Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
originally from Pennsylvania and fell in love
with Dominica while teaching on the island.
Ron - a former chef - learned many of the
simple technologies you see at Crescent Moon
from the locals: he discovered how to cook with
the island's tropical fruits and vegetables, such
as dasheen and tania; how to make cocoa by
harvesting pods and drying them; and how to
make charcoal from local wood. If you see Ron
in the morning, expect him to be busy grinding
and roasting fresh coffee; in the afternoon he'll
be in his wellies wandering around the gardens
plucking produce for the evening meal; later
on he'll be in the kitchen preparing his latest
dish, which might be peanut stew or home-made
goat's-milk ice cream.
From the entrance, it's a short drive to take
a dip at the Emerald Pool (a deep natural
water basin beneath a waterfall), and the more
adventurous can go on a four-hour hike through
Morne Trois Pitons National Park's rainforest,
taking in a 60m waterfall and even hiking
with a local guide up to Boiling Lake, a natural
cauldron of boiling water shrouded in mist. Back
at Crescent Moon Cabins, a stone footpath leads
into the forest or down to the river where you
can have a dip; in the late evening it's refreshing
to soak in the stone plunge-pool among the
mango, pawpaw and almond trees.
And why Crescent Moon? Because Ron and
Jean plant and harvest their garden according to
the phases of the moon, just as the Dominicans
do. Yet nothing they do is overly technical; they
just do the simple green things well in a truly
exceptional setting.
(From top left) The Dominican
jungle; Handcrafted double
bed at Crescent Moon Cabins;
The wooden huts look out over
the lush rainforest towards
the sea
315 In tune wIth the moon In
DomInIca
Crescent Moon Cabins, a secluded and beautiful
place to stay high in the Sylvania rainforest
near Morne Trois Pitons National Park, is a
lesson in self-sufficiency. Rainwater is used to
fill the pools; juices come fresh from the fruits of
the garden; and electricity is provided courtesy
of hydro, wind and solar power. The four cosy
wooden cabins are tucked into the side of the
forested mountain, each with hammocks strung
out on a balcony with panoramic views of the
rainforest and distant sea.
The owners, Ron and Jean Viveralli, are
Need to know
There are infrequent buses from
Roseau's New Market towards Emerald Pool
- 20min uphill from Canefield ask the driver to
drop you at the turn-off to Crescent Moon Cabins.
Taxis from Roseau cost EC$50 (US$20). For
further info including prices and bookings see
W
www.crescentmooncabins.com;
T
+1 767 449
3449. Guides can be hired for the walk up to
Boiling Lake for about US$40 for the day from the
trailhead, just past Titou Gorge.
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