DR Trip - 1st Day continued

Here are some of the things we learned from all the questions we asked on that short trip from the capitol to Santiago.  Depending on your source of information there are about 1-2 million people in Santiago and about 4 million in the capital.  Many people have to hold 2-3 jobs to support their family.  All construction is basically stucco.  The exchange rate for pesos to dollars was 42 to 1 when we were there.  From the South in Santo Domingo (the capital) across the island and to the North in Puerta Plata, it takes about 3.5-4 hours.  Traffic/driving is kinda crazy.....something I am looking forward to and Teri, not so much.  She says they drive just like me....  We learned much more that we will share as we tell the rest of the story.

We arrived in Santiago and went strait to the house and met the rest of the family.  Jonathon (18), Rebeka (15), and the twin girls Mariah and Abby (12).  The Romano’s gave us a choice to stay in the apartment connected to their house or in another apartment they rent around the block. We chose to stay at their place and unloaded our luggage.
 

We unpacked, rested a bit and then took a walk to the Cafe, which is about 1 1/2 blocks from the Romano’s.  While we were there, they just about to open the Café to the public, where its main goal is to reach young people in the city for Christ.  They offer English classes several times during the week and while we were there, they we fine-tuning the menu.  I had a nice cafe (coffee) while I was there, which helped wake me up a little,  I needed that.

Here is a very cool picture of the Café.  Something very cool about the Café is that they ask the mission teams that come down to bring 2 coffee mugs from their home town.  One is used to serve drinks and the other is put up on a ledge with all the other mugs.  The ledge is up on top of the wall on the left in the picture below.

That evening we went out for dinner with Rick and Tammie and the family.  Some unusual foods on the menu were conejo (rabbit) and cabra (goat).  None of us were brave enough to try them at that point, but we did have yucca, which is like a potato and plantain which looks like a banana, but doesn't taste like one.  They are not as sweet and they are many times cut into slices and fried like a french fry or made into plantain chips.  I am sure there are many other uses, but that is what we commonly experienced during our trip.  Our meal was great and the company was even better.  It was a great chance for us to get to know each other and a nice way to kick off our trip.

That's basically it for the first day and that was enough.  Once we got back we were pretty exhausted and went to bed so we could be ready for another busy day.

to be continued…….

Our trip to the Dominican Republic - Day 1

Travelers Log - Our trip to Santiago, Dominican Republic - Matt, Teri, Alec (13) Marcus (11).  Day 1 - Wednesday August 21st - penned by Matt

In order to make our 6am flight, we were up at o'dark early (4am).  As we drove to Omaha's Eppley Airport, our excitement grew, knowing that soon, we would be in the Dominican Republic for the first time.  About 8 hours later we landed and began our adventure.  Rick and Tammie Romano met us at the Airport and although we Skyped with them a couple time, this was the first time we met them in person.  They are the site leaders for the ENvision Mission in the Northern district of Santiago.  Rick, Tammie and their family opened their home to us for the next five days as they escorted us around the Island.  They were extremely gracious hosts!!

We got underway and once we left the airport in Santo Domingo, we could see the beautiful clear blue Caribbean Sea as we drove along.  Since none of us had eaten, we went to eat lunch at Johnny Rockets, which is a chain in the US, but our first time there.  After that we got to experience DRIVING in the DR.  We remember a lot of horns and a lot of motorcycles.  In the Capital (Santo Domingo) we once saw a motorcyclist with 3 other passengers on the back.  We asked Rick and Tammie about it and they said it was a Taxi.

We started the 2 hour drive to Santiago and while the boys slept in the back, Teri and I fired one question after another to Rick and Tammie and they just continued to answer them.  Every time we stopped at a light or a stop sign, there were street vendors wanting to sell us anything from pineapple to car chargers for your Iphone, to other kinds of fruits.  One guy had a batch of large green grape-like fruit called limoncillo (sounds like leemone seayo).  We were asking about that particular fruit, so Rick rolled down the window and bought some for 50 pesos (a little more than 1 dollar).  The boys and I thought they we very tasty once you got passed the texture.  Teri didn't care for them much.  She said they reminded her of eating eyeballs.  I didn't even ask...

Here is a picture of Alec and the limoncillo

 

 to be continued.......