Out to Sea for Feb.
9/13
(c) By Jim and Barb Fox
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| Holland America's Volendam in port in Dominica, the Nature Island of the Caribbean. (Jim Fox
photo) |
“Take a dip in these
cool waters and they will restore your youth,” urged our pretty Rastafarian
tour guide in the Dominica jungle.
“It is the belief
that these crystal clear waters have such powers,” Ginette said confidently
while leading us along the Emerald Pool Nature Trail in the Morne Trois Pitons
National Park.
We dutifully clamoured
down the slippery slope to immerse ourselves in the extremely cold waters of
this waterfall grotto, a contrast to the steamy tropical heat.
We’re still
waiting for the promised return of vigour and even renewed hair growth but the
memory is just one of the experiences of shore excursions while cruising.
On Dominica, known
as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean,” this is an easy 30-minute hike in the UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
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| Visitors flock to
the Emerald Pool in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park in Dominica, called a
“fountain of youth.” (Jim Fox photo) |
It’s a slightly
rocky downhill trek with overhanging lush vegetation leading to the 15-metre-high
Emerald Falls plunging into a swirling, fern-filled basin.
On the return trek,
you can view the Atlantic Coast and Morne Laurent that rises to an elevation of
685 metres.
A great thing about
cruise vacations is the chance to explore multiple destinations on one trip.
Here’s a look at a
few other natural wonders we’ve “collected” on jaunts off the ship in Mexico,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Panama.
