Before dawn, we arrived in the old colonial town of Roseau on the Caribbean island of Dominica. Just 49km (29 miles) long and only 25km (16 miles) wide, verdant Dominica (pronounced Domi-NEE-cah) is the Windward Island north of Martinique and south of Guadeloupe. Watching this beautiful place wake to a new day was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The island has a rich heritage that blends English and French history with the culture of the native Caribe Indians, as well as the exotic music, dance, food, and splendour of the African and West Indian people. Everywhere you look is a postcard paradise of natural beauty and historical culture. And the people always seem to be truly friendly, helpful, and genuinely pleased to have tourists on their island.

In three visits (in January, May, and November), I found more and more things to see and do every time. Dominica seems to be beautiful year-round, with wonderful opportunities for hiking, diving, swimming, bird-watching, and sightseeing in historical and natural sites. In Roseau, the capital of Dominica, don’t miss the Governor’s Mansion with its elegant tree-lined driveway and colonial architecture. Just across the street from the mansion, you can visit the oldest free library in the Caribbean—and this library must surely have the most beautiful ocean views of any library on earth! And still within easy walking distance, you can visit the Botanical Gardens. Only 16 miles outside of Roseau, you can hike to the fabulous Emerald Pool and Falls. With beaches, jungles, semi-desert areas, and the Caribe Indian territory, there is much to explore on this lovely island.

How to get there
Dominica is accessible by sea and by air. For the current travel information, try the Dominica travel website . All the major cruise lines visit year-round, but there are more sailings from November to May, when the weather is drier. Although there are no nonstop flights from North America, many nearby islands are served by international carriers, including Air Canada and American Airlines. In addition to short flights from these islands, there is daily ferry service from Guadeloupe directly to Roseau. ${QuickSuggestions} Language
There are more than 70,000 locals speaking English with French patois. People in the tourist services are easy to understand, as they are basically speaking English with a few French words or accents here and there. However, the dialect takes some getting used to—this isn’t your high school French. We spoke a few pleasantries to a tour guide and then couldn’t understand anything he said from then on. His French was nothing like the Parisian French we know. Our guide was so joyful about talking to Francophones that we didn’t have the heart to tell him that we were totally baffled.

Money
The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the island currency, but don’t bother to change your money: US dollars are accepted everywhere and some locals take Canadian dollars, too. Other currencies are also acceptable. I accidentally brought the wrong purse with Euros and British pounds and was happy to find that I could spend these in many shops, stores, and businesses in Roseau. My husband gave Canadian dollars to a boy who helped us when we were lost and the child’s Dad said his son could use the money to buy ice cream.

${BestWay} On Dominica, driving is on the left, and we saw a few close calls with tourists driving rental cars. If you really want to drive yourself, rental cars are available at the airport. However, I recommend taxis, minivans, or buses. Taxis cost about $1 per minute of driving time and minivan tours are much less expensive than the coach tours. Buses are cheap, but we could never figure out the schedule. And keep in mind that all of these—rental cars, minivans, and buses—are hard to find when the cruise ships are in port.

To get out to see the sights beyond Roseau, you definitely need some kind of transportation, but to explore Roseau for historical buildings, shopping, and the fabulous Botanical Gardens, all you need are good walking shoes, a sun hat, and a bottle of water. Walking is fun, and every corner reveals some new vista or amusement.

From journal Dominica--The Most Beautiful Windward Island