Lists, lists, lists! This week has been a week of all kinds of lists…..honey do lists, shopping lists, prepare to move lists and even one bucket list. The week began with an unexpected trip to Santo Domingo. Bill has sold his property in the States and the title work was supposed to take two to three weeks to complete. Therefore, he was planning on finishing up the paperwork in the States when we arrived. Leave it up to him to find the only lawyer in the world that gets something done way ahead of time! So suddenly, we were in need of a US notary. Enter one of my bucket list items...we had to visit the US Embassy! The Embassy is in Santo Domingo so we packed our over night bag and headed out. Knowing that it would be the final trip via car from Luperon to Santo Domingo, we threw in a shopping trip to Santiago for much needed project items. We finally found the plexiglass that we need to complete the boat deck upgrades so that was very exciting (I am sure you are all just breathless with excitement as well!). When we reached Santo Domingo, the first rain that we have seen in months decided to fall all at once. Santo Domingo evidently has a drainage system designed by the same people who did Charleston because we found ourselves driving up on the sidewalks to avoid flood waters that came up to the car door. Once we reached the hotel, we checked in and then realized that while the hotel was convenient for the Embassy trip, it was not convenient for eating dinner. The hotel was in a residential area so there were no restaurants within walking distance….not to mention it was still pouring down rain. So, back in the car we went….bad idea. Ninety minutes later, we had managed to get about 3 miles in the traffic. Starving, we finally gave up on the restaurant idea and went to the deli at the local grocery store for dinner. Luckily, the grocery store was not far from the hotel and Bill managed to find some back roads that were less congested so we could get back to the hotel. Not one of our favorite adventures that we have had!
The next morning we walked over to the Embassy (no way were we getting back in the car!). Even in a small country like the Dominican Republic, the US Embassy was quite a sight to see! It spanned at least 2 to 3 blocks and was a beautiful white structure with large gates (They would not allow phones or cameras so no pictures!). We had no trouble checking in and made our way through the complex to the notary’s office. We were surprised by how many locals worked in the Embassy and how many businesses the Embassy supported in the surrounding area including parking lots and guide services. It all reminded me of a sports facility in the States with people selling local goods and trying to outdo each other with parking deals. The entire visit only took us about half an hour and went far more smoothly than we planned. The funny part was when we left, several locals stopped us to ask who had won the election….it was Wednesday morning at 8:30am….they must count votes far faster in the DR than we manage to do in the States! On the way back to Luperon, we noticed several things that still have me pondering. In each small town along the way, there would be one ware that was being sold on the side of the road. It reminded me of the sweet grass basket sellers in the South Carolina low country but far more impressive. For example, in town number one, they all had stands that sold large (and I mean large!) wooden spoons. Some spoons were painted with beautiful scenes and some were just plain wooden spoons. They were interesting but does one actually need a dozen stands selling the same wooden spoons? Town number two presented us with rugs. A dozen stands selling the same dozen rugs. The third town was evidently the peanut and peanut butter capital of the region. The next three towns were the fruit and vegetable stands. However, it seems that one main fruit was sold on each day. For example, on Tuesdays, all of the stands had dozens of watermelons. On Wednesday, they all had dozens of pineapples. Again, I am not sure why one needs dozens of stands all selling the same exact item. Seems to me like they would get together and have each town have a wooden spoon seller, a rug seller, a peanut butter seller, a pineapple seller and a watermelon seller….but perhaps that’s just the capitalist in me…. Back in Luperon, the week went on as most weeks do. We watched the local fisherman move a huge catamaran that was broken down. They just put their small fishing boats around it and pushed it into the marina much like a tugboat would do. Those guys are certainly amazing problem solvers! I watched a Dominican little league baseball game and I tell you, obnoxious parents in the stands is a universal thing. Bill stumbled across the local motorcycle gang that obviously meets on Sunday mornings in town for a ride. Each week, we never know what we are going to see and learn in this crazy place that has been home for the past few months. We will be sad to leave all of the wonderful people and places when we sail out at the end of this week but we are looking forward to the next adventure around the corner! Have an amazing week and be sure to mark something off your bucket list!
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AuthorSally Miller Archives
May 2024
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