Blogs from Dominican Republic, Central America Caribbean - page 6

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HISTORIC SANTA DOMINGO Dominican Republic We decided to go to the Dominican Republic, on our way down to Puerto Rico, where Michael will be terminating his adventure in the Caribbean. We had two choices of airports in the Dominican Republic. We finally settled on flying into Santo Domingo, the capital city. Michael is very comfortable in big cities and likes to visit a country’s capital. I was happy to take advantage of his experience and broaden my travel skills. We got a hotel right on a busy expressway. It was a comfortable hotel and featured a very nice complimentary breakfast. At my instigation we took a taxi to the university area looking for a vegetarian restaurant…big mistake. The restaurant didn’t exist any longer and the taxi driver, trying to please us, took us to another restaurant ... read more
La Fortaleza de Santo Domingo
At the Top
The Cathedral


HISTORIC SANTO DOMINGO Dominican Republic We decided to go to the Dominican Republic, on our way down to Puerto Rico, where Michael will be terminating his adventure in the Caribbean. We had two choices of airports in the Dominican Republic. We finally settled on flying into Santo Domingo, the capital city. Michael is very comfortable in big cities and likes to visit a country’s capital. I was happy to take advantage of his experience and broaden my travel skills. We got a hotel right on a busy expressway. It was a comfortable hotel and featured a very nice complimentary breakfast. At my instigation we took a taxi to the university area looking for a vegetarian restaurant…big mistake. The restaurant didn’t exist any longer and the taxi driver, trying to please us, took us to another restaurant ... read more
La Fortaleza de Santo Domingo
At the top
Church


On the last day of our stay in beautiful Samana, we hired a car with an English speaking guide to see the El Limon Waterfall which is only 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Samana town. Miguel the guide came to pick us up at our hotel at 9 in the morning. On the way we stopped briefly to have a look at part of the Los Haitises National Park which is a protected virgin forest, although we didn't enter it for lack of time. When we arrived at the place we saw a lot of ponies and mules with their handlers waiting for riders/customers. The waterfall itself is very secluded and accessible only by hiking (30 to 45 minutes) or by horseback riding (15-20 minutes). There is a restaurant located right at the entrance of the ... read more
Samana, Dominican Republic
Samana, Dominican Republic
Samana, Dominican Republic


While making our travel plans to visit the Dominican Republic, we booked this tour with Whale Samana managed by Kim Bedall, as it was a unique opportunity to observe humpback whales in their natural environment. We were not disappointed at all. So, on Valentine's Day 2014 we sailed out of the boat pier in Samana on the "Pura Mia" a specially designed whale watch vessel with about 55 enthusiastic people all eager to see the whales in their calving and mating grounds. Kim and a Marine Mammal Specialist accompanied us and gave an excellent live narration throughout the voyage in three different languages, English, Spanish and German. The boat itself was a 55 foot double decker with two modern restrooms and a snack bar. There was plenty of space to move around, and to get a ... read more
Samana, Dominican Republic
Samana, Dominican Republic
Samana, Dominican Republic


8. Februar, Manaus - Aruba Wir flogen im fast leeren Flugzeug nach Aruba. Mit dem Taxi ging es zum Hotel, dabei erhielten wir vom Taxifahrer eine kostenlose Sightseeing-Tour, weil er zweimal falsch abgebogen war. Das Essen im Hotelrestaurant war sehr gut und extrem günstig, da wir das Essen per Talon an der Bar bestellen mussten und sie so vermutlich Personal sparen konnten. 9. Februar, Aruba Am Morgen sind wir mit dem Taxi zum Hotel am Strand gingen, in welchem wir in 2 Tagen einchecken werden. Schon der Taxifahrer hat uns verärgert und dann war der Empfang im Hotel unter aller Sau: der Hotel Chef war äusserst unfreundlich, denn trotz Abmachungen per E-Mail durften wir nicht surfen. Er hielt zudem an Zeiten fest, welche vorher nicht kommuniziert wurden. Er meinte, dass er ein Business zu führen habe ... read more
Aruba 1
Aruba 2
Aruba 3


I couldn't sleep last night. The power was out, there was no breeze, and in addition to smoke from burning the fields, it seemed that trash was being burned as well. I got up at dawn with allergic black eyes; by an hour or so later I was just swollen. We drove to Juan Dolio, with a stop at a Parador for fried chicken. The hostel, Fior di Loto, is decorated in an Indian motif and the proprietor supports education for girls in India. My room was notable for its continuous electricity and a flush toilet--heaven! I'll write my last entry soon, but want to reflect on the trip more (and look up some birds) before writing.... read more
Fior di Loto


I took a morning walk around the edges of the cane fields, with binoculars and bird book. There were some pretty lizards with blue throats and red vents. I was pleased to see a couple of broad-billed todies, which are very attractive little birds, a green heron, and perhaps smooth-billed anis, as well as others. Men here and there with burros and cows. Nobody else. It was nice to have a short break. Today the workers (but not our volunteer group) spread cement on the raised cinder block perimeter of the court. A guided afternoon walk through the cane itself. Eating half a mango and spotting an Antillean mango, which is a bird. Later, we dedicated the court with only a little speechifying, some cake, and a few games. There was a talent show, but I ... read more
Free-range goats
In the cane
Part of the group


My typical day: Midnight: Power may or may not come on, or go off, so there may or may not be lights or fans. 12:00-4:00 AM: intermittent awakenings from heat, noise, smoke, animal sounds. 4:00-6:00 AM: Increased multiple rooster crowing, goat bleating, dog fighting, cat yowling, and soft pig grunting. Various shouts, clanks, engines. 6:00-6:30 AM: Greater rooster/goat/pig sounds; more human noise. 6:30 AM: Get up, pour bucket of water over head. Return to bed and sit reflectively, or go for a walk. 6:30-7:00 AM: Wake-up call and brush teeth, spitting outside. Dress, collapse mosquito netting. 7:00-7:30 AM: Breakfast: Plantains +? Apply copious sunblock. 7:30 AM-12:30 PM: Work on site. 12:30-1:30 PM: Lunch. 1:30-5:30 PM: Work on site. 5:30-5:45 PM: Bucket shower and change clothes. 5:45 PM-6:30 PM: Dinner. 6:30-~8:30 PM: Free. ~8:30-10:00 PM: De... read more
Working
Getting good with the filth
Even before the court is dry


Courtney (another PCV): "Find the sweet spot between what you love to do, what you're good at, and what the world needs." Because there was no gravel, we couldn't work today. Therefore, we got a guagua (okay, a minibus rental isn't precisely a guagua, but, hey) and spent most of the day at the beach. The water was a beautiful mix of dark blues, turquoises, and teals; pebble shingle; brown pelicans; a river turned into waterfalls and pools before pouring down to meet the surf. Some men set up a table to sell larimar jewelry, a very local and indigenous stone in lovely light blues. A lunch of fried chicken or fish plus tostones (plantain chips) and salad (which I dared to eat a tiny bit of because I was jonesing for a vegetable). Tigres (machos) ... read more
Looking at larimar
The beach
Dancing with children


A cement mixer has been rented. We've laid down a chunk of the court with hand-mixed concrete; this will be faster but more rote. Today I've mostly been dipping water buckets from a big plastic cistern, carrying buckets of concrete, and shoveling sand and gravel. Breakfast was sweet potato, a yucca/plantain mash, and spicy pasta. I added a can of tuna salad later. While I sat on the porch eating, an old man came over and began to talk to me in French. We conversed briefly, then he gestured, took my tuna, and ate it. I gave him the crackers from the packet. He handed back the can and two girls took it and fought for it. Local lunch: Rice cooked with bits of salty fish, maybe sardines, salad, and frijoles negros. I ate a little ... read more
Hand-mixing
Plenty of gravel to shovel
View across the court




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