Dominican Republic

My trip to the Dominican Republic was one that I will never forget. The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country that gives both a taste of Latin America and the Caribbean. We spent our first night at Cima del Rey in el Campo. The rest of our week was spent in Santo Domingo and a town called Villa Altagracia. I will never forget the friendliness and generosity of the people there. This is one thing that we do not see in the United States. I noticed that everywhere we went we heard music. I loved the music there. As with my trip to El Salvador, we were not staying in a resort and enjoying delux service from those who spoke our language. The purpose of our trip was to do mission work. We spent our time in the places that don't see tourists, but I believe that this way, we got the best experience.

We did have one free day, which we spent on Catalina Island. It has the most beautiful beach that I've ever seen, as well as some of the best food, really first-class. But in order to get there, you have to pay and take a ferry to the island.

Quick Tips:

If you arrive in Santo Domingo, the airport is not far from town. But it is best to meet someone or have an idea of what you are going to do when you arrive, as always when traveling. Be careful with the water and food when you travel and carry the appropriate medications. Americans sometimes have a reputation for being rude. Always remember to smile and greet people. Being polite and courteous is part of the Dominican culture.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you aren't used to driving in the Dominican Republic, I suggest you leave it to the locals. There is bus service as well as taxis. If you are staying at a hotel or resort, it is best to ask them what they think is best. If you will be meeting someone and staying with them, it is best to ask their advice also. We did a lot of driving every day, but we were not staying at a beach resort and had to travel to different places.

We spent our first night at Cima del Rey in the country. But the rest of the week, we stayed at Hotel Arroyo Hondo, just outside of Santo Domingo. This certainly wasn't a resort. The rooms were very plain and had just the basic amenities, with simple white walls and a white tile floor. We were lucky to have a corner room on the top floor, so we had more windows, which gave us a nice view of the street below and the surrounding mountains. Most of the other rooms have a view of the alley between the two buildings. The rooms were large enough for several people. They have two or three beds, a desk, and a night stand. I was not expecting us to have a private bathroom, but we did. But there was no hot water. Our rooms had window air-conditioning units, which worked very well, and a TV with the local channels and a couple American channels.

The hotel did not have any of the services that most American hotels have, such as room service, concierge, etc., but we were fine. You enter the hotel through the parking garage. There isn't a lobby, but a reception desk, and no elevator. The staff was very nice, very willing to help and make us comfortable.

If you're looking for a resort, this isn't for you. But overall, I enjoyed the experience. Staying in different conditions broadens your understanding.

I can't really tell you about any restaurants because we didn't really eat at any. We had most of our meals in private homes or at the Bible school. Dominican food is like that of most other Latin American and Caribbean countries: rice, beans, and plantains accompany most meals.

For breakfast we usually had bread, fruit, juice, and coffee. Lunch is always the main meal. Dominicans eat chicken, pork, and beef, when available, with rice, beans, and lots of coffee. Dinner is usually lighter than lunch but still filling. The fruit down there is much better-tasting than what we get here. They don't pump it full of chemicals, so it has the real taste. I especially enjoyed the caneppas, mangos, and pineapple.

If you will be staying in a large city, you will find more dining options, whether it be formal or casual. There are also international restaurants that serve American and Asian cuisine. If you will be staying in the country or in a smaller town, be prepared to be flexible. You will have less dining options, but will still find great food and great Dominican hospitality.

Remember, as always when traveling, don't eat or drink anything unless you are sure that it won't make you sick.

We had a lot of great experiences in the Dominican Republic. On our second day, a few of us hiked to the top of this mountain to the waterfalls. It was what I call an adventure. The hike there was hard, but the end was well worth it. The falls were beautiful and the water was crystal-clear. Some people would call that kind of hiking dangerous due to the rocks, but we enjoyed it.

I enjoyed visiting the church in Villa Altagracia. They mix the rhythms of island music with worship, which was awesome. I loved the energy and the friendliness of the people and how they welcomed us to their church. We spent our days doing mostly children's ministry.

We visited some very poor areas but met some really amazing people. We got to work with the people and experience life there from a non-tourist standpoint. I'll never forget the children and their smiles. These were the best experiences we had.

We had one free day. We drove to the coast, east of Santo Domingo, and boarded a boat that took us out into the ocean. The water was some of the most beautiful that I've ever seen. You could see right down to the bottom. We stopped for a while and were able to go snorkeling. They took us to Catalina Island, but we had some engine trouble before we got there. While we were stopped, they let us jump off the top of the boat into the water. It was awesome, like something from a movie. The beach was the most beautiful that any of us had ever seen. The sand was soft and the water was perfect. A few of us went tubing, which was a lot of fun. They had a great buffet there with really good food. The island has bathrooms, island shopping, and hair braiding. It was like being at a resort. Later that day we went shopping at a local market. I found some interesting souvenirs and Dulce de Leche, mi favorito.