ABA WAVINE CYRIQUE

On Sunday, June 21, 2009 I hiked to ABA WAVINE CYRIQUE. This hike is on the Atlantic side of Dominica in the south. The only way to reach ABA WAVINE is to "repel" down a cliff full of roots and trees growing almost sideways. Once you reach the bottom you come upon a rocky black sand beach. There is about a 20 minute hike to the edge of the cliff before the climbing down begins. On the way there were paths lined with Cinnamon trees and Bay trees. I was able to bring some bay leaves and cinnamon home. It still amazes me how easily you can live off this island if you know what to look for.

This was the start of my hike...

After we walked through the path of bay leaves and cinnamon..... the cliff begins!

Half way down the first drop.. the only breaking point are a few rocks that can hold one to two people before you start the second drop.

The second drop is steeper than this one and does not have a lot of room to put your feet. So to help us "tourists" out they have built a rope latter with steps about 2 inches wide. It is more than scary when you look down and see you have to use that to move any further. I am holding ropes in most of the pictures because that was really the only safe time to take pics. For the super steep portions I used mostly roots of the trees, it just felt much more safe compared to a rope some guy tied who knows how long ago!

We are almost there!

I had to stop and shimmy out on the tree. It was just cool.

Finally made it to the bottom!

Not sure if you can really get the effect, but the sand is completely black but glistens in the sun. It is so beautiful.

So ABA WAVINE is one of my favorite places. This beach is untouched and not many people come to it due to the rigorous climb. While the group was down there we ate some coconuts off the beach and some sugar cane. True island living! Seriously, this beach could inspire anyone. I would go back any chance I get!

Random Beach Shots...

The climb back up proved to be a bit difficult when it came to the latter stretch of the hike. It was definitely an arm workout. You really had to trust yourself for this hike, there was no time to second guess and nobody could make the move but you. It truly was one of my favorite experiences and places. On the way back up, a few of us hopped a fence to get a glimpse of what a bay leave distillery is.... brace yourself it's exciting.....

LOL!!!!

It was a big heap of bay leaves that they make into some sort of syrup and dry them out. Fun fact.... the locals will keep bay leaves in the windows and around the house to help keep the bugs out.

Well, today was amazing, as most days seem to be here. Below is a picture of the group I hiked with today. Another one of my favorite things on this island is that you never know who you are going to meet in a day. Our hike group consisted of students and spouses from all over thee US and Canada, faculty from the school, two native Dominicans and a native Jamaican (from montego bay).