Dominica Pictures

If you are standing on the edge of campus facing the Caribbean Sea and look towards the right (North-West) you will see this hill. The Cabrits is a national park with the remains of an old British fort used to defend this end of the island.

If you are out in Prince Rupert Bay and look back to the school (East) this is your view.

Just a little ways South of the school you will find this hidden beach blocked off from land by the cliff you see. You can get there by hiking in if you know where you are going or you ask for a ride. You can get a boat to take you from either Coconuts (cheaper) or from the inlet to Indian River. If you get a boat ride from a guy at the Indian River make plans to pay him when he picks you back up just to be safe.

If you go across the street from the school you will find a train that heads inland (East). There are many places up this trail (Bananna Trail) where students rent housing, including my first Dominican home.

This was taken from the top of the steps at the edge of campus overlooking the Caribbean Sea. This is a very common site.

If you walk to the edge of campus and walk down the steps this is what you will find.

A low quality picture but still worth putting here.

When I would visit the beach in Maryland I always saw pictures of beach sunsets that were more beautiful than anything I could imagine. I wondered if there was any place in the world where they look like that. When I started medical school I learned one such place. These pictures don't do the sunsets justice.

But yet it's a daily occurence here.

A view looking South along the waterfront in Roseau (pronounced Ro-zo). This is the spot where the cruise ships dock. You can also see the little vans the Dominican people call busses.

There is one fast food chain in Dominica, KFC. Dominicans eat lots of chicken so it was easy to take off. This is in the capital an hour South of Ross. Anything imported from America will be more expensive here, including KFC.

Another street in Roseau. Not a good picture of the vans but if you want to go somewhere you merely go to the road and wait for a van do drive by with a license plate that starts with "H" (for Hire). Wave at them and if they have space they will stop and pick you up. But ask other friends how much a given ride will cost or else many drivers will overcharge the American. In Dominica everything has a set price. Everybody buys and sells for everything for the same price. The only exception is that produce is cheaper at the market than if you buy it near campus.

Part way along the Bananna trail you go down hill a little ways before going back up. Here you can see a few of the houses students rent.

Many huricanes ago this ship got in trouble and washed a shore in the Southern end of Portsmouth near the bank. The town is about one mile North of Ross University. It's pronounced Ports-mouth. The "bus" ride from school costs EC$1.

If you wander into town there are two primary schools. This is the public school. There is also a private Catholic school.

Near the top of the hill in Portsmouth. For those of you that are firefighters you will love seeing these antiques that are still in working order.

It may be poor but God created a beautiful place. I would love to go back just to visit the great outdoors.

Looking from the Southern side of the Cabrits back towards the campus. You can see the small cruise ship dock on the North end of the island. The school is about a third of the way from the right to the left.

I have no idea what this is anymore.

Sometime when you need a break take a walk all the way up the Bananna trail. Whenever the trail forks the "real" Bananna trail goes to the Right. Eventually it will loop all the way back to the road. You get this awsome view. I recomend doing it with a group at least one during the day and again at night.

When I was on the island there was a Dr. Smith who taught histology and was the "Jimmy Buffet" of professors. He was a great teacher and a very laid back guy. Sadly his boad did not survive the huricane.

There are never ending suplies of lizards, millipeads and centipeads. If you live on ground level millipeads WILL find there way into you place. If you are on the second floor or higher you will be glad.

It's obvious which photographer loved the sunsets.

This is a picture of me in front of the Caribbean while the huricane is about 150 miles off shore.

Don't expect to get any surfing in near school. The Caribbean is usually completely calm unless there is a huricane offshore like today.

My buddies and I loved days like this. This was the worst storm surg in 40 years. I loved watching the waves break and splashing halfway up the campus steps (15 of 30 feet). A nice distraction from studying.