Before we left Dominica, we had a few more experiences that are worth mentioning.

Barb and Devi paid another visit to the town market, where they noticed that the fish vendors are selling lots of Lion Fish.  And the Terns and the Takks took a maxi up to the area of Ross University, with the intention of enjoying some pizza at “Tomato”, but learned from maxi riders that it was temporarily closed since the University was out of session.  A passenger who got off with us told us about an alternative pizza joint, so we went there.  Not quite the same.  We sat at the single rickety picnic table outside the shop (no inside seating).  The pizza was mediocre at best, but the real problem was that a number of rats — some big and some small — kept running back and forth under our table.  Can you picture Barb, shuddering with fear, sitting with her feet up, choking down dry cheese-less pizza?

On another day the Terns and Takks caught a maxi up to the NE village of Bense.   From there we walked — first on a paved road, then on a dirt road, and finally through dense forest on a foot path that took us over a small river (jumping from rock to rock) and along another river that brought us to Chaudiere Pool.  We had taken along swim goggles in the expectation of seeing fish in the pool, but alas, a construction project upstream had clouded the river with mud.  Not to be deterred, Barb got wet and the Terns got frisky, swimming against the strong current and jumping/diving into the deepest portion of the pool.  I took pictures.  🙂

Back in Bense, we enjoyed cold drinks and speaking with the locals, some of whom were making cinnamon by stripping bark off small logs.  There was also a collection of cocoa beans drying in the sun.  Great hike and great experience.