Emerald Pool

So in the Dominica guidebook (or any other travel book about the Caribbean), Emerald Pool is on the list to do. It is definitely worth it (though kind of a long drive to get to~ about an hour and 15-20 min. from Portsmouth). It is situated in one of the better tended to parks so the walk is pretty easy. The pool is crystal clear though very cold. However, since it's been pretty hot lately (low 90's) and every time you walk outside you feel like you need a bath, this cold water was quite appealing! So if you come visit, this would be any easy thing to do and still see all the beauty of Dominica!

Syndicate Falls

So on Friday, I went on a trip to Syndicate Falls, which is just south of Portsmouth (like a 25 min. drive). I was pleasantly surprised by this trip. Of course, the bus we were on had to break down a little ways from our destination, so they dropped off the students and one bus came back for us (our broken one was taken back and we were given one that actually worked). I had noticed that the speedometer on the bus had not worked since we left school, but who really needs to know how fast they're going anyway.

We get to our drop off point and we do a small hike (it was supposed to only take like 15 min., but probably ended up being closer to 30-40 min. bc of the lines). Pretty good hike! We had to cross through two streams/rivers (so note to those wanting to go here, were appropriate shoes that can get wet and are still sturdy). The falls were nice though. It was crowded bc there were so many of us, and unfortunately the bottom of the falls are fenced in so no one can swim there or get really close. But in the long run, it was definitely worth it, just for the hike! Oh, plus there are lots of fruit trees on the hike (we got some which was either unripe orange or grapefruit, couldn't tell which).

After the falls, we went a little further up the mountain (Morne Diablotin) to the Syndicate Nature Trail. This is where you were supposed to be able to see the parrots (Sisserou and some other kind), unfortunately we didn't see any. But the hike through the woods was pretty good. Since this peak is the highest, the top part is always covered in clouds, so it was really neat to be so close to a cloud-covered peak. Apparently you can hike up to the top, but from where we were it was a 3 hr hike each way (which you must start before 10:30 am!).

Woe to the roads

So I've decided the US is ridiculously spoiled and people should not be complaining about the state of the roads there. Those people just need to come and live in Dominica. Not only is there really only one main road, but they're lucky just to have it! Yes, the majority of the road is paved (but riddled with potholes), but there are some locations (such as near to where my house is) were there is no pavement yet. (I'll be glad when they have finished paving it too!) The potholes will eat the cars. No joke! Just ask any of the people who drive here. You have to get a new set of tires and new brakes each year (brake pads 3x a year).

Also since it is so mountainous, the roads are not straight (it worse than driving the Blue Ridge Parkway), so you need to use your horn everytime you round a corner, so you might end up getting hit by another car or large dump truck (though they are pretty good about blaring their horns). As you can see by the picture, there are plenty of places where there's a 180 degree turn that buses navigate.

I have a new respect for the drivers here, and am leaning toward not getting a car because I'd probably kill myself and someone else trying to navigate these roads. With the lack of shoulders, lanes, traffic lights, traffic cops, and paved roads, I'm just doomed. So, if you decide that you want to visit me (and you're more than welcome to!), expect to be carted around by taxi. Once you're here for 10 minutes you'll undertand why.

Snorkeling in Toucarie Bay

Since I've gotten all I can get accomplished done currently, I've signed up for a bunch of different trips (mostly with the students) to see some of the sights for cheap!! (Note to all new students, take advantage of these trips, they're much cheaper than you'll find later on!). So the one this time was snorkeling in Toucarie Bay, which is actually just north of where I'll be living in Savanne Paille (so about a 20-25 min drive from Ross).

Now, I haven't been snorkeling in a while (quite a few years actually~ I guess working on your Ph.D. doesn't allow you time for much else if you're really trying to graduate!), so this was nice. The reef is quite shallow and close near the cliffs, but will go quite deep (probably 40-50ft). I saw a lot of the same fish that I saw when I was diving in Australia (the names escape me currently, so I guess I'm going to have to become a fish person--I was a bird person in the US). So lots of good snorkeling and scuba diving locations. I'm going to have to invest in a pair of fins and snorkel/mask! But I thought I'd just put a picture in of the bay and the group that went. Lots of fun for only $20EC (about $8 US)! Note to people...bring food, because the snackette only had cheese curls (and they apparently weren't that tasty!).

The Move...

So moving to the beautiful island of Dominica is definitely easier said than done. I moved from North Carolina down to the island in August. So...it's hot as heck. I ran into issues, mainly because I was moving three of my cats down with me (I'm not the crazy cat lady, so do not judge!). Now within the US, they allow seven animals on a flight in-cabin, however... once you land in Puerto Rico, the flight to Dominica only allows two in-cabin. So way back in June (yes, you should definitely book at least this far in advance) it took me over an hour on the phone with an American Airlines representative to figure out how to get me, my parents, and three cats from RDU to Dominica (FYI, this cannot be done with US Airlines/LIAT), going back and forth from one day to the next, just to book us. But it was finally accomplished. Carrying your animals as a carry-on is the cheapest way to go ($100 per animal as a carry-on as opposed to $3000-6000 total with a private pet moving agency).

The big day finally arrives. I'm so stressed out as to how my poor babies are going to handle an airplane (when they usually stroke in a car!) and the whole move, I'm the one needing a valium!! Luckily for the kitties, they got some (Thank God!). After driving to Raleigh in such a bad rainstorm that we actually had to pull over onto the shoulder of the road (as did about 10 cars around us, one of which got stuck in the mud), we arrived at RDU. Check-in went smooth and we went over to security. I was not aware that when you travel with pets as a carry-on, they actually have to be taken out of their carriers and walked through the metal detectors (while the carrier is put through the x-ray machine). Thankfully, the drugs had kicked in by then and the cats didn't try to bolt out of my arms. We arrived in Miami at 9:30pm and had to go to our hotel (about 10-15 min drive away). We had an interesting night in the hotel (another new experience for the kitties) and I didn't sleep a wink! This was essentially repeated in Miami all the way until landing in Dominica. However, I had to take an earlier flight than my parents since only two animals were allowed on the last flight.

Needless to say, we all arrived safely and after 38hrs of being awake, I finally got some sleep! Now the adventure will begin. :)