Aleria Update 11

Update from Aleria: Culture shock leaving Dominica and entering Iles des Saintes @ 15°52’N 61°35’W We rented a car one of our last days on Dominica with our friends Andy & Sue from s/v Spruce with whom we had crossed the Atlantic. We first met them on the SSB radio, then for real in Barbados, and our paths have continued to cross ever since.  Together, we went on a sojourn into the southern rainforest preserve and Unesco World Heritage Site of Morne Trois Pitons.  We like the same kinds of experiences so sharing days has been quite natural. And what a day it was. We drove a dirt road high up into the mountains above Roseau. We climbed a path of thousands of steps high into a cloud forest to visit Freshwater and Boeri Lakes, two lakes on either side of a volcanic crater. We swam through Ti Tou Gorge, with rock walls reaching high above cut by a meandering river/ occasional torrent over thousands of years. The rainforest hung over the deep and narrow gorge filtering the light, while waterfalls filled the gorge from above and warm springs fed it from volcanic crevasses keeping the water from being too chilly. There was even a natural warm water shower near the opening to the gorge where we warmed up after our swim. Then we climbed to the double Trafalgar Falls – raw power on a supernatural scale with cold freshwater tumbling over rock walls into emerald pools while rivulets of hot and cold sulphur springs bubbled up from hopefully dormant volcanoes. Awe inspiring. God definitely lives here. We have never seen such majesty before. It was a day to remember forever, one that will continue to feed the soul. One that will ensure that we return for another dose of paradise someday.  We just have to share more photos before continuing our story...