1gail1

Hi there

Spices are generally produced by the vendors that sell them so I have no real preference between the two markets. The market in town is right by the ship which means should you need more money to buy up all our supplies :) you can easily get more - lol. Quality should be as good in each - suggest you stroll the market before choosing. I tend to buy in town simply as it is mixed in with my other shopping. Hope you have a wonderful day on our beautiful island.

Thank you IslandStar for you comments, I think we may just head into town and take a look around and then head on over to the beach. I know Lazy days and umbrella beach have been mentioned a lot, is there a special beach you prefer?

I have seen you answer many questions on here so I am hoping you can help me out as well. I see that there are two spice markets one at grand anse beach by lazy days beach and umbrella's beach and one by the cruise port past the tunnel. Is there a difference in prices and quality of the spices? which place would you recommend? Do you like one more then the other?

Thanks for any input

Gail

Hi Xenia. We had a driver who had been driving us around all week, so we felt 100% confident he would come back for us. When we've been on cruises, we've asked the taxi driver who drove us to our destination to come back for us at a designated time. We've done this 5 or 6 times and the driver has always come back. You might consider calling or e-mailing Caribbean Paddling and asking if they could call a taxi for you in a pinch. Or you could just have a couple of phone numbers ready and call yourselves just before you leave Pinel. Good luck!

Lisa, can you tell me how much the taxi ride is from the ship to Caribbean paddling? I think you said it takes about 30 mins. should we plan on a longer ride back do to traffic and did you make reservations in advance? thanks Gail

I guess that depends on which pictures you were looking at and which person took them!

 

1. I use a Canon D10 underwater camera (for snorkeling AND when I'm worried the camera might get wet otherwise.)
    
   
2. My friend, Laurel, also took quite a few of the underwater photos on my blog and she uses a Panasonic DMC-T55. (Between Laurel and I we had 5 different cameras AND our phones!)
    
   
3. Some of the photos I posted from Bonaire were taken by a professional photographer who was with our snorkel tour and then had the pictures for sale on a CD afterwards.
    
   
4. And lastly...the scuba photos from Bonaire were taken by the dive company that my husband was with.
   

I probably haven't been too helpful with this response, but if you have any certain photo you were wondering about, I could tell you which camera it was taken with. ;)

 

 

Thanks, I was just looking for a good underwater camera that was not to expensive. You have been helpful.

AryMay, you have so many wonderful photos underwater, can you please tell me what camera you use? thanks Gail

Yes...we did go to the hot springs. It wasn't far off the path, but did require climbing down a steep, muddy incline with lots of tree roots and such to get over. There are some photos on my blog where you can get an idea of what the area looked like. We stayed maybe 15 minutes or so. (Not everyone in our group chose to go to the spring.)

 

To me, it was such a wonderful experience to be sitting in a steaming, hot spring in the middle of a rain forest (while it was raining I might add!) :)

Sounds wonderful, now I just have to get the rest of the group to go. I think it is between this and possibly river tubing. Thank you for responding back to me with information, it has been very helpful.

Our tour was the "Roseau Valley Treasures" and our cost (in 2013) was $50/per person.

 

Here is a copy of the email I received from Levi (from June 2013)

 

Roseau Valley Treasures (wet tour) “Casey’s” 3 waters

 

Champagne Reef:

(1st stop) One of the most unique snorkeling areas in the eastern Caribbean. Take a short 5 minutes walk to the end of the stony beach, until you get to a cliff where you will gear up, walk in and begin a very different under water experience. You will be swimming in bubbles like you were in a giant aquarium. If you do not have snorkel gears, we will provide gears (complete snorkel set with fins) at no extra cost. If you need snorkel gears please provide us with you shoe size. If we do not receive the shoe sizes, the gears will have to be rented at champagne reef.

 

Titou Gorge:

One of the most unique areas on the Island and it's also a spot where part of Pirates of the Caribbean 2 was filmed. Like just about all fresh water swimming areas on the Island, The water at Titou Gorge is cold. To enjoy the gorge you would have to take the short swim (about 2 minutes) up a cave like area (opened top, you can see the sky while swimming, you do not swim under water). The swim is about 200 feet and the water is about 15 feet deep at its deepest point. Once you get to the middle of the cave-Like area there is a ledge you can stand on. That’s the only place you will be able to stand before you get to the end of your swim. There is a small waterfall one can swim to, if the water is not flowing too heavy (must do). If you are athletic you can climb the waterfall (4-5 feet) to get to another waterfall but anyone jumping has to be very athletic since you have to jump about 6 feet out into the water on your way down to avoid a ledge in the water. This part is not for everyone and is optional even if you can make the jump. (There is 5-7 minutes rocky walk to Titou Gorge). We provide swim belts to all our guests.

 

Trafalgar Falls:

(two waterfalls in the same area) 10 minutes walk one way up a few steps. The walk is not too difficult but can be a bit challenging if one has any major problems with their backs, legs, hips or if one is short in breath due to lungs or heart condition. After the ten minutes walk, you get to a platform where you view the waterfalls and take photos. There is an optional extra two minutes walk where you can soak in the HOT mineral water (natural hot spring). This part of the tour is not for everyone since it’s a bit challenging getting to the hot spring (uneven and slippery). Visitors should take their time walking to and around the hot spring since the area is a bit rocky, slippery and steep. Climbing to the base of the waterfall should be avoided as much as possible because of the danger involved.

 

Botanical Gardens:

(There you will see different plants trees and flowers grown on the Island) 5 minutes from Morne Bruce. (drive through)

 

Morne Bruce:

(an area where you can see the entire city of Roseau from the top of a hill) 7 minutes drive from the ship. (Great for taking photos) (optional)

 

The estimated duration of the tour is about 5 to 6 hours and has about 1 to 1.5 hours driving and about 30 minutes walking, total. The tour cost $50.00us per person (adult). Children under 14 years but older than 5 years, pays $10.00us less ($40.00us). There's no charge for children 5 and under, all they pay is the government sight pass fee $5.00us.

 

You pay for the tour after it has been completed, with cash or travellers cheques (US dollars).

 

NB: Site passes will be provided so you do not have to purchase site passes.

 

There will be complementary local (kubuli) beers, soft-drinks and local bottled water on the tour.

 

Recommendations:

 

Wear a good pair of waterproof strapped sandals. (eg. Keens)

Swim suits (wear under clothing) and towels

 

Bring along snacks/Sandwiches and or some fruits (we do not provide lunch)

Waterproof camera would be great for this tour

 

 

Please check out our website

http://www.bumpiingtours.com

for updated News and updates on tours and little more about bumpiingtours and Dominica.

Thanks AryMay..Did you walk up to the hot springs? is it as difficult and they say? and how long can you soak in the hot springs.

This past year I started doing a blog to record the memories that we have made during our travels. I have now begun going backwards in time to record past cruises. Since I have always done lengthy trip reports here on Cruise Critic, I am basically transferring the information into the blog where it is easier to read.

 

Even though the cruise was in December 2013, I think it could still provide some useful information to anyone planning to be in Dominica.

 

Here are the links to the blog entries about Dominica...

 

Dominical Part 1

 

Dominical Part 2

 

If you are one of those people (like me!) who like to read about other people's cruises, please feel free to browse through the other entries as well! So far I have covered recent cruises to Alaska, and the Caribbean.

 

ARYMAY: what was the name of your tour and what was the cost? This looks wonderful would love to take it. Thanks Gail

Just a thought...take a look at my Blue Kay review (listed in my signature line). It has TONS of pictures and the place is beautiful. It's right there at the Malecon and is the first stop they drop you at. The place is FREE!!! All you have to do is buy your drinks and food from them. There was 3 of us and we spent every last minute there and only spent $48 with eating and drinking all day. The water is crystal clear blue, VERY long beach (compared to any of the others on the Malecon), the grounds are beautiful, plenty of sun or shade, massages (for a fee), great food and drinks, great service and even snorkeling if you like that. You can't beat it.

 

I just thought I would give you another option...with 16 people, money adds up quickly with an AI. :)

Just looked over your review of Blue Kay and I thing you have change my mind and will be going there. Love all your pictures and comments on the place. there will be 7 women (our girls cruise) and this place looks wonderful. Have you been to the Tropicana? would like to know the difference between them.

Host Anne; after reading this entire post I am so ready to spend a week on St. John's where did you stay or can you suggest where to stay on the island and if you do not mind me asking what is the cost for a weeks stay there?

A few years ago I made magnetic signs 6 total some with the kids favorite disney characters and two adult signs with sayings and clip art on them. I created them on the computer and then printed them out on magnetic paper I got at staples (8 1/2 x 11) the first day we put them on the doors which are always metal (I believe) all but one sign were stolen with in 2 hours, but.... we found the theifs and they were return we then put them up on the inside of the doors so they would not be stolen again. I was thinking of creating a sign that says "take me to your door" and seeing how many doors it ends up on.