This Caribbean Island Is Back From the Brink—and Ready To Share Its Treasures With the World

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The paintings of Italian-born artist Agostino Brunias, who made a profession of depicting the island in subdued, stylized settings that covered up the harsh realities of colonial control, were my first visual introduction to Dominica. However, as soon as I step onto its winding roads, which begin to twist shortly after I arrive, it becomes evident that this region, which is situated in the center of the Lesser Antilles’ curve, is anything but tame. The two-toned leaves of its bois canot trees, which change color from green to white when they sway in the wind, shimmer and bristle with the power of the volcano. It lulls with the erratic sound of its numerous waterfalls, scatters rainbows haphazardly across its breathtaking horizons, and enchants from the depths with its vibrant coral reefs. And it roars come storm season.

The indigenous Kalinago people of Dominica survived invasion by the French and British, who imposed slavery on the Africans who now make up four-fifths of the island’s population and left a linguistic legacy of English and French-based Creole, by mastering the lush tropical rainforest that covers more than 60% of the island. If you visit Trinidad for roti and Jamaica for jerk, you should travel to Dominica for green things like bush rum and flower teas. There are a ton of medicinal herbs in the forest.

The Jungle Bay Dominica resort, located smack dab in the center of the Soufrière jungles, leans into nature instead, maybe realizing the futility of fighting against the earth’s generosity. When I finally get there, the kitchen is closed. Joanne Hilaire, the operations manager, tells me that they never let guests go hungry, though, so I can feel the warmth of Dominica’s welcome. The cook is preparing an excellently stewed dish of beans with taro, rice, and plantain for our late dinner, off the menu, while I have a refreshing ginger-lime cocktail that is a local favorite. When I wake up the following morning, I find that my villa’s doors open onto a private veranda that faces southwest toward Soufrière Bay, where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean converge. I let the light wake me for the remainder of my stay by leaving my blinds open.

Behind the Scenes with Joy Behar: Exclusive Insights into ‘The View’

Anyone that has ever watched the ABC trainwreck, otherwise known as “The View,” knows that the “ladies” on the panel aren’t exactly the most warm and fuzzy human beings. When they aren’t spreading half-truths and pushing their own far-left agendas, they are race-baiting or making outrageous statements, mostly about conservatives, in order to stoke dissent and attempt to bolster their feeble ratings.

Considering ABC’s parent company, Disney, is desperately trying to unload the failing network, even the bombastic, over-the-top attacks on conservatives aren’t saving the show. Rather than course correct and attempt to reimagine their image and relaunch the show, the ladies of The View continue to spread acrimony and push scurrilous viewpoints.

Recently, one of America’s most visible pop-culture icons of the last 20 years made some eye-opening yet unsurprising claims about Joy Behar.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi was being interviewed by Andy Cohen on the Bravo Network’s “Watch What Happens Live” when Cohen asked her who the rudest celebrity she has met since being in the public zeitgeist is. Her answer floored the host. NOTE: This is borrowed satire

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