Monday March 12, 2012
By 11:00 am we were ready to go. Evlynne came to pick us up and drop us off at the government dock. We hightailed it to the bakery because I had to get some rolls to bring with us on the bus to nibble on. They are my favorite rolls here and are only available if you ask for them. They bring them out warm. Yummmm! We went to the Juice Shoppe for a mango shake and a sandwich before we got the bus to Santo Domingo. I was excited to see the country side from North to South. I was like a school kid, wanting to be first in line to get on the bus because my intention was to sit in the front so I could take pictures of this beautiful country. There was only one person there and she was talking to a friend in the park so Ijust sat down on a stoop where the bus stops. A few minutes later I looked up at Fred who was laughing so hard he could hardly talk. I kept asking him what was so funny and he finally said “there’s a chicken next to you”. I looked down and gave a very low yikes, not believing this was really happening. There it was right next to me in a plastic bag. Then Fred started laughing again saying “it’s alive”. I had no idea where that chicken was going but I was certain, even though it was second in line (me first) I was not sharing a seat with it. By then people were lining up and did not see the humor in my girlie expressions so I pulled up my big girl panties and almost said, “well, I have the rolls” but decided not to. They saw no humor in me being uncomfortable with their routine of life so I zipped it up and watched Fred trying to hold back his continuous giggling. I got the front seat and lots of pictures but I forgot my adapter to put them on my computer. The country side was beautiful, just as I expected. Mountains everywhere, lush in green, dotted with banana and palm trees, shacks made of what ever they could get their hands on to built something, most animal running wild and rice fields glowing their light green under the sunny trip here and there. Trees are protected here. It is quite rare to see wooden things made from here. They learned from Haiti's mistake in cutting all the trees down, using it for firewood and such. There is a stiff fine for cutting down hardwoods here, I hear. The bus also made many stops, which we were warned about making the trip 4 1/2 hours long. Within those stops were uniformed school kids. It didn’t take me long to figure out this bus was also a school bust as well. The schools here are not big enough to school all the kids all day so they have one group of kids who who attend classes from 8-noon, then from noon until is siesta, a must in this country, and from 2 until 6 pm, the remaining kids go to school the second half of the day. They still take summer vacations but only get 4 hours of school each day. I thought that to be interesting. When we got on the bus Fred took the seat behind me in hopes that we would each have more room. Fred and I sang Old McDonalds had a farm to them and they smiled, not knowing anything we were singing but seemed to like the animal sounds we made. Eventually they got off, I counted 48 kids get off the bus at one school and 3 at another. I sat next to a local lady who spoke not a word of English and I only knew gracias and ola, so the sign language I made up came in handy. I shared my rolls with her and she offered me some of her edible goody but I passed on that. Better to give than receive and I didn’t really want to get sick again. In a few towns before Santo Domingo a few got on the bus selling candy and such. One was a very sweet packaged bar and she said it was leche, so I am thinking that I knew what that was and we bought a few. It was yummie. Another was some kind of really sticky taffy, coco she said, so perhaps coconut taffy but much softer. I didn’t buy any of that but she did give me a bite of hers. It was packaged so I thought it safe to try. The closer we got to the southern coast, the flatter it got. Petty soon there were no mountains ahead and but became modern. Miami modern. But...the streets and drivers were worse. I noticed the speedometer earlier in the trip was at zero and it stayed that way the entire trip. I was curious a few times how fast we were flying but never was able to confirm any of that. The roads were paved and I was amazed at how brave the bus driver got when he decided ot pass another vehicle. You see, they don’t use the “Big Boat Rule” we do at sea. There is no “Big bus rule” either. I found out I could hold my breath longer than I knew I could. Enough said about that...by 6:00 we pulled this spit of a hole they call a bus station, got off and decided to share a taxi with Tim from s/v ‘Mystic’ who also took the trip because he was fed up with being “stuck” in Luperon Harbor and wanted a change of scenery. He had his map and we let him be in charge of showing him we were hoping to get to the Colonial District, Duque de Wellington in particular. Tim was staying not far from out hotel so it seemed to make sense. Thee driver pointed to this rickety car that had certainly seen it’s better days and Tim took the front. He had the map. When Tim tried to open the door, that should have been our first clue this was going to be an interesting ride. The handle didn’t work so Tim reached inside and used that handle. I started laughing and he asked if this was a good funny or a bad funny. All I could respond with was well, I have to pee so if we have too many funny things like this happen, I am certain I will pee my panties from laughing. He chuckled and straightened up, careful not to reveal anything else that may go wrong from the start. Then I slid on from the right to the left side, heaven forbid I walk around the car for I would certainly be hit by something with wheels of some sort. Then Fred slid in next to me and the back door wouldn’t close. It is not unusual to see cars and vans going down the road with the doors missing or the van doors open. Maybe to offer an
easy exit to anyone who changed their minds about riding in something and wanted to walk. Who knows. Tim got into a little spiff when he tried to show the driver, in English accent (he is from England) just what streets to turn on. Then the driver stopped right in the middle of an intersection, took the map and turned it the other way and pointed. I had no idea what the problem was but based on the sections of town we rode through, I was glad we didn’t decide to walk. Nothing is close for us old folks here. In fact, it wasn’t even safe old or young folk. Poor Tim, he was in fits, and said, this is exactly why I like directing my own boat. I found humor in it, Tim found frustration in it. Fred just sat back and held his breath hoping we got there safe. Finally there she was Wellington in her glory. Tim was specific in directing the driver where to park, making sure it would be safe to exit the car. He got out also and I asked him, aren’t you taking this to your hotel Tim. “No” he replied with a sigh of relief as he stood up, “I have had enough of this so I think I would just like to walk and find it myself”. I hope he found it. His boat is a few behind ours in the harbor so if he is missing we can give his last spotted location at the Wellington. Rod arrived about an hour before we did and he was hunkered in, waiting for us. He has some storied to tell about his trip which if you know Rod, are really funny! Just ask him what “No Problem” translates into when you see him. We went out to dinner, and he had a Spanish dictionary which we needed desperately with the menu when we found out there was no English translation for it. Finally the waiter came over with three young gals (much to Rod’s pleasure) who spoke English and they told us about the menu items. Rod and I had Pasta Carbonara and Fred had a kebab. We decided dessert would be a great way to top off the lovely dinner but the girls were gone and had to pull out the mini translation book to see how to say dessert. By the time Rod finished, we would have had a bowl of sand (desert) drizzled with sweat (sweet). Finally one of us said something the waiter seemed to understand and came back out with a tray full of all kinds of desserts! We got 3 different kinds and shared. Took a short walk to work off no more than a few calories and came back to the hotel. Talked all night! We decided not to stay for an extra day here but to have another adventure back, but not on the same bus. Probably taking a taxi or Guagua to the bus station then to Imbert, then a gua-gua to Luperon. This way we can spend a little time here and get back before dark as the buses leave every hour from Caribe tours and it is more direct and has a bathroom, I hear. Another adventure. Again, I love this country and like Luperon the best so far. I can’t believe I am on this trip, a true blessing! Thank you God for everything you have given me!
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