Tweet
Visited Dominican Republic earlier this month. Below is my Day 1 trip report. I know it is long but hopefully it takes you there.
Day 1
We had a 6.00 am flight to the Dominican Republic so we were up very early. We were not fully awake until we got to the airport and the “comedy” started. There was an older lady which we assumed was Dominican whose check in manners gave us a good laugh. She was wearing six hats (one on top of the other) on top of her head. Every time there was an available ticket agent she would say something in Spanish and hastily motion the person at the front of the line to move up. She was very animated and hilarious.
When she eventually reached the front of the line, she quickly scurried to the ticket desk, gave her passport to the agent. Next she roughly shoved a young male passenger and spoke to him in Spanish while motioning fir gun to put her bags on the scale. I think he was startled and just did it. His traveling companion, an older gentleman and possibility his father, looked in shock (mouth opened). The scene was priceless. We were laughing beyond control.
By the time we got on the plane it got worse. I was praying she did not sit beside us. She sat 2 rows behind on the opposite side, however her presence was everywhere. She got up out of her seat and was standing on the hand rest of the seat belonging to man who sat beside us in the aisle. She was trying to get to her bags in the overhead bin.
This gave us an opportunity to talk to the gentlemen beside us. His name was J. He was a college student who called himself a “gringo” from Chicago. His parents were missionaries in DR for 2 years. They left DR and moved back to Chicago. They missed the Dominican Republic so they moved the whole family back. That included him. They started a housing development company and bought land in the mountains where they are selling plots for constructing homes. We talked with J most of he way to DR. When we landed we asked J how he was getting home. He said he would “hitch hike” as Dominicans loved to talk with a “gringo” American. My wife and I took a quick look at each other. We wanted to see the country and thought we would offer to take him there. What better way to see the countryside than with someone who knows the country and speaks Spanish well. He accepted.
Our encounter with the old lady from the flight was not finished. While we were standing in the customs line we saw her. She was going under the barriers to get to the front of the line. The security person kept saying “Señora” to get her between the barriers. She brushed him off and continued. She was too funny.
We went to pick up the car at the rental car booth which was in the airport. The old lady from the flight was walking by. By this time she was now on her cell phone speaking loudly. She was animated I could not help but laugh even though I did not understand what she was saying. Everyone near the booth was laughing. J told us she was saying she did not know where in the airport she nor where she was going.
We got the rental and went off to the hotel to check-in and drop off our bags. The signs leading to the main city helped just a little. We got to the hotel by following the direction of the ocean. Thankfully we viewed a map before we landed in the Dominican Republic. We dropped our stuff off by the hotel. The room had a great view even though I was a little startled by the window cleaner when I opened the curtains. We had oceanfront on one side and pool view on the other. It was a beautiful corner room.
Next we were off to Jarabacoa but we stopped to eat first.
Driving out of the city was interesting. At every stop the “Squeegee” car window cleaners wanted to clean the windows.
One guy who cleaned our window was really funny. He was making faces and trying to entertain while he washed the window. Vendors were walking between the cars selling their wares.
We found a seafood restaurant just outside the city. You picked your own fish. I expected bland because of what I heard about DR food but the fish was good.
When we came out to the car there was a broken down card board box covering the windshield. At first I wondered if it was joke but then a young boy appeared. It was an ingenious way to shade the car from the heat. This was a first. I had to give him a “smalls” even though J said we would go broke if we gave everyone a “smalls” in DR. He was right.
I thought Jamaica was bad when it came to driving. Nothing compares to what we experienced and witnessed for the 2.5 hours drive to Jarabacoa. There is no regard for road/traffic rules. As a matter of fact, it was a lesson in survival driving.
The place J parents owned was gated on a hill. It over looked the town.
J mother did not know he was coming so it was a very touching reunion as she was surprised. She hugged him tightly and cried.
Day 1
We had a 6.00 am flight to the Dominican Republic so we were up very early. We were not fully awake until we got to the airport and the “comedy” started. There was an older lady which we assumed was Dominican whose check in manners gave us a good laugh. She was wearing six hats (one on top of the other) on top of her head. Every time there was an available ticket agent she would say something in Spanish and hastily motion the person at the front of the line to move up. She was very animated and hilarious.
When she eventually reached the front of the line, she quickly scurried to the ticket desk, gave her passport to the agent. Next she roughly shoved a young male passenger and spoke to him in Spanish while motioning fir gun to put her bags on the scale. I think he was startled and just did it. His traveling companion, an older gentleman and possibility his father, looked in shock (mouth opened). The scene was priceless. We were laughing beyond control.
By the time we got on the plane it got worse. I was praying she did not sit beside us. She sat 2 rows behind on the opposite side, however her presence was everywhere. She got up out of her seat and was standing on the hand rest of the seat belonging to man who sat beside us in the aisle. She was trying to get to her bags in the overhead bin.
This gave us an opportunity to talk to the gentlemen beside us. His name was J. He was a college student who called himself a “gringo” from Chicago. His parents were missionaries in DR for 2 years. They left DR and moved back to Chicago. They missed the Dominican Republic so they moved the whole family back. That included him. They started a housing development company and bought land in the mountains where they are selling plots for constructing homes. We talked with J most of he way to DR. When we landed we asked J how he was getting home. He said he would “hitch hike” as Dominicans loved to talk with a “gringo” American. My wife and I took a quick look at each other. We wanted to see the country and thought we would offer to take him there. What better way to see the countryside than with someone who knows the country and speaks Spanish well. He accepted.
Our encounter with the old lady from the flight was not finished. While we were standing in the customs line we saw her. She was going under the barriers to get to the front of the line. The security person kept saying “Señora” to get her between the barriers. She brushed him off and continued. She was too funny.
We went to pick up the car at the rental car booth which was in the airport. The old lady from the flight was walking by. By this time she was now on her cell phone speaking loudly. She was animated I could not help but laugh even though I did not understand what she was saying. Everyone near the booth was laughing. J told us she was saying she did not know where in the airport she nor where she was going.
We got the rental and went off to the hotel to check-in and drop off our bags. The signs leading to the main city helped just a little. We got to the hotel by following the direction of the ocean. Thankfully we viewed a map before we landed in the Dominican Republic. We dropped our stuff off by the hotel. The room had a great view even though I was a little startled by the window cleaner when I opened the curtains. We had oceanfront on one side and pool view on the other. It was a beautiful corner room.
Next we were off to Jarabacoa but we stopped to eat first.
Driving out of the city was interesting. At every stop the “Squeegee” car window cleaners wanted to clean the windows.
One guy who cleaned our window was really funny. He was making faces and trying to entertain while he washed the window. Vendors were walking between the cars selling their wares.
We found a seafood restaurant just outside the city. You picked your own fish. I expected bland because of what I heard about DR food but the fish was good.
When we came out to the car there was a broken down card board box covering the windshield. At first I wondered if it was joke but then a young boy appeared. It was an ingenious way to shade the car from the heat. This was a first. I had to give him a “smalls” even though J said we would go broke if we gave everyone a “smalls” in DR. He was right.
I thought Jamaica was bad when it came to driving. Nothing compares to what we experienced and witnessed for the 2.5 hours drive to Jarabacoa. There is no regard for road/traffic rules. As a matter of fact, it was a lesson in survival driving.
The place J parents owned was gated on a hill. It over looked the town.
J mother did not know he was coming so it was a very touching reunion as she was surprised. She hugged him tightly and cried.
. 
Comment