I got my bags packed on a roll. I'm heading out there and I'm ready to go. Looking real good in my passport photo.

Oh no. Amateur Traveler episode 146. Today the amateur traveler goes to

Dominica. Learn about this island nation in Caribbean discovered by Columbus that he still might recognize and home of some of the best scuba diving in the world today in the amateur traveler.

Welcome to the amateur traveler. I'm your host Chris Christensen. Before we get into the interview, I do have three news stories for you today.

You might have already heard about this story, but a family who were bound for a week's

holiday in Lanzarate are back home after a check-in desk mix-up meant they caught a flight to

turkey instead. Charles Corrie and his wife, Tanya and their nine-year-old daughter did not realize the mistake until they landed, and a hostess said, Welcome to Turkey.

They were issued the wrong boarding passes by a ground handler working at the Cardiff Airport in England last Sunday morning.

That's not the best way to start your vacation.

And then this is a story that those of you who That's not the best way to start your vacation.

And then this is a story that those of you who have fear of flying

may just want to skip over.

The 346 passengers cruising at 2,900 feet Friday on a Quantis Jumbo jet heard a big explosive bang.

Oxygen mass dropped, the plane rapidly descended as debris flew through the cabin and

suddenly a hole appeared in the floor.

A hole the size of a small car was ripped into the Boeing 747's metal skin and penetrated the fuselage.

Last I heard they were still investigating what happened. And then if adventure tourism was what you like, you might be interested in knowing that Iraq has opened an airport aimed at tourism.

I'm not kidding you, and that a little too adventuresome for me for more information on all of these stories check out the links in the show notes at amateur traveler.com

I'd like to welcome the show Eddie from Florida who's come to talk to us about the

island country of Dominica Eddie welcome to the show. Thank you good to be here.

We had a little trouble getting Eddie on a connection that had good sound quality, but it sounds

like we've mastered that.

...