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