Back to Dominica

After a few enjoyable days in Martinique, we headed north again to Dominica, and are now in Roseau, the capital, where we will spend a couple of days before going up to Portsmouth and doing some inland exploring of this lovely island.

Our trip here was a tough one for the crew, for the sailors - it was close hauled in a force 5/6 with 6 foot seas and some lengthy squalls. For the landlubbers, that means quite windy, bouncy and leany overy with occasional extra windy and rainy too. It took about five hours, during which the others went into hibernation. I actually enjoyed it, proper sailing and getting the most out of the boat even if it's the first time I've worn my heavy weather rain jacket since we left England.

Roseau is to just the capital, it's also where the cruise ships tie up, and the waterfront has suffered / benefited from the regular influx of cash. We're sitting in a very smart coffee shop with wireless internet, looking very like a Starbucks, but the prices are about half of those at home. Outside, walking up and down the street, we are regularly approached for a dollar from the local beggars who must get lucky enough with the thousand or so cruise ship passengers to make it worth asking every white guy who walks past.

Tomorrow we will head to the local museum, the botanical gardens, and find out more about things to see inland. There are also, I believe, five cruise ships expected, so we'll have to get up early to beat the crowds!