We talked to some Dominican Yorkers in the gondola, and they could all speak perfect English and Spanish! Once we were up the Isabel de Torres, we enjoyed the views, visited the boutiques, and walked around the tropical gardens. Even though they told us the mist usually rises around 4pm, that day it came much earlier and we were caught in it! It was nice though to be there, as well as to enjoy the lovely cooler breeze, plus the seagulls flying around! We took lots of pictures, making sure we got the many flowers of bougainvilleas.

Nico was nice to me and carried not only my bag but my camera, and was also in charge of putting me in second gear when we walked uphill. We watched a magician, and that was fun too! We then bought water and drinks, as it was kind of hot that day.

The Pico (or Loma) Isabel de Torres is about one kilometer west of central Puerto Plata. The station house at the base of the teleferico is a bit of a hike from the main street level. The overzealous guide was quick to latch onto me as I approached the station house (which contains a cafeteria and restrooms). I finally shook him off when I refused to pay him 50 pesos for his "lunch". As it was, I was on top of the hill for about 3 hours, so the guide would have been starving if he wanted to wait for me to finish my tour. Use a guide if you wish, but feel free to refuse his services, since then you will be stuck with him when all you want to do is relax and enjoy the panoramic views and the colorful nature.

The entrance fee is 100 Dominican pesos, about 6 US dollars. You get to take one of two cable cars up, which glides along for about a ten-minute ride. There are supposedly some occasional delays with the cable cars, as I waited about 20 minutes for the return ride down, and the car was packed (probably overpacked) with people. If you are driving, you can take a paved road that leads to the top of the mountain. There is a parking lot at the top and the base of the road. I read that hiking up would take about four hours or so. Once you get to the top (about 2600 feet above sea level), you will probably notice the higher elevation because the cool breezes off the ocean feel quite chilly! Once you step away from the upper cable car station, the winds die down and you will (hopefully) be warmed by the sun. There is a tendency for rain clouds to veil the top of the mountain, but I was fortunate to arrive on a clear day. The panoramic views from the top are quite breathtaking. The top features a cafeteria and a souvenir shop. Yes, the curious domed structure with a welcoming Christ statue posing on top houses a few shops and fairly clean restrooms as well.

The botanical garden is extremely informal, as there is no signage whatsoever. There are quite a few paths to walk about and enjoy nature, but I consciously tried to remember various landmarks or to retrace my steps in order to avoid becoming lost. As a city boy, it is impressive to see such a variety of trees, flowers, birds, insects, butterflies, and one earthworm that had a "fight" with a twig of equal size.