I’ll spit it out right on the beginning … this is a third world country. Small island situated between French Guadalupe and Martinique, to my personal opinion most underdeveloped island of all the others. This is the last island colonized by the Europeans. In 1763 British came to this island, in 1805 it officially becomes British colony, and in 1978 it gains its independence. Full name of the island is Commonwealth of Dominica. There are two reasons why this specific island was colonized the last. Mountainous, rather impassable and difficult terrain was a tough challenge to any conqueror, as much as for the British, while there were Carib indians too, who had shown strong resistance. As I got to know ‘’the soul’’ of all the islands in this group, my first visit to Dominica did shock me a little, just as all of my friends. This is indeed third world country, and I couldn’t imagine such a poverty, especially after few months spent on the other islands, when I just created a picture of the Caribbean. I would like to write so many things at once … so let’s get started.

This island is green, but I meeeaaan green! It is all covered with thick jungle, from the beginning to the end. That’s where the name "Nature island" comes from. Not a day passes here without raining, what’s actually good for it is the only chance to refresh yourself. As soon as the raining stops, damp appears, sun comes up and starts to burn. And who would say that this island has 365 rivers … yes, yeees, so the locals say, each for a day. The capital is Roseau, with 20,000 souls living in it. First time I went into the capital with a cab, and when we climbed onto the bridge the driver proudly mentions that we are just entering into the town center. Not for one second I have imagined it like it was … wooden houses some of which look like they’ll fall apart every minute, tipical shops, doors wide open, several types of merchandise in there, and the vendor sits in front of it praying God to sell something eventually.

Drop an eye on the pictures and you’ll know what am I talking about. Roads are dominated by small, compact Japanese cars due to low consumption and endurance, because only those can be used for driving through those narrow streets with sharp curves, and it seems like a miracle how drivers manage to avoid slithering off the road and falling into an abyss. Holes on the road are common thing … One after another! Soo common that avoiding one usually means falling into another. But little Japanese withstands all that. One who gets driving licence here can drive anywhere. Slides are so often here that a part of the road simply slides off under the pressure of the water that flows down the mountain, and you have passed that road some 15 minutes ago … ehhh. Why is everything suddenly so, you probably wonder, my dear reader and chance traveller…? The answer is simple – there is no money. This is the island state, in the beginning of some development, with main income from tourism and agriculture. Obviously without any visible results so far, nothing is for free, we all know that much… But I must give the recognition to the inhabitants of the island on their persistence, hospitality and optimism. In the last year big cruisers which otherwise navigate the Caribbean islands, more often tend to turn towards Dominica bringing thereby tourists who deem going out and spending few hours on this island one of their bigger life adventures. No comment.

Just as on the other islands where everything is subordinated to tourism, there are few tourist agencies here that commonly offer island sightseeing in several ways. This is true paradise for those who wish to explore new areas through the jungle, dive in, as the y say, one of the most beautiful places in the world, walk through the valley full of hot geysers that emanate on the surface. Yes, this island has a volcanic origin too. If you really want to see how is it to bath in champagne, come here. There is a part of the coast where hot air wells under the sea and when you dive or just swim, you have a feeling you are in the glass full of champagne, bubbles tickle you all over you body… yeah, downthere too! I say that with the smile on my face. For all those who prefer mountains, with mountaineering in your veins, danger middle name, do not drive to despair. There are things for you too.

First, as much as fear is in question you must survive the ride in a cab to the top or any of the waterfalls exageratedly commercialized by the locals. You may choose between walking, mountain climbing or if you are a lazy bum like I am, pur sightseeing, taking photo with the tree what Americans do quite often. I still don’t get it. The biggest attraction here, and end point of all the excursion is called Emerald pool. That is just a waterfall with natural pool in the middle of the island, deep in the tart, green woods. Why do I say “just a ...”? Because this is not a new world to Europeans, especially for us in Croatia, so all that looked like a joke to me. We have thousand places and waterfalls like that, but as I said, you can sell anything to an American. You must see the muzzy look when Italians, Germans or Dutch people come to that place… Place described to them as something miraculous is nothing special to them. All these tourists should come to Croatia, to Europe. And after all these things I have seen, the best way to improve this loosen impression on the island is – what else if not shopping! On the entire island you may run into spots where the locals sell fruits, offer fresh coconut cut with a machete, and there’s a straw in it too. Otherwise there’s no point in drinking it.

Various finery, all kinds of souvenirs are available at all these touristic spots trying thereby to earn their piece of the cake. I must admit that tourist guides know their job and are really well educated. If you say you come from Croatia, they know where is it, again you’ll hear about few our football players but Ivanišević too! I am fascinated by the marketing of the domestic brew, by the name Kubuli. Believe it or not, on every stud by the road, and there ar eloads of them, there is a small poster with that name. It looks funny at the beginning, and then starts to be boring while later on one starts to think on another way of brainwashing and persuasion. Maan, someone should have glued all that!!!

In the center itself are situated small hotels, bars, small shops with standard goods. Numerous cabs as in St. Thomas, offer rides and island sightseeing without pardon. Of course, inevitable local market as also few modern shops with branded clothes. And finally something for women. After all these adventures there is nothing better than complete body massage, manicure, pedicure and Brasilian massage! How do I know that, you wonder, my female readers and chance travellers? I heard it over from the girls who are permanent customers there … and all that you cam get for 30-40 dollars. American ones, of course. So you will be beautiful and fragrant, I do think about you too. As in every island, with the official currency, EC, in the meaning East Carribean Dollar, means of payment is US dollar. Official language is English, while among themselves they speak local language that is a mixture of several European. At the entire island there are 70,000 inhabitants, and my impression is that half of those are cab drivers. Island has two airports out of which one is sportslike while the other is a connection to other Caribbean islands. If you fly from Miami to Dominica, you fly first to San Juan, and then you catch a plane to the island. Planes are so small, and serve as freight carriers, they just throw out the seats. That means when the plane is full and comes to Dominica, you don’t get your luggage with you. A part of it may be in San Juan and it will arrive in 7 days with the first next flight. Luckily enough, I had mine with me. Besides the air journey, you may choose a passenger boat, you only have to find a company that offers it.