Dominica

If I had posted my Dominica blog a few weeks ago, not very many people would have know this tiny country existed. Unfortunately, Hurricane Maria put this one on the map for a lot of people, as the Cat 5 hurricane's eye passed right over this tiny island of only 290 square miles. That's smaller than the size of New York City, for some perspective. Over 70,000 people call this tiny island home, but they are in dire conditions a week after Hurricane Maria decimated their country. The Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit said the country lost 'all of what money can buy and replace'. USA today took some satellite photos of before and after, and they are staggering. (Some are even of the capital city of Roseau) 

We actually had done the meal at the beginning of September, so this is one of those that weren't all done in the same day. But, when we pull a meal out like that, we at least talk a little about the country, so the boys were kind of familiar with it when the hurricane hit. (Our lesson came after the hurricane, the meal about two weeks before). 

Most on the news pronounced this tiny nation like you would pronounce the Dominican Republic. But officially it's pronounced DOM- in- EKK- ah. It was named by Christopher Columbus for the day he 'discovered' it. Dominica is Latin for 'Sunday'. 

So, what does this tiny country have going for it? It's one of the few remaining Carribbean countries where tourism hasn't taken over. It's a simple place, where people don't have a lot of money, but they still get dressed up in their Sunday best to walk to church (80% of the country is Catholic). The harbors don't hold fancy yachts, instead it holds simple fishing boats. Dirt roads wind past some 200 rivers, and lead to villages, and the tropical rain forest covers over 60% of the island. 

The capital, like I said, is Roseau, it's the country's largest town, with a population of less than 20,000. Know for it's Creole architecture, Roseau is known for it's cobblestone Old Market, which was once a slave auction site. Today you can buy crafts and fruit there. 

The smallest town is Massacre. Only 1,200 people live in the town that was named for the brutal slaying of Caribbean Indians by British troops in 1674. 

Somewhere in between those places lies our landmark for Dominica: Boiling Lake. Hidden deep in the national park, is the second largest hot spring in the world, a spring warmed by the gasses of the lava flowing miles below it. (You can find the largest in New Zealand). But, this hot spring is not one you'd step foot in, as it does actually boil. Along the edge the water temperature has been recorded at 197 degrees fahrenheit, and the center is too hot to even measure. The lake is constantly in a cloud of vapor, and the greyish blue water is always bubbling... Well, it was always bubbling. 

Boiling Lake is not easy to get to. In fact, it's over 8 miles from the nearest road. So, it's a hike. As you can imagine, not too many people visit Boiling Lake, and information out of there has been few and far between. But last November, the lake started draining, and people were swimming in it, so authorities closed the lake to visitors.  Then, a couple weeks later, it started rising again and returning to normal.  Since then there's not been too much news out of Boiling Lake, and it probably is the least of the government problems this week. Those news article links from above came from 'Dominica News Online', and now everything up there is about evacuations, and hurricane relief efforts. 

A few other Dominica animal facts: 

Champagne Beach is often home to dolphins and whales. The water is warm and even fizzes from underneath due to volcanic hot springs under the water. 

On the flag you will find the Sisserou Parrot. It's the national bird, and the largest of all the Amazon parrots. It can only be found in the trees along Dominica's rivers, and as you would expect of a species only found on one tiny island in the whole world: It is an endangered species. With so much of the Sisserou Parrot's habitat gone, you have to wonder if they'll become extinct or adapt somehow. 

The boys made their Dominica postcards. 

Calib's featured the small island with trees and the Sisserou Parrot. 

Peyton noted Boiling Lake. 

And Hayden tried to include the whole country with dirt roads, and the residents walking to church. 

Like I said, Dominica was another one where the meal was really split up from the day we learned about Dominica. I don't love having to do that, but sometimes you just have to fit them in while you can.  We did the meal and then it just became 'well, someday we'll get to the country', and then things got crazy here with Hurricane Irma and sicknesses, that this lesson and meal were probably at least two weeks apart. Hopefully that won't happen again. 

But way back in early September, we had Dominica dinner. It consisted of Locrio de Slami (Rice and Salami), Dominica Calypso Chicken, Corn Pudding and pineapple. 

This one earned three spoons up, and not all that enthusiastically, if my memory serves me correct. 

Probably one of my least favorite Caribbean dinners to date, but I did think it was alright. Calib and Asa were ok with it too, but Peyton and Hayden just kind of picked at this meal. (And to be fair, I don't remember specifically, but Calib probably picked the mushrooms off the chicken). 

The rice was good, but I thought it was going to be kind of amazing, and it just wasn't. 

But, it wasn't terrible, and I wouldn't be opposed to eating it again, I just wouldn't be thrilled either. So, maybe make that two spoons up. 

Dominica, as a nod to it's green flag has a teeny tiny green dot right there below Antigua and Barbuda in the light blue, and about Saint Lucia in the dark blue. 

118 down, 75 to go! 

Next Up: We head back to Africa and to Tunisia for a rare lunch meal (which will have to become less rare with Asa in the office so much).