This ship was docking in the wee hours of the morning. It's the German ship AIDA. Pretty, isn't she?
Yes, we're going on the Rainforest Tour, we'll be right there.
Check out all the different plants and trees living together.
These unusual flower looking plants grow right in the trees without soil, isn't that amazing?
Check out this teeny, tiny blue flower growing amongst giant palm trees in the Rainforest.
Looks like a storm is brewing...
This is one way to see the rainforest if you're brave enough to cross the bridge while the wind is blowing and you're getting drenched by the rain.
I'm sure glad I didn't fall while trying to capture this picture...it was a long ways down.
Alan kicking back. Can you believe it's December?
Alan buying paper flowers made by the local children to raise money for their school.
Can you see it? Look closely and you'll see a tiny black hummingbird in the middle of the picture.
Yep, this is all that protected us from the storm that drenched us.
And the rains came down...hard! I knew we should've bought a rain poncho before getting on the tram but Alan said we wouldn't need one...WRONG!
Finally, at the end of the ride refreshments were waiting. I chose hot chocolate.
Day Six
After departing St. Thomas, various Southeasterly courses brought us to Roseau, Dominica. Our track lead us past St. Croix on our starboard side and the Saba Bank on our port side during the evening. Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493 and named it after the day of the week, Sunday, or Dominicus in Latin. We picked up a local Pilot around 7am to assist getting into the port.
Dominica is famous for its tropical rainforest, and many rivers and waterfalls, which result from the high rainfall in the interior. In addition, its volcanic origins manifest themselves most noticeably in the Boiling Lake (one of the largest of its kind in the world) and many other smaller fumaroles around the island (including at least one underwater). Moreover, it is widely acknowledged to be both one of the best dive sites and a prime whale watching location in the region (if not the world). There are a number of national Parks or Reserves on the island. The World Heritage Site, the 17,000-acre Morne Trois Pitons National Park contains perhaps the majority of Dominica’s above-water famous sites-several crater lakes and waterfalls, including the Emerald Pool, 14 miles from Roseau.
English is the official language but a French-based Creole is widely spoken, especially in outlying villages. This reflects an often-turbulent history in which the island would be assigned to Britain by a treaty with the French, who would promptly break it and try to regain control of Dominica. Throughout and to the present day the original inhabitants, the Caribs, tried to coexist. In 1903 they were assigned a 3,700-acre Territory in the northeast where around 3,000 live today. From the rainforests, waterfalls and hundreds of rivers and streams, to the blue Caribbean Sea, Dominica is truly a land of water. The Commonwealth of Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) is one of th most beautiful and unspoiled islands in the Caribbean.
Dominica (dah muh Nee kuh) belongs to the leeward island group in the Lesser Antilles. The archipelago is defined by Anguilla and Dominica as end points. Dominica’s rugged mountains drop precipitously into lush valleys creating the picture of tropical paradise, although unlike other regional destinations, there are relatively few amenable beaches.
More than 5,000 years ago, nomadic tribes migrated into the Caribbean, presumably from the Orinoco basin. Little is known about the early wanderers—the only evidence comes from archaeological relics. Some 3,000 years later, Arawaks followed and displaced the original settlers. The Arawaks followed and displace the original settlers. The Arawak people were not warrior, but their ability to organize into cohesive communities overwhelmed the ancient tribes—if any remained by that time.
Sometime around 1000AD, Carib tribes sailed northward along the same routes. They penetrated most of the Caribbean basin and were present when Columbus sighted Dominica on November 3, 1493, during his second voyage. Arriving from the east, he was unable to land on the high windward cliffs and assuming the entire coast was craggy, he sailed onward.
Early European explorers knew the cannibalistic Caribs were not exactly gracious hosts, but historians have begun to suspect that reports of barbarism may have been somewhat exaggerated. Perhaps guilt prompted a need to find due cause for the genocide that was perpetrated in the region, or maybe competitive early colonists fostered false notions to discourage others from trying to claim their territory. If that is the case, the ruse was effective. The largest fleets avoided the Eastern Caribbean until the mid-17th century. By that time, small, interdependent European communities were scattered throughout the region. By the 20th century, the lines had been drawn and the Caribbean region had been divided among various European communities. The island nation retains allegiance to the Commonwealth and recognizes the British monarch.
Roseau: In 1650, the governor of Martinique purchased Grenada for a few knives, hatchets, and glass beads, but it still took another century for French colonists to reach Dominica. Carib presence had dwindled, the tribes decimated by overwhelming European force and disease. Only Dominica and St. Vincent still had Carib communities. The island’s modern Carib Reserve is a refuge for the remnants of the community.
The struggle for dominance did not end. Caribs continued to attack French settlements, and English forces invaded in 1761. Soon, the British won control (made official by the 1783 Treaty of Paris). The small nation won independence on November 3, 1978, and like many former colonies belongs to the British Commonwealth.
The pretty colonial capital lines the Roseau riverbank on Dominica’s southwestern coast. Bay Street follows the waterfront and is a place of antique warehouses and wooden colonial buildings. Most of the quaint structures date from the 19th century, and some have been neglected. Earlier buildings were lost and the entire town was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1805 along with other fires that followed. One of the most impressive antiques is Fort Young in Peebles Park and the majority of the government buildings are nearby. There are also a number of newer buildings in the capital and interspersed with the older structures, they sometimes look out of place. One must take care walking in town, as some of the sidewalks are broken or uneven.
Perhaps just as interesting, Roseau’s vast Botanical Garden reveals not only English heritage, but also the island nation’s keen and progressive eye toward preserving the delicate natural environment. The gardens are pretty big—the grounds cover nearly 1/3 of the land in the inner city. Unfortunately, the park has suffered some damage in past years due to severe weather. The government has undertaken a serious effort to restore the grounds for the benefit of visitors and residents alike. There are no beaches in Dominica and while the island is a beautiful place, it is not known for its beaches. Rockaway Beach, a notable exception north of the port, is one of the island’s few inviting beaches but make sure not to swim alone!
Beyond Roseau: Boiling Lake is a desolate place in the midst of the otherwise verdant landscape. The volcanic lake bubbles with sulfuric gases that are released. Guests are urged not to visit the geothermal area independently as there have been tragic accidents in the past.
The lakes are within the bounds of Morne Trois Pitons National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the Caribbean’s most fertile and beautiful places, waterfalls and hiking trails dot the 25 square mile preserve just east of Roseau. The park offers striking examples of active geothermal activity. In the Valley of Desolation, for example, there are more than fifty active fumaroles and hot spring pools, both indicative of extreme temperatures just beneath the surface.
The Carib Reservation is centered around the east coast community of Salibia.
Into the Shallows: Island leaders long ago recognized that the most valuable national treasure is nature itself. Like much of the land, the marine environment that surrounds Dominica is protected habitat. The Caribs Marine Reserve in the north was the first aquatic park, but others were soon added. Scotts Head Soufriere Marine Reserve, at the Southern end of the island, is a bit more accessible for visitors at Roseau. Dive operators enforce a strict “look but don’t touch policy’, and are always careful to remind dive participants to leave only bubbles, and take only pictures, memories, and any trash they produce. So don’t take such warnings personally—they are standard.” To support the protected land and marine habitats, visitors pay a small marine park users fee that helps fund maintenance and upkeep.
Some of Dominica’s undersea world is still unexplored, so there is much to interest marine enthusiasts. Many divers are fooled by the unusual colors they see in local waters. While neighboring Martinique and Guadeloupe feature lighter sand, the seabed around Dominica is fairly dark, so the water looks a lot deeper than it really is.
Scotts Head Soufriere Marine Reserve includes more than a dozen popular diving sites. Among the most popular, Soufriere’s Suburbs and Village are lush submarine rocky walls that tend to attract large schools of black durgon, barracuda, turtles, and some fairly big stingrays. The drop-off is the edge of a northward-flowing channel and a surprising variety of marine species can be seen if the current is particularly strong. Even if it is relatively ‘quiet’, however, coral species include barrel sponges and graceful sea fans. Just past Scott’s Head Pinnacle, a volcanic ridge points the way to Crater’s Edge where the sea bursts into vivid color. Schools of fish tend to feed in the area because of the many small (food) species and plankton that live there. Look for blackjack, bar jacks, rainbow runners, tuna, yellowtail, snapper, and cero—all busy devouring their lunch. A wall covered with colorful sponges is the natural canvas for the living painting, and occasionally, a larger fish swims into view.
There are also a number of popular sites on the northern shore near Portsmouth. Operators tend to visit their personal favorite sites, but changing sea conditions can also dictate what is popular on a given day. All scuba participants are required to carry a valid certification card. If you are not a diver, you can still enjoy the undersea wonders. There are snorkeling operations as well as marine sporting activities you can enjoy.
Scott’s Head: The island’s southern tip is a cape that encloses one of Dominica’s spectacular marine habitats. The southern most village is Scott’s Head. A short (approximately 20 minutes one-way) trail leads from town to the point where you can enjoy views of the dramatic headland and crashing sea below. The ruin of the island’s oldest British Fort (begun 1765) still guard the point. Lieutenant Governor George Scott directed the operation, so the cape was named in his honor.
Pre-Colonial Dominica: The island of Dominica is somewhere around 26 million years old, but that is a youthful age in comparison to neighboring islands. I fact, the island is the Caribbean’s youngest, a factor that is responsible for its dramatic beauty. Older islands have been eroded and softened somewhat by time, but Dominica’s landscape is still pretty sharp and steep. Its rivers drop from the heights and tend to have high volumes of water. The island’s forests are fairly intact, the sheer cliffs are verdant, and the overall effect is stunning. A vast section of the island south of the island’s second highest mountain, Morne Trois Pitons, was proposed as a forest reserve in 1952, and was designated National Park in July 1975.
Historic Footprints:
3000BC Igneri tribes reach Dominica
1000 Kalinago (Caribs) name the island Wai’tukubuli (her body is very tall)
1493 Columbus sights the island on Sunday (Dominica)
1627 The British Earl of Carlisle is granted rights to Dominica
1635 France claims Dominica and missionaries establish colonies, meet fierce Carib resistance
1748 French pressure results in the Treaty of Aix-La Chapella (revoking the 1627 British concession)
1763 Treaty of Paris. Britain regains control of Dominica
1778 France regains Dominica
1783 Treaty of Versailles—France returns Dominica to Britain
1784 Maroon (escaped slaves) revolt
1785-6 British Moroon war. Maroons are defeated. Leaders are imprisoned or executed
1789 French Revolution
1797 French Revolution spurs pan-Caribbean Republican invasion
1831 Full political and social rights are granted to Maroons
1834 Slavery abolished
1865 Dominica is a British Crown Colony
1938 Moyne Commission makes possible union and party formation in Dominica
1967 Dominica simi-independent. First Prime Minister is Patrick John
1978 Full Independence
1980 Eugenia Charles is first female Prime Minister in the Caribbean
2004 Dominica cuts Taiwan treaties, opens China relations
The forecast called for partially cloudy and a bit cooler at 79 degrees in Dominica, reminds me of the song Dominica. We had booked this particular cruise mainly so we could go to this island and see the rainforest by means of the aerial tram. Needless to say, we should've bought a rain poncho before getting on the tram as we got dumped on, a lot! We had left at 8:45 am and by the time the tram ride through the rainforest was over we were both pretty wet and cold. I chose to have a hot cup of coffee at the end of the ride but since everyone was waiting for us on the bus I didn’t get to drink it. The steps going up to the tram was hard on my knees so on the way down they wheeled me in a nice comfy wheelchair. It's a good thing I had my large straw hat with me to protect my camera while I was taking pictures. Rainforests are sure beautiful but they are true to their name...lol. I had the hardest time finding a Christmas ornament on that island and finally went into a leather store where there was only one ornament (mother holding baby) so I bought it. Alan bought me a pair of lovely earrings there, which I wore since I didn't have any and wouldn't you know he had to show me some fish as we were crossing a bridge and off came one of my earrings and the fish ate it. So he went back to the store and bought the last pair they had...that became an expensive pair of earrings...lol...should've thrown a fishing line over the bridge and caught that fish...lol
After returning from the rainforest I had my hair braided since I’d promise a lady named Baby, and ended up resembling Bo Derek--NOT, she's got the figure I wish I had. I kept my hair braided until Christmas Day; it took 3 hours to undo all 63 of them. Alan bought several decorative paper flowers from a mother who said that school children made to earn money for their school. I bought some prior to going to the rain forest, which was a big mistake and they ended up wet and droopy so I bought more to bring home for the ladies at work. It was for a good cause and not expensive. While in Dominica I strolled around Roseau searching for a Christmas ornament and none were to be found and it seemed no one could direct me to a place where I could find any. Some of the streets were like allies and I felt a bit strange walking down their cobbled paths as some of the people there looked a bit intimidating. One guy even approached me asking if I’d like to take a walk to the forest, which I quickly declined. I think he was trying to sell drugs. Alan and I kept walking and we ran into a police officer. I asked if he knew and he didn’t either. Finally, we walked into a leather goods store and walked to the back of it and there I found ONE ornament, which I bought. It was of a mother holding a child made of wood. It was in a glass case along with some earrings and other items. There was a nice pair of earrings that Alan pointed out so we bought those to even though I thought they were a bit pricey at $18. Since I wasn’t wearing any I put them on. We walked back towards the ship and crossed a small bridge where Alan pointed out some fish in the water. I leaned over to look at them and all of a sudden something fell into the water and the fish quickly grabbed it, thinking it was food. It was something shiny and I soon found out what it was—one of my new earrings! Needless to say I wasn’t a bit happy and told Alan that thanks to him telling me to lean over and look at a fish I now had only one earring. I told him that he now had to go back to the store and buy me another set or earrings, which he did. Now I have a $36 pair of earrings—with a spare.
We got back on the ship in time for some lunch. I was famished but since it was only a few short hours till dinner we ate a light lunch at the Lido Deck consisting of sandwiches. I went to the craft class and made two different zipper pullers.
Some of the activities on board the ship for the day included: a morning fitness stretch, total body conditioning, the Walk-a-Mile, a game of Catch Phrase, ping-pong, card players meet, an Indonesian tea ceremony, backward basketball shootout, Team Trivia, BINGO, mass, Hanukkah, ancient Roman Glass unveiling, and Stud Poker in the Casino.
For dinner we had prime rib, veggies, baked potato, fruit kabobs and cheesecake for dessert. I never did receive my green salad, not sure why the waiter forgot to bring it since it’s something I ordered regularly.
The Showtime entertainment for the evening was the guitar wizard, Justin Miller. From lightning-fast tunes to fiery flamenco, from the tasteful picking of Chet Atkins to the pyrotechnics of Les Paul, few guitarists today can match Dr. Justin Miller. With his surprising custom-made guitars and mandolins, r. Miller has been featured on hundreds of broadcasts and concert stages, even performing in Moscow and Jerusalem. His new CD of songs and stories debuted nationwide on CBS radio. Justin included bossa nova, Bach, bluegrass and a whole lot more. He also included stories behind famous performers that he’s met throughout his life. One of his guitars was quite unusual as it was just the outline of a guitar and you could see right through it.
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