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Villas Olas Tropicales - The Garden of Eden Found
(Tropical Waves in the Dominican Republic)
Second Day on the Island
After another great breakfast, Benny was right on time for our 10 am tour of the island. For the next eight hours we would try to see all we could. It was a little fast for taking pictures but if you sat back and relaxed (which is what we are supposed to be doing, right?), it was just right. I needed pictures for the CD, so I was clicking away.
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Here, we need to take a minute and explain the traffic patterns in Puerto Plata. There are none! Seriously, the drivers in this town are excellent. There are no apparent rules, few stop signs and even fewer traffic lights. Traffic seems to flow wherever there is an opening. You can pass on the right, pass on the left, be 4 cars abreast - with 3 cars abreast coming toward you, it was amazing. Mom was a little rattled at first, but since we saw not one accident our entire stay, we learned to relax and go with the flow!
The most popular mode of transportation were the motorbikes. With this mobility, folks could weave in and out of traffic with ease. Usually there were 2 people to a bike, be we saw several instances of 3 or 4 riders at once! The Motoconcho drivers often will take four passengers, especially when taking teens to school in the morning. Many small businesses like plumbers and carpenters carry a portable workshop on their motorbikes. Some are even equipped with large speaker systems to announce public events or sales. With what appeared to us as total chaos on the roads, traffic moved very smoothly. No one was angered when cut off by another driver. Frequently, small children would appear and wash the windows of a vehicle in exchange for a tip -- and usually did a very nice job of it.
Anyway, moving along....our next stop was the Amber museum - inspiration for the movie, Jurassic Park. As we purchased our tickets to enter, I spied a local woman on her way to the market. After our tour of the amazingly preserved creatures, Mom and Cindy had to stop (of course!) at the gift shop. Both came away with some interesting jewelry as a memento of our visit.
The main street along the waterfront is known as the Malecon. With it's breathtaking views of the colorful waters surrounding the island, it was a gathering place for carriage rides and vendors. Just offshore, near the end of the strip is a small atoll on which a statue of Neptune resides. According to our host, Sunday is when families will dress their children in their finest and walk along the waterfront, enjoying the day off and the fellowship of friends.
As part of our orientation to Puerto Plata, Benny took us to all types of neighborhoods.....the poorer sections, a middle class neighborhood and to the areas where those with higher incomes reside.
As Americans, we are familiar with some of the disadvantaged areas of our larger cities. What struck Cindy most was that even though some of the homes we saw appeared to be in very bad shape, through the open doorways you could see a home that was gleaming. The floors were polished and shining, beds were made, tables set with tablecloths and doilies on the simple furnishings. What we were to learn later was that all these homes have dirt floors....floors which have been scrubbed so much that they now have the appearance of clay tiles!
Our drive through the middle class area of town was very similar to such neighborhoods in the States. The major difference being, of course, the lush tropical plants and green grass. The streets were a little wider, there were more cars and fewer burros and the occasional small business, such as
As we approached the more affluent areas, the size of the home increased dramatically. Most homes were gated or enclosed in courtyards, very similar to those we have in Charleston, South Carolina. These streets consisted of carefully manicured lawns, lush tropical trees and quiet, peaceful scenes.
Continuing along, Benny led us past the busy shipyards where large cranes were busy loading and unloading cargo.
Our next stop was at The New Market - more shopping for Mom & Cindy! After they had purchased some T-shirts, they exited the stall, looking for me. The found me a short distance away, getting my hair braided! Try as they might, I would NOT leave them in for my Dad to see upon our return! The retired Master Sargent would not have been amused!
As we headed out of town toward the mountains, we past numerous sugarcane fields, Benny continued to fill us in on some Dominican traditions and customs. We climbed the mountain up a winding road, along which we saw vendors displaying their homegrown vegetables and cheeses. With Benny as interpreter, Mom couldn't pass up trying out some cheese and purchasing some avacados. Soon we stopped near the top. Benny explained to the owner of one residence that we wanted to take some photos and we were permitted to enter his backyard to view the area from high above. Before us stretched a wonderful view of rolling green hills and lush countryside, spotted with homes and gardens.
The beaches were beckoning my camera, so off we headed to Sosua Beach. Once one of the less attractive areas, the beach has been cleaned up and is now home to many thriving small businesses. More shopping!!!
As we ended our day with dinner on the beach, Benny and I made plans to continue our tour tomorrow. Benny has certainly been a treasure for us to find. If you are EVER in Puerto Plata and need a pleasant, English-speaking guide, he is definitely the man to see! Keith at Villas Olas Tropicales can put you in touch with him OR you can page him at 520-7652 OR the folks at Sam's Bar & Grille can also locate him for you. However you find him, we heartily recommend that you do....he made our trip much easier!
By the time we had finished dinner, we were tired and ready to head "home" and rest up for Day Three!
Return to the beginning of our visit to Villas Olas Tropicales and the Dominican Republic!
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a local barber shop.
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