Cable Car

Mt. Isabel de Torres

   We had to go to the city yesterday to pick-up the results of a medical test that Muriel had done last week. The doctor in Luperon had requested them, and since there is no laboratory in our town, it was off to Puerto Plata. All results came back negative. After some antibiotics, she will be back to great heath. On the topic of Health Care, we don’t have enough nice things to say about them. The doctor at the clinic, speaks perfect English, went to med school and trained in the USA, and best of all, he doesn’t charge a fee for a visit. The lab test we had done cost $8.00...fantastic.

   Not to waste the day we decided to visit the top of the mountain, which this fine city was built around. So we drove to the teleferico (cable car) station.

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   Looking up from the base, the mountain looks really high, but actually its only 833 feet above sea level. On this day the summit was covered by clouds. After boarding the tram which holds 20 persons we started ascending slowly to the top. The view is spectacular. The temperature is approx. 20 less than at ground level.

   We spent about 3 hours hiking the trail, visiting the botanical gardens and touring the small cabins which at one time were rented. The main attraction on the top is a statue of “Christ the Redeemer”, a replica of one in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  This one stands 16m high, smaller than the original but magnificent just the same.

 

 

 

   The clouds parted for a few brief moments to allow us a good view of the city far below.

 

      Looking through the clouds from the summit waiting to  return to sea level

 

John and Jac

s/v Jacasso, a Gemini 34  from Oregon
We met them here in Luperon and really hit it off
Check out their site.....www.sturgn.com

 

This quiet little town

 

   After our trip home then returning here to the DR, I can truly say that people in big cities live very busy lives.  The town’s people here don’t know about the fast highways, skyscrapers, large shopping malls, large grocery stores, and public transit. Walking around town it shocks you when people stop to offer you a lift on the back of their motorcycle or their pick-up. Anything can be carried on the back of a bike, we have seen it all .  Life goes on at a very different pace, we have only experienced it for a short while but it is relaxing.

Motorbikes are the main transportation, everyone personally decorated.

                                         Biker in training

  Shopping is done on Tuesdays, as this is the day the trucks bring the produce from the cities, the nearest being Puerto Plata. Many things are sold out of the back of a pick-up truck announcing over a Mega-phone what's for sale. The freshest gets distributed before being sent to the surrounding communities so it is quite ripe when it arrives here in Luperon. So the first couple of days the quality is the best. Tuesdays is push and shove day as everyone is out stocking up. Most markets are small, so it gets very crowded.

 

  Shops open around 10 am., "Dominican time", which means around 10:30, 11:00, or whenever they decide to open. This holds for all shops, restaurants, bars, offices, even government places.

They practise Siesta here also, which is all establishments are closed from 12 to 2, again Dominican time or, when it’s cool enough to come back.

 

In the time we went home, staying one month, they replaced all the sidewalks in town. I’m told that it took only one day. A huge gang of men, we would call them city workers, poured concrete, by hand made a brick pattern then painted it. All things are done by manual labour. We now have small trees lining the street from planters every 50 feet or so. A new Medical office is nearing completion, each brick hauled up by a simple block and tackle and set into place. They construction crew is now facing the outside of the building concrete. Even before the completion, the X-ray facility is up and running.

 

A young boy here has a strange pet that he found in the Central Park.

 

In the late afternoon, the men sit around one of the corners playing the other most important game next to baseball……Dominoes.

 

We will be introducing you to our friends, other cruisers who are here spending hurricane with us. You’ve heard us talk about them. We’d like to share their information and, or website with you.

 

Claude Leroux

Montreal, Quebec

We met Claude in Georgetown, Bahamas and have buddy-boated with him since. He was here many years ago but went back home to take care of his mom who was in poor health. He has lived aboard his boat for the last 18 years. He sails alone. Right now he just wants to relax and think about a destination.

We're Back

  We spent the month of July, visiting family and friends who we left, 1 year ago in Canada.
It was so nice to see everyone but we could have used more time.

  After a few slow days back here in Luperon, I think we are re-climatized. There is only one way to describe the weather here....HOT.!!!.  Humidity is around 76% all the time but as long as the Trade wind blows, which it does every day, it is comfortable. Light clothing and staying hydrated with our favourite drinks makes it quite enjoyable. Back in Ontario there was a summer heat wave while we visited. It also seemed hot to us, but of course no wind.

  We are glad to be back to Mistress. According to our friends who did a fantastic job of minding her,  she looked lonely. Other than a few minor things, our home fared very well. For almost 6 months we have been plagued with batteries that cannot hold a charge. We were starting the boat daily to top them off. Somehow shutting everything down for a while has seemed to fix this problem.
 
  Saturday at baseball, before our weekly Gringo vs Dominicanos game, the town kids lined up to receive some new equipment that cruisers had brought back from our trips home to Canada. It was so easy getting through Customs we should have brought more. The kids are so grateful.