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Sperm Whales are the largest toothed animals ever created they also possess the largest most complex brain ever created, yet they are some of the most gentle animals
Scroll down for guest comments Our Policy: We will humbly admit that if you are not sensitive to the environment, not interested in protecting turtles and iguanas, don't like being able to take ten walking strides from your cottage to be in the warm Caribbean sea, do not like to be able to snorkel in front of your doorstep, do not enjoy being greeted by genuine warm smiles, don't like to be able to see the stars, don't want to be put to sleep by the gentle lapping waves, or awoken by the flutter of a humming bird's wings, or don’t appreciate the things in life that money can’t buy, or will not let us know directly how we can improve...then we are not what you are looking for. Sincerely The entire team at Ayohayo (Picard) Beach Wellness Eco Cottages WellnessBeing and healing with Creation nature
Try it and your total being will thank you for it.
Allow yourself to: Be gracefully tuned by the setting sun. Be put to sleep by the hypnotic lapping of waves on the sandy shore. Allow your senses the luxury of sleeping to natures nocturnal lights and sounds. Be subtly awoken by the fluttering of humming birds wings, and the serenading songs that invite dawns colors.
Let toes sink into the volcanic sand as you walk the beach at sunrise; you never know what wonderful surprises await you. Feel free to greet and join the fishermen and their Carib canoes as they flex muscles pulling in the morning catch. Sail with mountain downdrafts on the catamaran "Sunset encounter". Reset your thermostat while the Caribbean Sea defeats gravity. Float over tropical reef fish; learn that natural beauty is diversity.
Be conscious that the natural grain of tropical hardwood is as secure as a comforting womb. Pamper yourself as often as possible with "Natural botanicals" all natural soaps, they are specially hand made for you and are moisturizing enough not to require after bath lotion. Be as the iguanas, seeking inner peace among the vegetation.
Immerse yourself and follow natures circadian rhythm. ---------------- Dr. Fitzroy W Armour has been awarded by the DHTA and IFAW for his efforts in pioneering the Whale watching industry in the Dominica & the Caribbean. -------------------- Below are our guest comments and testimonials We welcome more Guest comments
May 08
We have had a wonderful time at your cottages and Dominica; the friendliness of the Dominican people is something we have never experience before, anywhere, and we have travelled extensively. In particular we would like to thank Andrew, Clara, Roma, who’s big smile “hello” or “good morning” really started our stay and morning of right. On many occasions we would speak to Andrew, Clara or Roma for a few minutes about the local area or the island, each of them are kind, knowledgeable and intelligent persons who represent themselves your business and Dominica very well. Thank you Sincerely Steve and Karen Roebuck cottage: 306 ================== May 08
We did admire our stay here. Got lots of help from the staff- everybody was friendly. Clara, who was cleaning our rooms, was extremely helpful. She did an excellent job, that could not be better! Very hardworking, smiling and friendly, she got everything we needed or asked for. Please tell her she is wonderful. Also please thank Alexis, very helpful and friendly, calling for us. We enjoyed dealing with the staff you have. Alla Seleteskaya Cottage 308
================ Feb 5, 2008 Dear Mark, thanks so much for your wishes and for your dear offer of hospitality... We had such a great time with Fitzroy Armour in Dominica a year ago, during our solar Atlantic crossing. what a wonderful web of hope and life. with sunny greetings from the Grand canyon, Martin Dr Martin Vosseler MD is currently on his sun walk 08 from Los Angeles – Washington D.C. – New York City – Boston(3,600 miles, 5,500 km).
===================== January 08 Wedding on Elf Aquitaine 1
================== Cottage 317 December 29 to Jan 2 2008 Excellent wedding! Ashton and the entire staff did a great job for Jane and Jeff. Enjoyed the beach, the cottage and the walks. You have a wonderful staff. Thanks Steve ==================== Cottage 305
A very unique experience visiting Dominica beautiful land, friendly people. It would be very helpful to have improved communication on the island we visited the aerial tram but it was not running. A forest service worker directed us up the mountains. He was not ever aware it was not running. Picard Cottages wonderful, Blanche the best always pleasant smiling and eager to make guests happy and comfortable. Add maps or detailed direction to some of the most popular sites to visit. We may have seen more if able to find.
Laura Davis =================== Cottage 309
Dear Thank you for a lovely stay! Ms. Blanche has been so pleasant and joyful. Dominica is an absolute wonder I think I have found paradise. I look forward to another visit.
Milena Garcia
======================= Cottage 309
Dear Thank you for a lovely stay! Ms. Blanche has been so pleasant and joyful. Dominica is an absolute wonder I think I have found paradise. I look forward to another visit.
Milena Garcia ======================== We enjoyed our stay here very much. Our housekeeper did an exceptional job cleaning the cabin and getting all the sand out. She was very accommodating, as was the main receptionist. Also the man in charge of the snorkeling was very helpful. He kept checking with us about the weather. Thank you Jean & Lewis Chase
PS. Unfortunately the restaurant (Next door) was not up to the standard of everything else. The food was not good, was overpriced and the service very slow. After one meal there we went to other area restaurants and cafes.
=========================== Cottage 303 The service and staff was exceptional. We appreciated the attentiveness to our requests and desires. We thank you and look forward to future visits. ============================ Cottage 307 The trip was wonderful! The people were very nice, understanding and patient. We loved it here. Hope to see you all soon.
The Sharmas =============================== April 12-24 2007.
To the folks at Picard Beach Cottages. Thanks very much for making our stay a welcome one. The beach was lovely and the cottage was comfortable. We were glad to have the refrigerator too. The scuba diving was very enjoyable and just lying in the sun or swimming right outside our cottage was wonderful. My daughter goes to Ross University so I will be back when she finishes her 16 months here.
We really enjoyed our stay here. Very peaceful and relaxing ambience the cottage is really very comfortable. Housekeeping service was very good everyday. We will definitely try to get our family up here. Enjoyed Jet Set even though we saw no whales, next time. The entire staff is very friendly and appeared willing to inform us all that can be offered here a place with tremendous potential.
Fern & Bob ================================== Cottage 306 March 13- 17 2007
My wife, daughter and myself have enjoyed our stay here quite a bit. The office staff Jenise and Andrew were friendly and helpful, we especially thought that our housekeeper Blanche was great! She is friendly and did an excellent job taking care of the cottage (very clean) she also answered many questions for us about local things that added to the enjoyment of our stay. A truly nice lady. We also had a very good trip to the waterfalls with Patrick Wallace, recommended by your staff. Keep recommending him. We had fun and he is a good fellow. Thanks and hope to see you again.
The cottage was very nice and everyone was very accommodating. Blanche was very nice and she never disturbed my sleeping etc. she also would spray my room for mosquitoes which was wonderful. She did a great job getting and cleaning everything I needed. All of the locals were very nice. I really enjoyed my stay and thought it was a great place. Erika Keith
Eric & Marsha ========
Cottage 312 4th march 07
We enjoyed our stay here a lot. Our room was nicely kept for us. The staff has been very nice!!! Thanks
Keith F. R.A: Clara Ferrol
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Cottage 310 3/03/07
A very restful and enjoyable stay on behalf of all of us. The physical appearance was /is very pleasant and attractive. The accommodations were excellent. The staff were all very pleasant and courteous. Ever-one, without exception, greeted you as you walked by. We are very pleased to single out Celia because she was outstanding. Answered all our questions and very helpful with respect to our needs.
Signed: Ed, Ken Carlie
****************************************** ----------------- Cottage 309
Very nice cottage. Great rainbows! Good Job Blanche!
Bill & Ruth 7th Feb 2007 ---------------------------- cottage 316 Feb 2007 Dear Fitzroy, thank you for your emails to both of us with all the links about sun21 and the music (great, reminds me of our holiday directly)! Sounds like you had some interesting and busy days with all the visitors. Everybody who sees our photos is really jealous, I always mention that the day on your boat was one of the nicest of our 2 weeks holiday. Very relaxing. I have to go back to the Caribbean and spend some weeks I hope you and all your staff at the Picard Beach Cottages are all well, please say thank you to everybody again from us!! Best wishes Hanna --------------------------------- Dear Fitzroy, Now we are back in Germany - back in cold weather and work we had snow last week!! This was quite a shock, coming from the warm Caribbean sun... We really enjoyed our stay at Picard Beach very much! And it was really a Pleasure to meet you! Thank you very much for the great tours with JetSet - day and night! Enclosed you find some of our photos. By the way - did you see a whale lately?? In Guadeloupe, we really saw many highways and had a lot of Baguette (see the picture) - you were right :-) Best regards, we hope to hear from you soon! Heike and Hanna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 07 Feel free to use the photos on your web site, just give me credit.
Hello Fitzroy
This is Alison, one of the people that you took whale/dolphin watching a couple of weekends ago.
I just wanted to say thank you again for the trip and Ive attached the photographs that I took of you and your lovely boys. I hope that you are all well.
Warm regards from London
Alison ------------------------- April 3rd 2006 We truly enjoyed staying at Picard and hope to come back. Blanche has been wonderful! She took great care of us. In fact, we want to bring her home with us!
Marie & Marc Lesage ---------------------------- 01 /04 /06 Great location.We felt the beach and cottage were very nice (no need for the TV, though) ...Thanks again Vanti cottage 309 ---------------------- 12th February 2006 thru 19th February 2006
We'd like to thank everyone at Picard Beach Cottages for an amazing experience. Our only regret is that we could not stay longer to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of everyone here.
We hate to single anyone out, but would like to especially thank Sabin and Blanche for making our stay all we could have hoped for.
Our visit was beyond expectations. The nature all around is so beautiful. We really appreciate how thoughtful you (as a country) are in terms of growth.
Your culture is one that we appreciate; we loved the people that we met.
Mary Beth and Steve Day. ===================================== Jan 5, 2006 We and a wonderful time! Enjoyed the small reef at the end of the pier- the resident sea turtle and squid were a great surprise and treasure to find. The accommodations were great. Clean, comfortable and our every need met. Very friendly staffs, all making us feel right at home. We will recommend the resort to others and we hope to return. Thank you.
The Bartosheky family -------------------------- Jan 06, 2006
Our stay here was very pleasant. We were treated very well. Blanche treated us very kindly. She is an excellent host. God willing we will come back. Thank you
Amin Kanji
================================================ Jan 24 2006
The Cottages are lovely and very comfortable. The property is beautiful and very well taken care of. The staff has been helpful and very very pleasant. The house keeper who took care of this cottage and the young man from the Dive/ Snorkeling shop were especially gracious and helpful.
Dominica is the most beautiful Caribbean island we have ever seen and is very clean!
Thank you for making our stay so wonderful.
Maria Katouak From New Jersey ========================================== Hello Fitzroy!
Thanks again for everything!
The article begins on p 46-47 (April 2006 issue)and
there is a mention of picard beach cottages on p. 50 in the section called "Creole Flavors."
Wish I could have written more-truly.
Best
Patricia
Patricia Wuest
Scuba Diving
==================================
Jan 23 2006
Hello Fitzroy:
I don't think we had a more accommodating host than you, Fitzroy! Your willingness to help us get the perfect shots at the Drive-Through Volcano and the cold spring was unbelievable. You are a gracious and knowledgeable man and it's obvious that you are justly proud of your island home. Without you, we would have missed a great deal of the beauty of the Northwest, and so we were grateful to have you as a guide. And thank you so much for your generosity in letting us stay at Picard Beach Cottages. You have a picture-perfect setting and a hard-working and friendly staff. And your cook!!! We really enjoyed her meals! I'll let you know if the Art Department wants to take a look at your underwater sperm whale shots. Oh, and many thanks for sharing your poetry with me. Maybe when I can come with my family, I'll finally get to dive with your dive shop! Warm regards, Patricia Patricia Wuest Associate Editor Scuba Diving Magazine --------------------------------------------------
Cottage 318 12/11/05
Wonderful time! I loved the small cabin, the tree, frogs the ocean, the blue sky
Laura J =======================================
We enjoyed fresh flowers every morning, the fruit and courteous service from all the staff. I loved the room to the grounds all next to tidy and enjoyable. Thank you.
May God. Keep smiling on the island and country of friendly people. Mr. & Mrs. Jorgensen. Cottage 319 10/12/05 ------------------------------------------------------ A great stay. Good beach view with wildlife & flowers all around. Friendly & help full staff
Mark Tnoly Cottage 306 ================================
==================================== 11/26/05 Hi, the Picard beach is one of the most great cottages I've been in Dominica. It is cozy and beautiful and the service is great and staff. Thanks for everything.
Roxanne
Puerto Rico Cottage 317 ====================================================== Cottage 316 Nov .9-12, 2005
Picard Beach Cottage 316.
Our Home away from Home was neat, clean and offered every amenity. The fresh flowers and fruits were very thoughtful.
The reception staff was very helpful and accommodating. The people are so friendly and gracious. It was kind of you all to share your island with us.
I would recommend these facilities to other Ross University visitors and vacationers in general. Well done and many thanks.
Kelly and Ken Boss Buffalo, NY, USA! ========================== Cottage 317
Thanks you for the wonderful service and beautiful cottage. It was a delightful visit to Dominica.
Cindy Fitch
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Cottage 315 Nov 14, 2005
Picard Beach was the best place I stayed on Dominica. The cottages are well supplied and well kept. The grounds are attractive. The beach is fine for swimming and there is good snorkeling just north of the pier.
Most of all the Housekeeping staff and front desk staff were extremely helpful and made me feel at home from the moment I arrived. I would definitely recommend Picard Beach Cottages to friends traveling to Dominica.
Richard Holelx Arizona USA
======================================== 13 Nov 2005Observation: 10 sperm whales
Location: N15 33.835' W 061 29.912'
We saw the sperm whales swimming.
We followed quietly until they stopped to see who we are.
They hung around for quite some time.
Beautiful sight
Nenton Rice
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Beautiful sight to see.
Amazing Experience.
Water is clear deep blue, pseudo orcas & Dolphins were a sight to see and swim with.
Very relaxing Sailing.
Food & music a definite plus.....
will definitely do this again.
Smitha Ballyamanda
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21 jan 2006
Dear Fitzroy,
I was very suprised when I got to the end of the email & say your name! We stayed at the Picard Beach in 1993. You took our 2 children (then age 16 & 20) out scubaing.
You had been recently married and we enjoyed talking to your lovely wife. She was from Trinidad, wasn't she? Our time spent at the Picard Beach started my husband's & my love of snorkeling & we always said that we would return one day to Dominica. So now (minus children) we will spend 2 weeks! I was pleased to see that you got your M.D.
Where is the reef in relationship to the beach? Which side of the bay? How far out?
I look forward to your reply.
Yours,
Joanne Green
--------------------------------------------------- Jan 2006
Dr. Armour, That was such a sweet letter it made me want to jump on a plane right back to Dominica!...
I hope everything else is smooth sailing for you and your family, and that you appreciate all the amazing warmth and color of the island as much as I miss it every day! Sunshine and samman trees, Amy Oldendorf
(Yes, I do miss the bueatiful sight of you doing yoga under the Samman tree... that samman tree holds special memories for me.
2. Turtles loving to lay their eggs under the tree
3. Amy doing her yoga under the samman tree
I guesss being hundreds of years old the tree must have many a story to be told...)
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Nov. 2005 Picard Beach Cottages was the best place I stayed on Dominica. The cottages are well supplied and well kept. The grounds are attractive. The beach is fine for swimming and there is good snorkeling just north of the pier. Most of all, the housekeeping staff and front desk staff were extremely helpful and made me feel at home from the moment I arrived. I would definitely recommend Picard Beach Cottages to friends traveling to Dominica.
Richard, Arizona, USA ------------------------------------- August 30 2005 Observer name: Jasvant C Patel 10:10 am Cetacean: Dwaft sperm and sperm whales location: n15 32.378' w 61 29.605' direction of travel :north pod size:8 activity: floating on surface
----------------------------- Dear Fitzroy, We would like to thank you again for the wonderful trip last Saturday. Swimming with the dolphins was so great. It was fun meeting your family. I've been telling everybody on Curacao how beautiful Dominica is! Perhaps we will come back in January to swim with the sperm whales! Greetings from Curacao, also to your family
Dr Sander and Danielle. ------------------------------------- 12th November, 2005
Thank you for the wonderful service and beautiful cottage.
It was a delightful visit to Dominica
Cindy Fitch
Seattle Pacific University
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October 23 2005 Picard Beach Cottages was exactly "what the doctor ordered" for these two very tired bodies and weary souls! The facilities were extremely clean and comfortable. We were delighted with the small kitchen.... this the perfect "hideout"... It was heavenly, indeed, to go to sleep and wake up with the lullaby of the waves and all the beach creatures in harmonious concert every day! the Staff was most helpful and courteous, especially Celia, our housekeeper. Thank you to ALL OF you for making our stay so comfortable. Blessings.
The Rev. Canon L. Littlejohn And Mrs. Jain A Littlejohn ---------------------------------------
Dear Fitzroy,
We would like to thank you again for the wonderful trip last Saturday. Swimming with the dolphins was so great. It was fun meeting your family. I've been telling everybody on Curacao how beautiful Dominica is! Perhaps we will come back in January to swim with the sperm whales!
Greetings from Curacao, also to your family,
Dr Sander and Danielle.
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...We watched pelicans and crabs. Crabs are the most amusing little creatures ever created. We watched one struggle to get a berry into its hole. Hed get the berry to the door and then let go to clean it. As soon as he let go, the berry would roll back down the beach toward the water. Hed scurry after it and then have to make a fast retreat as another wave approached. When we left, the crab was still working on his berry. The little beach dog from last year is still alive. She is so cute I would take her home in a minute but I don't think she'd like our weather. She is used to lounging on the beach, eating crabs, and getting attention from whoever walks by. I was glad to see her. I checked noaa site for potential hurricanes and the Atlantic basin is drama-free. Tomorrow Im going out in a catamaran whale watching and scuba diving.
65 feet of history under my seatwelcome to the milky way galaxylast night we laid out on pier by ourselves late at night and watched the universe go by. the stars were magnificant. the pancake edge of the milky way galaxy, clearly visible, extended from the mountains to the sea. laying there reminded me of our trip to israel and visiting the biblical archaeological gardens. the guide explained how the ancient hebrews imagined the sky as god's tent over them protecting them just like their black goat hair tents protected them. in the summer, the goat hair stretches to form a loose weave which when the sun shines, looks like a starry night. last night i felt god's starry night tent protecting us.
September 27, 2005Oh lovely, lovely Dominica | ||||||
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