Where He leads...: A short break in the Dominican Republic

A short break in the Dominican Republic

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I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic for a few days with Sarah and her husband Yves. If you are not a resident of Haiti, you have to leave the country every 90 days for at least 24 hours. Sarah's 90 days were coming up soon and instead of paying for a ticket back to the States, she decided to make the 7 hour trip by bus to the DR. I told her I was happy to accompany her. Yves recently got his visa for the DR as well so he came along too. This was Yves first time ever out of Haiti! And it was Sarah's first time in a foreign country other than Haiti. So I was extra excited to go with them, especially to witness Yves' wide-eyed wonder at observing such a new and different place. While the DR is still a nation with many problems, it has progressed to a greater degree than Haiti. For one, the capital Santo Domingo is cleaner and more civilized than Port au Prince. The three of us were constantly comparing the DR to our beloved Haiti. Sarah and I have loved the hot showers! And we've enjoyed a steadier stream of electricity here--the power only went out on us twice... Once yesterday when a pigeon landed on a live wire. Apparently that happens all the time! And today the power was out for several hours for an unknown reason. Oh, and every Thursday they turn the power off in this zone to work on this grid. But we're leaving tomorrow so no problem for us. This hostel also has cable. I can definitely live without television, but it's a bit of a treat when you haven't watched it in so long. Just like McDonald's and Pizza Hut is a treat when you haven't had them in months! :)

Definitely my favorite part about the DR is all the history here. The hostel we're staying at is in the Colonial Zone, which holds claim to the first cathedral, university, hospital, and monastery in the "New World". Many of these historical places date back to the late 1400s and early 1500s. Incredible! I love all the cobblestone streets and Spanish colonial architecture. And more than once I thought of how so many of the streets resembled the look and feel of New Orleans. Always a plus in my book! The Colonial Zone also has a 10-block pedestrian walkway with tons of shops, restaurants, etc.

We packed in a lot during our short stay. We did a lot of walking. Hailed a few cabs. Visited China Town, the National Aquarium, saw the Presidential Palace, and gazed out over the Caribbean Sea. Most importantly, we just enjoyed each other's company and relaxed!

Here are a few photos from our fun trip!

Our horse and carriage. A little pricey but it worked out great because we didn't really know where all to go anyway. We saw a lot more of the old city this way.