Dominica

The capital city, Roseau, is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Roseau River, and Morne Bruce and is built on the ancient Kalinago Indian village of Sairi. The oldest part of town is around Old Market Square, formerly the original slave market. The Old Market square is now a vibrant craft vendors’ market for cruise and other visitors. The Old Post Office building is now the home of the Visitors’ Information Center and the Dominica Museum, which showcases a small collection of artifacts tracing the island’s history. The Roseau Cruise Ship berth sits across from the Museum, and cruise visitors walk off the ships directly into the city for shopping and tours. Notable sites around Roseau include The New Market on the Riverbank displaying fresh tropical fruit, vegetables, and herbs. The Roseau Market is liveliest on Saturday mornings but is open all day and through the nights from Friday to Saturday.

Morne Bruce is located just above the Botanical Gardens – a panoramic view of the entire city, a favorite of cruise visitors. Other historic sites include the Fort Young Hotel, Anglican Church, President’s Office (state house), the Carnegie Library, the Cenotaph, and the slave monument.

The seasons are not very distinct, with slight temperature variation. Dominica's tropical climate has plenty of sunshine, humidity, and heat all year round; the island has an average year-round temperature of 81F (27C). Hot days are interspersed with frequent rain showers, which dampen the intense heat and nourish the island's extensive rainforest.

English is the official language of Dominica.

1. One remarkable fact about Dominica is that Island Caribs, natives of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, still reside here today. They were the island's first inhabitants and are known today as the Kalinago people. They named Dominica Wait'tukubuli, meaning "Tall is her body." Today, there are about 3,000 living on the island, representing the largest native population in the region. 
2. The highest mountain on the island is the second-highest in the Lesser Antilles. The neighboring islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique can be seen from the top of this volcano. It’s a difficult-but-worth-it six-hour hike — you’ll be in the rainforest at its fullest, wandering between hundreds of different plant and animal species.
3. With so many volcanoes, many beaches in Dominica naturally have black sand. Mero Beach is a popular one (it’s more like a silvery gray, but still), with nearby restaurants specializing in fresh dishes and knock-you-down rum punch.
4. Boiling Lake is one the most famous places on the island. It was discovered in 1870, and it’s technically a flooded fumarole in a volcanic crater. The lake water takes on different colors depending on the local volcanic activity. The eight-mile trail to reach it leads you through the wickedly named Valley of Desolation and some genuinely wild vegetation. 
   

• Bwa-Bwa dancers have long been part of religious ceremonies and festivals worldwide, especially in celebrations of rites of passage and crop harvesting. During our carnival celebrations, towering Bwa-Bwa dancers wear costumes and face paints and dance to calypso and soca music as they parade through the streets. 
• Throughout the carnival season, you may hear of the ‘Good Hope Darkies’ or ‘Black Devils’ and wonder who they are. Although Darkie is usually regarded as an offensive term for a Black person, Darkies are celebrated for their historical significance at carnival time. The tradition of the Darkies is a European influence that has been modified to suit African culture.
• Pappy Show Weddings are, more often than not, entertaining spectacles during carnival, the more outrageous the costumes, the better the wedding. The bridal party traveled from house to house performing short skits and was rewarded with drinks and food in the early days.
• The drumming tradition is celebrated with an island-wide church service followed by a street masquerade with tambou drums, shack-shacks, and loud boom booms. This custom continues today, with popular groups including the Newtown and Yam Piece Lapeau Kabwit bands being the center of attraction while thousands of feet pound the streets as if joining their ancestors in celebration of emancipation.