In Dominica! By the time we reached Roseau, we were halfway through our cruise. Although passengers were allowed to disembark beginning 8:30 am, we didn't really go down until 9:30 am. The entire city was on party mode. Loud Christmas music could be heard street after street and families could be seen carrying bags of groceries and gifts. Men were drinking and partying in the streets throughout the day we were there. It was a happy scene.

I looked forward to visiting Dominica last Christmas, the reason being, it was going to be my 113th country.

Fellow cruise passengers on board the ship looking at bustling Roseau shortly after our ship docked in the city.

I will forever remember the island of Dominica not for its greenery but for its colorful homes and stores. Everywhere I looked, there were bright colors on the virtually everything!

The Dominica Museum was located right at the cruise terminal. Anyone would be hard pressed to miss it.

The sweet water well monument in Dawbiney Market Square built during the Victorian era. Erected in 1872, it was a celebration of piped water from La Riviere Douce in the Roseau Valley. The present structure of the fountain is a canopy only. Decorative elements are missing, and the actual drinking fountain no longer exists. Do note that the market where this water fountain is located is likewise in the center of town where centuries ago trade between Dominica and neighbouring islands happened. Likewise, public executions also took place in the market square, and slave auctions were commonplace. It was reported that African slaves were brought here by colonial planters, and in 1805 the Population Returns showed 1594 whites, 2882 free people of colour, and 22,083 slaves. Uprisings a decade later eventually led to the emancipation of all slaves in 1838. (Info courtesy of QR Dominica)

Sandals for sale. This was taken right on the sidewalk where many people sold their merchandise.

Taken at Roseau's Botanical Garden. Included in many shore excursions offered by the cruise line, it was walking distance from the cruise terminal.

A beautiful flower in the Botanical Garden

A private residence

Another very colorful home

A view of the mountains of Dominica. They certainly were very green!

The monument dedicated to the Dominicans who saw action the previous world wars

While walking around exploring the city of Roseau as much as we could, we stumbled upon this monument dedicated to native Dominicans who served and fought valiantly in the previous world wars.

One of Roseau's historical buildings is the old prison on John's Lane. Built by the French 300 years ago, it was use until 1784. Sadly it burnt in 2021.

Sign about Dominica's very first prison built centuries ago by the French.

While in the Botanical Garden, we caught a glimpse of the trolley our fellow passengers rode touring the city of Roseau.

This was Our Lady of Fair Heaven Church. We really wanted to see the cathedral in Roseau. I had seen impressive pictures of it on Instagram and I wanted to take pictures of it myself. Little did we know the cathedral burned down and the premises to the cathedral were locked and closed to the public.

This was a view of the elegant waterfront hotel we checked out while in Roseau. It seemed popular among foreign tourists as we saw many check in and check out during our visit.

This was a supermarket located opposite the cruise terminal. It looked way more upscale and more modern than the majority of stores we saw in the city. That afternoon we checked it our in search of Tortuga Rum Cakes we were hoping to purchase and take home, the place was packed with shoppers getting ready for Christmas. Christmas eve was just a day away afterall.