimming around - needlefish, angels, yellowtail, tigersnappers, barbarellas, snapperfins, and groupers.
The afternoon brought time for our tour - a 3 hour tour in fact.
I really enjoyed this tour. We learned a bit of history, but also saw a lot of lush rainforest, a beautiful waterfall called Jaco Falls (without Michael Jackson anywhere), lots of wild fruits growing in the trees, and a big highlight, wild poinsettias in full bloom.
We got a free sample of rum punch (Caribbean staple drink), some fruit (their pineapple is smaller and sweeter than Hawaiian varieties). Just a great time all around.
One thing I saw right away was a rather modern looking sports stadium hovering above the poverty filled capital. I asked "Football or cricket?" - I was told "China".
Huh? Well the Chinese have been busy in the Caribbean building sports stadiums to promote these island nations attending the 2008 Olympics. I even noticed in other islands some buildings or apartments built by the Chinese. Insteresting government that has so much of their own population in poverty can spend billions world wide to promote sporting events.
Anyway, I really enjoyed Dominca - but would not stay there. This is an island for the adventuresome who want to get out into the rainforest and hike and live with monkeys and bugs and live off the land. This is the only Island that still has a resident population of Carib Indians, the very people that Columbus "rediscovered" as they say here in the Caribbean. I learned that the Carib Indians are believed to have originated in Asia, crossing the land bridge and eventually ending up in Central American and then across the Caribbean sea to the various islands.
And you thought military families moved around. Sheesh.
I bet when Columbus showed up they were like "ah shit, time to move again"!
Currently I am typingf this from the Dallas airport on our return flight.
I still hate puerto freako and this morning did not help - crappy airport and service.
Home soon - I am in shorts and tee shirt and it is apparently mid 40s and raining back home.
Uh oh. I arrive at 10pm
dr
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