Roseau, Dominica

Tonight we have big band sets for the first time since I’ve been here – and since our first one isn’t until 9:45pm tonight, we had what feels like a day off. I’ve still got a couple of hours left to relax and get ready for the sets. Last night I was up late playing good old scrabble with some of my new friends, so I slept in today. The social situation is a little better on this ship because there is a great non-smoking common room area, as an alternative to the smoking bar. on the galaxy, that non-smoking hangout area was only big enough for maybe 15 people at a time, with nowhere to sit or relax. Here the room is big, with lots of couches, tables and chairs, and even a couple of T.V.’s where I’ve seen crewmembers showcasing their Guitar Hero skills. ☺

Today I got off the ship around 12:30 and walked around Roseau, Dominica for the first time, with Jason, the sound tech. I found the port a bit intimidating – it isn’t the safest area to walk around. Jason was comfortable, though – he says Dominica really reminds him of South Africa. . It was quite different for me, though. The rest of the island is very beautiful and tropical, but I wouldn’t know where to go on my own. I think I prefer places like Aruba and St. Maarten which are easy to get around, safe, and more tourist-friendly. Although if I had the money, the nature tours on Dominica look really fantastic. Hiking, waterfalls, marine reserves, wildlife parks, even a boiling lake. Most of the island is still rainforest.

When I had had enough of walking around in the sun, I came back to the ship and went to the gym for the first time. The guest gym here is even nicer than the Galaxy’s. I hope I’ll be more consistent about going this contract!