|
Dominica
- about the Nature Island of
the Caribbean
for
anyone
unfamiliar with Dominica, do not make the common
mistake of thinking it is, or has any connection
with, the Spanish speaking Dominican Republic.
Dominica was a British territory until gaining
full independence in 1978 and its full title is
"Commonwealth of Dominica". It is pronounced
DOM-IN-EE-CA and its tiny capital, Roseau, is
pronounced ROSE-OH. It has a legal system and
multi party democracy based on the Westminster
model with elections held every 5 years. Dominica
is located in the East Caribbean between the
French islands of Guadeloupe to the north and
Martinique to the south. It is a mountainous
island of volcanic origin with several peaks
approaching 5,000ft on height, cloaked in tropical
rainforest, lush vegetation and
veined with an abundance of sparkling and scenic
rivers which are a delight to bathe in. It has only a small resident
population of around 70,000 who speak English as
the official language and Patois. With an airport
which accommodates only small and medium sized
aircraft, Dominica remains the "best kept secret
in the Caribbean".
Unlike
many popular tourist destinations, you will not
find walled in mega resorts where your holiday is
spent lounging on the beach in isolation from the
local populous. Your experience of Dominica will
be a more personal one where you will find locals
friendly and helpful. Known as the "Nature Island
of the Caribbean", there are many sites of natural
beauty - waterfalls, hot
mineral water spas, lakes
(including the world's second largest 'Boiling
Lake') mountains to climb and a network of hiking
trails throughout the island. There are several
National Parks and Marine Reserves, one of which
is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Enjoying
a healthy environment - fresh clean air off the
Atlantic Ocean, unpolluted water, a great variety
of locally grown fruit and veg - Dominica boasts
the highest number of centenarians per head of
population in the world. The emphasis in Dominica
is on eco friendly development, with almost half
our energy needs satisfied by hydro and many
establishments utilizing renewable energy and organic
farming
methods. Dominica is also ranked among the top
scuba diving destinations in the region and is a
prime spot for all year round whale watching.
Birdwatching is popular and of 176 species to be
found, the Sisserou and Jacquot Parrots are unique
to Dominica.
|
about
Casablanca
Caribbean Sea view from
Casablanca
|
Casablanca
occupies a third of an acre plot nestled on a
cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea,
conveniently located on Dominica's popular mid
west coast where, for most of the year, the sea
is calm and clear, protected by the mountainous
interior from prevailing easterly winds off the
Atlantic. On the south side a path leads down to
the estuary of the Macoucherie River and a small
quiet beach. On the north side are a few more
houses, a small hotel and restaurant, and beyond
that, a 7 or 8 minute walk will bring you to
Salisbury Beach, which has coconut
palms for shade, a
scuba diving outfit - the East Carib Dive with
daytime restaurant and bar Chez La
Doudu and beyond that
the local fishermen bring in their catch. The
sea directly below the villa is a wonderful spot
for snorkelling - large rocky outcrops just
below the surface are festooned in colourful
coral and fish. They can be reached by swimming
from the beaches at either side. Cross the main
road and a little used road meanders for about 2
miles up the scenic Macoucherie River Valley,
past mango trees and fields of cane which are
grown for making rum at the nearby Macoucherie
Estate Distillery, where you may enjoy a tour
and purchase the several varieties produced.
Casablanca was built in the early 1990's by an
Englishman who fell in love with Dominica on his
first visit and, now retired, divides his time
between there and England. The main villa is on
one level, below which is a small flat which is occupied by the groundsman.
The house is elevated and the only access is a
short flight of stairs leading up to the
balcony. It is tiled throughout, has 3 bedrooms,
fully equipped kitchen, 2 bathrooms, lounge/
dining area and balcony enjoying an ocean view
with south westerly aspect. The lounge and
kitchen both open onto the balcony, where the
dining table and chairs are most often used. The
lounge contains a settee, armchairs, tree slice
coffee table.
and a corner shelf with TV for dvd's only, of
which there are a selection available. It may also be used as a music centre for playing cd's. The
kitchen has a large fridge with top freezer, gas
cooker, electric kettle and an assortment of
crockery, pans and utensils. From the lounge a
passage with bookshelves leads past 2 bathrooms,
each tiled and with WC wash hand basin and
shower, one of which has solar heated water, to
three double bedrooms, each with wardrobe. The
windows do not have insect screens, though nets
are available to hang over beds at night if
required. There are stand fans but no A/C,
though all bedrooms have east facing louvred
windows to catch the breeze. From the
balustraded seating area near the cliff edge,
whales and dolphins are occasionally
spotted and the sunsets are a pleasure to behold.
This tranquil setting is an ideal place to relax
and unwind.
To explore the island,
vehicle hire is
recommended, which we will be pleased to arrange
for you to collect at the airport or ferry
terminal on arrival in Dominica. Driving times -
Roseau 30 minutes, Portsmouth 35 minutes,
Melville Hall Airport 80 minutes. Nearby natural
attractions include to the south the Layou
River, with Wacky Rollers Adventure Park, river
tubing and hot springs. To the north
is Morne Diablotin National Park, Syndicate forest
trail and waterfall, row boat ride up the Indian
River and Cabrits National Park, with nature
trails to lookouts and historic Fort Shirley.
Wifi
internet
October 2012 update: solar hot water system installed
|
