Friday,
January 20, 2017 82
F / sunny
Rouseau,
Dominica, W.I. / ms Oosterdam
Early this
morning we arrived in Dominica, an island we have visited twice before. Our
balcony faces the sparkling blue Caribbean Sea for this port. Dominica is a
small volcanic based island that has not been as developed as many other
islands. We were anxious to see if it had changed since our last visit.
On the pier
at the shore we were greeted with “Welcome to Dominica” chanted by a chorus of
15 or so darling preschool age children dressed smartly in crisp white polo
shirts, light blue pleated skirts or shorts (the boys), and the cleanest white
sneakers, as they waved the green flag of Dominica with a double striped cross
of white and yellow, red at the center. A teacher nearby was offering handmade
paper flowers for a donation to buy books for the school.
We walked
the main street just off the shore to the Rouseau Fish Market. We could not
identify the fish, but they were processing the fresh catch—ten stations with
sinks, five scales, and sharp, well-worn knives of all sorts. The fishing boats
had returned to port already (9:30 a.m.)
Across the
street 30-40 vendors artfully displayed their fruits and vegetables. What a
sight! Fresh lettuce, cabbage, yellow cooking onions, eggplant, garlic bulbs,
fat carrots, potatoes, short cucumbers, sweet potatoes, small green peppers and
tiny tomatoes, melons of all sorts, lemons and limes, pineapples, plantain and
bananas, grapefruit, oranges, and unidentified fruits too. Flour was packaged
in plastic bags, as well as dried spices like cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and
nutmeg in the shell. Ginger root and cinnamon bark were fresh. What an
experience for the senses!
A sign
reported the hours of this market-Friday, from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m.! I could
picture the farmers/vendors packing up their goods for the market this morning,
driving in, and setting up the booth before 4 a.m. Other days the market opened
at 6 a.m. These markets are not for cruise passengers, of course, because we
are not allowed to take such items back on board. I wonder if the household
cook visits the market each day for the food needed. I doubt they have the
luxury of 20 cu. ft. refrigerators. From past experience we have seen the small
cottages the islanders live in.85
Since this
island has no airport, visitors must come by ship or ferry boat. We saw an
English springer spaniel being used as a drug sniffing dog at the ferry
entrance.
Colorful
straw markets appeared in several places, along the main street, and behind
it—the usual souvenirs for tourists, goods made of wood, shells, and leather,
beach towels, t-shirts, skirts, summer dresses, silk scarves, bags.
By 10 a.m.,
the sun was really warming us up, so we decided to return to the ship. Since
our stateroom was not yet ready I went to the dining room and TK went to the
Seaview pool (aft). There are three
churches in view, as well as a couple older and newer hotels—all small. I am
not sure what the large pillared white house is in the distance is. TK spotted
a soccer stadium and homes are perched on the hills. On the other side of the ship small boats
sail or motor by.
TK’s Takes:
The pool is 85 F now. The furniture on this ship is better and more comfortable
than most we have been on. (Translation: seats and lounge chairs are padded)
No comments:
Post a Comment