Caribbright's best holiday picture 2006

Reaching the top of the Soufrière volcano on St. Vincent, we stood on the crater's rim and looked down into the depths. The view was astounding when clouds were not enveloping us or drifting across the crater: the green terraces along the volcanic slopes are a phenomenal sight, as is the lake and stream on the crater floor. In the middle of the crater, the geologically relatively young volcanic dome forms a reminder that this particular giant is merely dormant, not extinct. There was a way down, involving an old rope and sheer drops, but we scaredy-cats opted out. Incidentally, we neither saw nor smelled the Bob Marley fields (in the words of a likewise disappointed Dutch tourist): the marijuana plots allegedly cultivated by the ganja-farmers high up in the mountains, away from prying eyes and pesticide spraying Americans.