It was an hour's drive across the island from Melville Hall Airport in the northeast to Roseau in the southwest.
I shared the taxi with a couple of businessmen from St Kitts and Nevis, here to procure a supplier of parts for tractors. Past coastal villages, a rocky shoreline and through the mountains and forests of the Central Forest Reserve, the drive was possibly one of the most scenic taxi rides I'd taken.
Roseau is located on the sheltered Caribbean side, within an open bay, and flanked by mountain slopes. It's a small town, with old buildings in the historic centre and settlements down the coast and up into the hills.
From the harbour-front, looking towards the southwest tip of the island at Scott's Head.
Originally claimed by France, the British took over the island in 1763, but despite being almost 250 years ago, amazingly French Patois (creole) is still widely spoken across the island. French place names are common and even a few French surnames remain amongst the numerous Shillingfords and James'. At weekends, with visitors from neighbouring Guadeloupe and Martinique, I'm glad I kept up my school French.
Great George.
Most mornings at around seven cruise ships would arrive at the harbour. They would then depart at sunset, leaving the town once again quiet at night. Some cruise ships, like the Caribbean Princess and Celebrity Cruises, were immense and thousands of passengers would disembark.
Others, such as the Wind Surf (with large sails, unfurled mechanically) only carried a couple of hundred passengers.
Each morning, stands would sprout up and minivan taxis would arrive, for passengers wanting souvenirs and tours of the island. Hundreds of Dominicans are thus directly employed, and restaurant owners, dive operators, importers and so on also gain. Tourism is thus Dominica's largest industry. However, the vast majority of tourists are day visitors from cruise ships and the country wants more people to overnight in hotels and leave more of their dollars behind.
With visiting passengers, children heading to school and locals shopping and going to work, the narrow streets of Roseau became choc-a-bloc with minivan taxis and buses each morning. Below is the Soufriere and Scott's Head stop: each part of the island has its own place in town to catch minivans.
The old part of town, with beautiful colonial-style wooden buildings.
Streets leading along the coast at Castle Comfort and up towards the botanic gardens.
Dominicans, like other islanders, love bright colours.
On old as well as new buildings.
Inside the old market, adjoining a stone-paved square where slaves were once sold.
The old Anglican church, made of volcanic rock and tin.
The Catholic church, different in architecture and style to the Anglican.
Local herbal remedies.
And more typical, bananas (costing around 10 Euro cents each). Other common produce sold by women in the street: tomatoes, lettuces, celery, aubergines, squash, cocoa sticks (for making tea), dried berries and coconuts.
At the end of the day, a Kubuli, the local beer made with water from the mountains, at Castle Comfort.
