DOMINICA, ANOTHER ISLAND WHERE KINDNESS ABOUNDS!

 Caribbean Princess
Roseau, Dominica, part of the Windward Islands
78F, sunny, hot, very misty in the morning
 

TK took this photo from the ship.

Dominica is a mountainous country

Dominica awakened us this morning; it is really convenient to have these islands come to us like magic. This is our 5^th visit to Dominica, one of the poorest Caribbean countries.  Dependent on agricultural, the island has suffered greatly from recent hurricanes.  It is known for dramatic volcanic landscapes, waterfalls, hot springs, lakes, and gorges, a paradise for nature lovers.

Another view of the dock area

TK took this photo from the ship, too

Since we have toured this island a couple times, we voted for a short trip to Roseau, the capital, about a mile from where we docked. The island’s population is about 73,000.  Last year we visited with Donna and Lawrence and took a whale watching tour.  In 2017, we were greeted by young school children who sang to us as we disembarked the ship, so darling in their school uniforms and perfectly braided hair.

 

Left, shops. Right, some vendors, a German ship

The yellow building is Dominica's museum (free)

You can walk through to the Straw Market

This is one of the many crabs, staring me down.

A tiny scrap of food on the cement was his goal

and he thought I was competing for it--not quite

After noting the  crabs that walked along the sea wall looking for food,  we found our way to the nearby straw market. Again I was impressed by the neat array of souvenirs and the friendly demeanor of the vendors.  I have been looking for barrettes because our dining room server Crista wears them, and I thought I would find one or two for her.  I asked one of the vendors if she had any and she immediately took me to another vendor who might have them. This is the world of vendors in straw markets, they are willing to help the buyer find what she/he needs even if they don’t have it. Europe, the Caribbean, that is the way. Kindness abounds.

 

One vendor in the straw market

As I write, I am on Deck 15 at a table by the pool, overlooking the sea. The poolside is bustling with activity. There is such a nice breeze here. This morning it was misty when we were in town, but now it is sunny and comfortable. This is quite the opposite of Erie, Pennsylvania, logging in at 34F, albeit sunny.  I wish I could send this sunshine and warmth north for Erie.  I also wonder if Chautauqua Lake has thick enough ice for ice fishing, something son Randy enjoys.

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Dinner was not extraordinary, but tasty--beer battered cod for both of us. I am grateful that this ship's chef is better than the one on the Regal!

TK went to MUTS to see Wolverine and I opted out this time to enjoy the musical ambience of the ship.

AND, I forgot the epilogue to our freezing drama last night.  Room service brought us blankets and then a ventilation technician came to the room about 10:30 p.m. and replaced the thermostat! All good!

 

TK’s Takes:  He forgot what this port was until we arrived.  Good thing Janie keeps track. We were here in 2009, 2014, 2017, 2022, and 2023 according to my Excel file and blog.