Dear All,
Wow! We are now in the south east after about a week in the southwest. We hired a car and a guide ( his friend came too) to go to Bahia de las Aguillas, an 8km white sand beach which was spectacular. I went snorkelling and saw ENORMOUS starfish and lots of little colorful fish. Sadly there was lots of bits of plastic floating as well. This is part of a national park and people are supposed to carry out what they carry in but in stead most throw out what they carry in which is lots of styrofoam and plastic bags. THe road in was rough and Mom and I walked the 6kms in through harsh cacti forest but it was gorgeous!!!
She did catch a ride out with a 4x4 of two German couples, made friends with them so left a note with the guard that she got a ride with them back to our hotel in Pedernales and then we were invited to stop in and visit them when we headed back to Santa Domingo which we did with quite a bit more walking and asking questions. On the way out of Pedernarles there are LOTS of checkpoints. One nicely dressed young man with a backpack who looked Haitian after the 3rd check was asked to step off with all of his belongings, DR passport in hand and his $DR100 returned to him....I wonder what happened. NO border crossing in Pedernarles but many Haitians there selling clothes etc.
The German family has an INCREDIBLE house up a long ass and I mean long ass hill. I walked up it with my backpack while Mom waited at the base. They have a 180 degree view of the ocean with the village of El Oyorro below. They bought a piece of property from a farmer 15 years ago and live 7 months out of the year there with cows, chickens, ducks, 2 dogs Gustov and Lissia, 5 cats, 8 parakeets and lots of wild birds, snakes, and lizards. What a gem and what a relaxing and fun stop. We drank beer from 3pm until 10pm and talked with english, spanish and german with only Robert really understanding all three languages very well. We had songcocho which is like a meat and vegetable stew with rice. Delish! And slept in these great beds with a lovely outside deck. Their friends are here for 3 weeks. All great people!
From the bus on the way back some things you could by from out the windows at each road bump, check point...
cashews
jelly sandwiches
tropical fruit, papaya, pineapple, guanabanas, grapes
fire starter kits
honey
tires
phone cards
Hope you are all well. We are heading to Samana and it is CARNIVAL week so....lots of partying and people in wild costumes. I am hoping we make it to see the humpback whales in Bahia de Samana a world famous site to watch the humpbacks frolic and raise their young.
Bye for now gotta get on the road! G
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