Mom and I got on the wrong bus in Barahona so we were supposed to drive right past little Paradisio (Paradise of course) but the driver took us straight to our hotel instead because two Italian women staying in Los Patos were dead set on him dropping us off in the right place so he did.
The Hotel Paradisio for $21 per night was big and this is where we met Ron from California. Mom immediately hit it off with the staff and spent much of one evening drawing the front desk young woman who is stunning.
We walked down the beach through a grove of almond trees which were dropping and EVERYONE was cracking them open with rocks and eating them. We learned that you can buy raw ones at home and soak them over night. Dump the water and soak them again and they will taste just like home said a flight attendant we met visiting her cousins for the first time in 22 years. She lived in Cincinnati, Ohio.
So we watched guys body surfing for a long time while the women and naked little boys played in the rio (river) which had a pool just at the base divided from the incredibly dangerous ocean just a few meters away. These guys were excellent body surfers. We learned later that you really cannot swim on any of these beaches because of the undertow so we all swam in the rivers and put our feet into the ocean. Lots of hidden whirlpools that are known for pulling people INTO them and drowning them.
The next day we went to Los Patos by motorconcho which cost us $DR25 each or 75 cents per person one way. Just a few kms away was another tranquillo spot with a river running into a GORGEOUS beach much safer to swim. I swam in the rio and we had this fantastic meal of rice and beans and fried chicken and salad and juice which is half sugar.
We decided to stop by an Italian restaurant and hotel we read about and were walking north of Los Patos when we bumped into two farmer men and one of their wives riding a donkey. They warned us and made us turn around and walk with them back to Los Patos. Apparently not long ago a tourist was killed walking in that area. YIKES! We took the next bus back to Paradisio and of course were over charged due to our fears I am sure.
Paradise is beautiful but dangerous in this area...HIGH DRUG dropping area from South America so we are sticking to walking only in town and taking public transportation and sticking with tour guides. Sad, scary but the reality of this area. Extremely poor, extremely poor but the prices of medicine, body lotion, snacks and basic necessities to us are outrageously expensive.
Take care more tomorrow night about the remote beach and national park!
Buenos noches (good night), Georgie
No comments:
Post a Comment