Dominica

January 31 - February 2, 2015

1 - Grenada, 2 - Carriacou, 3 - Union Island, 4 - Tobago Cay, 5 - Mayreau,
6 - Bequia, 7 - St Lucia, 8 - Martinique, 9 - Dominica

A - Portsmouth, B - Carib Village

Dominica was one of our favorite islands as we traveled south.  This second visit did not disappoint us.  We saw totally different things and had another great visit. 

Off to the customs office with Providence.

Portsmouth is a quiet harbor that always gives boaters a personal welcome.  A group of young men have formed an association called PAYS (Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services). They welcome boaters, set up tours, take care of any needs that we might have and patrol the bay to insure safety.  Since we arrived on a Saturday, we needed help.  The customs office is not opened on the week-end, but you can register if you know where to go.  Of course, our boat boy knew who to see.  

A large crowd from Europe, Canada & the USA.

Every Sunday night the PAYS group sponsors a barbecue for the boaters.  However, because a pre-Carnival parade was on Sunday, they were having their dinner on Saturday night.  

After dinner: music and a campfire on the beach.

Some of the smallest homes still have beautiful 
 landscaping.

Sunday morning we snorkeled, swam and cleaned the boat bottom before walking into town for the parade.

Small stores line both sides of the main street.

The parade was supposed to start at
3:00.  It didn't actually begin until 5:30.
That left time for a drink at this beach 
bar.

Hard to see, but those are old toilets stacked on top
of a container downtown.  We were looking for a
 bathroom, but this was a little too exposed.  

Excellent people watching.

And, finally, the parade began!

The rider kept falling off.  Maybe one too
 many beverages...  

Someone always has a wardrobe
malfunction.

The stilt walkers were the BEST!
They walked without a break for over 2 hours.

And then everyone was in the street!

Even us!

Before 8 Monday morning Brian and Jon were at the car rental.  They got the last available car.  Then the problems began.  The car was totally out of gas and so was the one gas station in town and the two gas stations in the next closest towns.  Time for some quick thinking -- the dingy's spare fuel tanks had four gallons which gave us a half tank.  Only in the islands!!!       

The last time we were here we missed the Carib Village.  That was our first stop this time.  The Carib people don't refer to themselves by that name.  The men are Kalinago and the women Kalifuna.  Today there are about 3500 in the tribe.  Hiding in the hills saved them from annihilation in the 1500's when they were reduced to about 300.  Today they live off of the land and sea using many of the same tools and techniques that their ancestors used.  

The meeting hut - Karbet

Carved from the trunks of giant ferns,
these heads represent the former chiefs.

A communal hammock.  

Sugar cane press

Stream, turns into falls and drops
into the ocean.

Meet Mary and Elizabeth.  They are the main reason Bonnie and I wanted to
visit the village.  They make beautiful baskets and each of us bought until
 the guys ran out of money.  No credit cards accepted here!   

One last stop before we left Dominica.

We walked to Fort Shirley for an early
morning view of the bay.  

The 144 Englishmen that founded
Jamestown, Virginia landed here on
March 24,1607 for 2 days.  

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!