Weekend in Santo Domingo

Friday we boarded the ILAC bus for a weekend getaway in Santo Domingo, the country's capital. After a two and half hour scenic bus ride we arrived at Bettye's hostel, a cultural experience in itself. We went on a tour of Zona Colonial highlighting important landmarks of Christopher Columbus' time. Following the unexpected two hour tour, we were treated with Dominican-American food- pasta and burgers.

Saturday morning we left early for a tour guided by the Medical Director of a public hospital. All the services provided at the hospital are free to those who are unable to pay. The hospital is supported by government funding and charities. We had a thorough tour including the emergency department, pediatric area, maternity ward, dialysis treatment rooms, the ICU, and lots more. After touring the public hospital we are reminded how grateful we are in the U.S. to have air-conditioning and modern technology in our hospitals. Also that day we visited a nursing home, a parish house, and a batey. In contrast to Batey Libertad, this batey was more developed and modern. The Vicini company is working to consolidate multiple bateys into larger working communities. This batey is a trial to attempt to accomplish this task. During our travels to and from the various sites we encountered extreme poverty, many sugar cane fields, and gigantic craters in the road. We were very fortunate to have had Eduardo on our bus to narrate our tours and provide a unique cultural perspective. We had a very busy week filled with meaningful experiences; however, we were exhausted and needed some time to relax. So..... we headed to the BEACH!!! We had our fill of sunshine and Caribbean Sea. We enjoyed massages on the beach, riding the Banana Boat, tropical drinks, and bargaining/avoiding vendors. Despite all the fun and relaxation, we were diligent about applying sunscreen regularly! To complete a great day we indulged in more Dominican-American food and drinks. That evening we watched a performance of authentic Dominican music and dancing in the plaza. Our very own Sue had a Merengue dancing debut on stage among professional dancers. After that, some group members went to a little hole-in-the-wall to dance with the locals. They were amazing! Dancing is an important aspect of the Dominican culture and it was great to experience it first-hand.

Sunday morning we spent time perusing souvenir shops and exploring the streets of Santo Domingo. Along the way we befriended a stray dog. She loyally followed us around the city, patiently waited for us outside the stores, and was sad to see us ago. After a fun-filled weekend in Santo Domingo we enjoyed the rest of the day back at ILAC relaxing and preparing for a busy week ahead.