Isle of Beauty…Isle of splendor…Isle to all so sweet and fair…All must surely gaze in wonder…at thy gifts so rich and rare.

Its been 6 years since I have been living here and I am still missing her. Nostalgia bring good memories of the fresh fruits, the waterfalls and the endless rivers. I could remember on a hot summer day walking from Wesley to the Londonderry River, to take a river bath. The mango trees, the guava trees and the coconut trees were right there for easy access. Man I miss those days.

Londonderry River

My home is not called the Nature Isle of the Caribbean for nothing, it really deserves the name. With 365 rivers, the second largest Boiling lake in the world, the waterfalls and the flora and fauna one could only see its beauty and gaze in amazement. I could imagine what it looks like to someone who lived their whole life in a concrete jungle, they would be in awe and never want to leave. Actually I know someone like that .

Boiling Lake

There is always something fun to do, a cookout by the beach or by the river, a hike to a waterfall, running through someone’s garden to steal (tief) some fruits (I did not do that one I swear). Most of all one can enjoy the fresh air. I loved smelling the scent of the sea as the wind blew inland. What about just sitting under a mango tree or any fruit tree for the matter just enjoying the shade and the cool breeze while doing a little gossiping?

Lets talk about the fruits. I remember going to Mangrove  gutter and getting some fresh Jelly Coconut to Drink. Jelly water is better than any water. I loved just sitting down with the make shift spoon to eat the “food” from inside of the Jelly. After eating I would be full to my heart’s content. Oh Apricot, Mammy apple, I used to be afraid to eat that fruit all the stories I’ve heard about people getting some bad stomach aches from eating them. Once my  fears were calmed I ate them night and day everything but the skin and seed.

Jelly Coconut and Some coconut trees

Hold up my favorite fruit was the Pommerac, when that fruit was in season I used to die for it! Children used to sell them 1 for .25 cents, I used to have my little money ready to buy about 10 of them because those things were the best!!! Don’t even mention Kenip to me because I will tell you this much I would eat them until I could not eat them anymore my teeth had to be edging at the time for me to stop.

Kenips and Pommerac

Sweet sop…Sweet sop…I can smell it! Wow to eat a sweetsop that is ripe that is like sitting in a luxury hotel while eating anchovies. . What about the Pommecythere, I could eat that any day, give me some of those and some Tin Mangoes and I won’t bother you for a few hours.

Its not all about the fruits though whenever one can get away there is always some fete (party) on a beach somewhere. Woodfordhill beach, Donkey beach sewo like crazy. Easter Monday, May Day, August Monday, Christmas and New Years, we are going to the beach to have a good time. We also have some hidden beaches one is very close to where my Grandparents house is. The Secret ones are the best…please do not ask me why as I will not tell. Some of them are black sand beaches, unique because of the volcanic nature of the island. Whenever you go to any of them you will notice 3 stones with burnt firewood in the center…a cookout .

Fresh Water Lake

We are proud of the Botanical Gardens which is the home to quite a few of the Island’s indigenous plants. I loved going there for class trips and whenever there was a church function. It is so serene, you could relax with the cool breeze flowing all over you. Imagine that.

   Botanical Gardens

So you need to see the waterfalls right? There are quite a few that you could go to. One of the popular ones Trafalgar Waterfall:

And then there is the **Sari Sari Falls:

Rivers, valleys, hills and mountains…all these things we do extol…healthy land so like all fountains…giving cheer that warms the soul.

The mouth of a river and the Valley of Desolation

Morne Watt and a Sulphur Spring

*Layou Valley

I am proud of this land, her beauty is beyond natural. Maybe in the next post we will talk about fruits   and some of the food we eat there .

*These pictures were taken by Leslyn Tonge who lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thank you Leslyn.

**These pictures were taken by Elliot Prince who lives in Dominica. Thank you Elliot.