Samana

Samana... 3 hrs from Santo Domingo.

La Romana...1 hr and 15 mins from Santo Domingo.

Round trip to Samana from La Romana to a waterfall...priceless: unless you are the driver...Jajaja

A group of us went horseback riding to a waterfall in El Limon in Samana which is the most north part of the mainland island. It is so beautiful!!!!

The roads are pristine, but you definitely pay for them. There are tolls the entire way. Similar to the bee line hwy in Orlando. They start you out with 40 pesos (I call it the introductory rate, right at 1 USD) and hit you for as much as 169 pesos (4.72 USD). But I did not see one pot hole the entire way. NOT ONE!!! I did not think that was possible in DR.

It is very mountainous in Samana. It looks like North Carolina in the summer time. Except with palm trees...jajaja You go up...and up and can over look the ocean. It such a view. I have never seen mountains so close to the ocean before.

We were on our way to a little peblo called El Limon where there is a waterfall. We had to ride horses to get to the waterfall. (twist my arm) The trail started out very smooth, then became more difficult. These horses were taking us up and over hills with rocks...across rivers and through the woods in the middle of nowhere. They were slipping and sliding a little. Not because they where bad horses, but because the path was like no other I have seen. These horses we more like mules going through this path. The guides said that the path was so bad because of all the rain.

Thank God we did not try to hike. We would have gotten there the next day.

I liked my horse his name was Negrito. He was very calm. Carlos horse was Malcriado (which means badly raised) He had a whizzing problem, his horse was a smoker, too.

Once we got close, we roped our horses and started our hike to the waterfall. Man, it was a hike and a half down a trail with slippery rock and clay dirt. Carlos and I went for it...leading the pack. I am starting to think that every waterfall has a hike that puts you in a state where you are hot and tired that you are so happy you finally got there. But, Once you do get to the waterfall it is like a great reward. It was so beautiful.

We were able to get sooo close!!! The water was freezing, freezing, freezing, until you were in for a little while. Carlos and I swam under the fall and let the water run over us. We have been to other waterfalls before but never were able to have the water directly fall on our heads. It was very powerful. You do not want the water to hit you in the face, but on your head a bit was nice.

We found a small cave hiding behind the fall where we were able to get into and swim. It was really cool. Then we followed a path holding on to the rocks on the side of the mountain that lead us back to the fall.
You were able to dive from the small cliffs into the pools of water. We waded there for a while before our hike back to the top where our horses were.

The hike back to the top was not as bad as the hike down, but still difficult. We realized that you have to work for the waterfall.
The payment for the waterfall is the workout. But, It makes you want to hike more often. It is a great way to excrsice and now I am in shape...thanks to the waterfall....jajaja

FUN Sunday

Today we were going to go the our home in Saona Island but the ocean was like a washing machine. So we decided to go to Catalina island instead... it is a lot closer. There were a ton of boats. Now that summer time is here, all the tourist are visiting and Catalina was, packed. Catalina is one of the best day trip destinations for La Romana. It is beautiful!!!!

Good thing I brought my trusty snorkel gear. Cause as soon as we dropped the anchor I was exploring the bottom of the sea. First, I found a beautiful starfish right by the boat. Just as I was calling Carlos over, a man snorkeling came up. (being the nice, kind, sharing person that I am) I told him he could touch it. And what does he do.... takes it from me. HE STOLE MY STARFISH!!!!
That was a sign to relocate.

We then went to an area with a ton of mini coral reefs. I felt like it was my own aquarium. There were every kind of fish: yellow tangs, pin fish, trigger fish, tiger fish and even Nemo was there. You were able to see brain coral, sea anemones, star fish and much more. But the coolest was this little yellow sea flower attached to the walls of the rock from the island. As you touched them they would close and hide in the hole where they were sprouting from. I think they had a "look but don't touch" policy.

Carlos suggested that I look inside the big rock holes for lobsters. He said I would definitely find one or two. The lobsters here do not have claws. They have antenna, so I figured I would be able to keep all of my fingers. I was very interested until.... he tells me to watch out for eels.

TOOO tired to... blog... any... more... till next time.

Diana the Exployer signing out...peace

Adventures

A couple of times a week we hop in the car and go around the area. We never really know what we will find. It is sooo much fun!!!! Yesterday we found a cave just past Bayahibe which is 30-40 mins from La Romana. The cave is blocked off with a guard at the front. You are not able to go in without a certified guide with you. So Carlos tells the guy to "just open the damn gate" and.........HE DID. The guard also added how that is the way he likes to be talked to. Jajaja

We entered the village Padre Nuestro, which is the woods. We saw all these little homes where people live. There is no running water and no electricity in this village. It is a dirt road with rocks and hills. We had to put our truck in 4x4. And, this little boy runs up to the truck. Carlos asked how to get to the cave and the boy jumped on his bike and lead us there and gave us a history lesson. Sooo cool.

They call the cave Chicho because there was a man that lived above the cave and that was his name. The Chicho cave is actually a spring. The spring was used as water supply since pre Hispanic times. You are able to see petroglyphs on the wall in the entrance, too.

We are planning to go back next week and explore some more. We were not prepared. We need some rope, a spot light and good hiking shoes...o and a bathing suit.

Lets start blogging

I am soo excited to start my new blog and to share my experiances in my new home town La Romana in the Dominican Republic. I have been here now for a month, but have not had internet until now. Our server is Claro and let me tell you...there is nothing Claro about them, But I have internet and that makes me happy.

Today Carlos and I went to Santo Domingo. We go there a couple times a week. The city is 1 1/2 hours away from La Romana going 120 kph. (we are in metric system here). That is a safe speed since it is like a obsticle course. (pot holes, cows, motorcycles) There are cows roaming freely on the highway, yes that is right cows and bulls. It scares the living (you know what) out of me because sometimes they spook and dive into the street. Unbelivable, I still do not understand why the owners don't keep them in a farm... with a fence ...or something. I guess they like seeing their "cash cows" walking away...jajaja