Today – October 26, 2012 – Hurricane Sandy – Dominican Republic

It is amazing how quickly things can change from vacation mode to survival mode.

I wish I could have taken pictures but out of fear of ruining my iPhone (from the rain) I am going to be left explaining through words alone. I did get some video on the way to the airport.

Yesterday there was rather severe flooding all over Santo Domingo, 11,000 people were evacuated, and I felt we might need to be as well.

The exit of the hotel was thigh high deep in water, I spent a bit of the morning perplexed, wondering how on earth I was going to get my motoscooter out through the “torrent river” and back to return it, all without ruining the motor and losing my $1500 security deposit that I knew they wanted.

I left at 8:00 am hoping to make an early morning drop-off and catch the early bus out of Las Terraenas, but like all things Dominicana they decided to open late, I was hoping that they were going to open at all.

I took a rain drenched ride on the scooter that may at times be fun, but yesterday was just frustrating because I had made it across the river once, now I was going to have to do it three times, one on foot. The water rode over the entire lower third of the scooter, luckily I decided to make my journey in my swim trunks.

This story could go on, but I will cut it short, the scooter did get returned after a short “non starting” scare, if there was any doubt in my mind about the efficacy of prayer in this situations I have been given a clean slate. I have decided prayer is for the desperate man, for me it was a daily occurrence, one that begins in the morning and continues even during my sleep at night.

The River

The river and the water continued to pour down, the only solace I had were my own feelings of preparedness, knowing I had brought my poncho, at least keeping my backpack dry.

In the Dominican they don’t believe in signs, this includes signs for the bus, towns, bathrooms, beaches, hotels.  You are just supposed to know where you are going and when you get there. This is a crux for the tourism industry which I have tried to explain to many locals in my broken Spanish, I am not sure if I am not making myself clear, or they really confused about the idea of signage.

That and when you ask a local, they may give you the same confused stare. “Where does the bus pick up for the Nations Capital?” for example usually gets a confused look and then a shrug of the shoulders, if you do happen upon the correct “location” the bus changes its stopping points depending on who’s driving and what they may feel like eating at any given moment. It is very common to find your bus parked in front of a group of locals and your bus driver laughing and sharing a bit of Caribbean Rum… All aboard!!!

I have learned that if you ask enough people and as you get closer to actual pick up location there is some local in the know, he may spend the next 10 minutes trying to convince you you need a tour, or a a prostitute, but at least you have the bus times. I guess in the Dominican even if you have a flight to catch there is always time for a bit of “relaxation”.

The Bus Ride from Hell

Here they are called Gua Gua’s, and for some reason that name seems extremely appropriate. It sounds like a small, uncomfortable bus, with concrete like seats packed tight with a bunch of sweaty rowdy locals. Yes, I think to myself this is a Gua Gua.

Not so bad if you can follow the highway, very bad when confronted with the outskirts of tropical storm Sandy. Downed power lines and flooding closed the nations main thoroughfare. We were left taking the country road, nobody tells you this of course people just start yelling at the driver when they see him make a diversion. nobody tells you your 2.5 hour ride has just turned into a 6 hour ride, they don’t tell you when they are going to stop to pick up a bag of yams, go off route to refuel in an old absconded bus station.

At various times during this ride I figured they were going to kidnap us, but that was my irrational mind talking. My rational mind had convinced me we could be stranded, taken out by a flash flood, crushed by one of those palm trees being thrashed around outside my window.

Again the only gringo as far as the eye could see, people would at least say at my funeral “He had such an adventurous spirit”

Feeling Small

What this trip has taught me is that we are all just numbers.

Traveling the back roads of the DR reminded me of the 3rd world nature of this country that is hidden behind he tourist areas. The density of the population, the 50-60% unemployment, the fact that something could happen here in the middle of nowhere to me and the world would not even hiccup, reminds me of my insignificance.

The ego creates tends to make one feel grand, in the third world numbers come into play, people are surviving not striving to change the world. This is an interesting thought, one that I have been working through on my travels.

Making it… Almost

When I finally arrived in Santo Domingo it was already dark, I thanked God (for the 100’th time) for getting me here safe.

I have just one more taxi fare to negotiate. I figure it is the one all the cabbies like because it is the one that says.. I just want to get to the airport I will pay you anything if you can get me there safely, I have made it this far!

Last night the rain pounded, I was going to go do some conscious shopping for my kids and family, I walked a mile to find one small open store and bought a couple small local wooden “treasures”. I might run out really fast and see if I can get my daughter a necklace, although it is early and things are probably closed. I do need money for the cab ride though.

This is my last Dominican breakfast, I am praying for a safe flight.

The adventure has been more than I could expect, I have seen a lot in 6 days that will impact my life.

I am reminded why adventure travel is better than relaxing travel in my book, because the former builds self esteem and life experience, it makes us better in ways that are impossible to predict.

The question is for what purpose? But maybe that is not so important.

 p.s I apologize if there are grammatical errors in this post, I was to sleepy to edit.