Boiling lake

We made a trek to the boiling lake here in Dominica today. First we had to find a ride to get to the base at Titou Gorge. Easier said than done as it was Sunday and most transportation doesn't run on Sundays. We found a taxi (large Toyota van) though that would take us the 1.5 hours to the south for $270EC (about $100 US). We stopped along the way for some sandwich fixings and water.
Once we got there we again the 6 hour round trip trek. We both tried to keep our feet dry by avoiding many puddles on the well maintained trail. About two hours in as we lost the protection of the jungle canopy and entered the Valley of Desolation, the sky opened up and drenched us. So all our puddle avoidance was for naught.
The Valley of Desolation is named so because of the many sulfur vents and boiling water welling up from underground. We eventually made it to the boiling lake. Quite an amazing sight. The trail ends at a plateau about 100ft high overlooking the boiling lake. The lake is about 100yards in circumference and an area about 50 ft in diameter is on "rapid boil". We eventually made it back to the base camp and then had to find transport to Roseau, the capital city, then back to Portsmouth.
We made it back just in time for a beach BBQ for the cruising boat people from the harbor - that's us! Had a great chicken/fish/rice/salad/rum punch dinner, then headed back to the boat to rest our (still) wet feet.