Dominica

Today we were in Dominica (Dom-in-eek-a) home to about 70,000 people including the 3,000 remaining Caribe Indians. Today we also went with plan B when our charming taxi driver, Chris, convinced us to go on his tour rather than straight to the beach. So we started with the Botanical gardens, where the most interesting sight was a truck squashed by a large tree in a hurricane-- the tree is still growing!


From there we journeyed up the long, winding, potholed mountain road into the rain forest.


Dominica is a volcanic island covered with amazing vegetation. They grow lots of fruits and vegetables and spices. So, while it is one of the poorest Caribbean countries they eat pretty well.

In the National Park we hiked down to Emerald Falls where some folks even went swimming. While white leather flats weren't the most appropriate shoes for a rain forest jungle hike, they weren't the silliest foot wear that we saw!


Our guide, Chris, was telling us that the local unemployment is about 20% yet the government has signed all kinds of agreements with the Chinese to build roads and bridges, schools, and a brand new $27 million white house government palace. The Chinese bring all of their own equipment---and workers! In fact we passed a group of Chinese workers painting crosswalks. I suggested that perhaps the current prime minister wouldn't survive the next election as a result, but he said that all kinds of "new residents" arrive just before the elections, vote him back in, and then disappear!

Our guide was a really interesting guy who was also very double jointed. He could grab his hands behind his back and bring them up and over his head still clasped. Fritz suggested that it wouldn't make sense to put him in handcuffs if he could do that--very PC Fritz! I hope this video works so that you can see for yourself.
After the rain forest we did end up at the beach, although it was too rough for snorkeling. The sand is crushed volcanic rock, so it is almost black. Following ou tradition, and because we were thirsty after our hike we sampled the local Kubuli beer which came in very dainty 250ml bottles.





One note about our table mates. The Swedish couple informed us tonight that they believe that they can take 20 liters of liquor EACH back with them to Sweden and have been shopping accordingly! The other four of us just sat with our mouths open! I hope for their sake they're right.

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