Up with the lark yesterday morning, after another late night in the casino, but the early start was well worth it.
The Ventura had arrived at Dominica, a lush, mountainous island whose lofty volcanic peaks are covered in tropical forests.
After a short minibus ride from the tiny capital, Roseau, along a tortuous road built in the 18th century by slave labour, and past grapefruit and avocado trees, we arrived at the rain forest aerial tram, for a cable car journey through the jungle.
The round-trip journey took us from the base station, 1,900 feet above sea level, through the trees and over a dramatic river gorge to the top station, 500 feet higher.
Giant tree ferns and palm fronds brushed our gondala, and tiny iridescent humming birds sipped nectar from the flowers.
At the summit, we left the cable cars for a walk, through torrential rain and over a narrow suspension bridge to take a closer look at the foliage.
Although it looked like they had been there for ever, most of the trees had re-grown after the devastation wrought by Hurricane David in 1979.
We saw further evidence of its destructive powers when our driver took a detour through the botanical gardens on the return journey to the ship.
There, a giant fallen baobob tree still lies on top of a crushed bus. It was a chilling sight, and a reminder that Roseau had been flattened just a year after the nation had gained its independence, and the island was left without electricity for 12 months.
Today, we’re heading off to see dolphins off the coast of St Vincent. Must dash . . . .
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