After our tour of the rain forest we were ready for more. The next morning, Alexis, our boat-guy, picks us, Field Trip, and Escape Velocity up in his locally made wooden boat and motors over to the entrance of the Indian River. The Indian River tour is described as a "mini Amazon" and it certainly lives up to its reputation. Since outboard motors aren't allowed, he shifts from the back of the boat to the front and begins slowly rowing the heavy boat up river against a gentle current.

Along the way he starts telling us some of his childhood experiences growing up and playing along the river and in the highlands of Dominica. The chocolate-colored river slowly meanders through a lush tropical forest of overhanging canopy of branches and flowers, making it dark and cathedral-like. Long vines dangle and reach down to brush us as we float by and birds flit through the air as they call out. Prehistoric old trees with massive root systems line the shore like sentinels guarding a parade route.

Alexis points out hundreds of land crabs in all sizes scurrying in and out of their holes on the mud banks. The locals come at night and hunt the crabs, the largest of which are several pounds. Land crabs have one huge claw in front and you don't want to get grabbed by one, you could easily lose a finger.

Pirates of the Caribbean II (they haven't released the actual title of the movie yet) was recently filmed on the river and several of the sets remain. We passed a sinister looking cabin that is the home of one of the characters in the movie, waiting for Johnny Depp to pop out from behind a door. We continue slowly up the river marveling at the serenity and beauty of the scene.

Eventually we stop at another set called the "Ticking Croc Tavern" where we hop out and explore the area in detail. Alexis finds a land crab and shows us the difference between the females and the males with the large pinchers and gives Michael and "up close and personal" view of the creature. The tavern set is very realistic and everyone has fun wandering around exploring the grounds.

A series of trails lead off from the Tavern through lush jungle with many exotic plants and flowers, including the bright red ginger plant. Alexis finds some long grass strands and starts making the kids & ladies some grass birds by cutting and meticulously folding the strands. He impresses us as he finds some beautiful ginger and bird of paradise flowers to attach to the birds. Once back on the boat I place the flower & bird on our table as a centerpiece so we can continue to enjoy the creative little souvenir of our river trip.