Miercoles in la ciudad

The things we learn every day, like today I learned that a box of Kellogg Corn Flakes (family size) around $9US, but wine is around $3-5. I went with some folks to La Serena (the Wal-Mart basically) and found a washcloth for my cold-water bucket baths/ showers. I hope that it makes the cold water less intimidating. Vamos a ver.
Today was an especially long day because we went down town Santo Domingo with our Spanish classes. Most of us meet our teachers at la Entrena and from there took guaguas to Maximo Gomez (the cross street with the major highway). From there we went to the PC office and got a tour from a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader (PCVL - Peace Corps as well as the ARMY or any government agency, LOVE those acronyms). The gal was a 3rd year and worked with the education section. The office is in a very nice upper class neighborhood; it was nice change to walk around that part of town since my barrio is mid-low class and not as clean. So the intention of today’s exercises was to test our ability to use the bus and carro publicos and then see the office and clinic that we’ll use if we ever get sick. The Clinica Abreu is the nicest one in the city! It used to be a house that a few doctors worked in then one thing lead to another and now it’s a hospital with the latest equipment. So don’t worry, I’ll be in good hands if anything is ever to happen to me – as long as I’m in Santo Domingo that is.
After the clinic tour we headed to the Colonial area. So there was a park with a few monuments dedicated to the Fathers of the DR’s Independence from Spain, old fort walls, and armed guards. Across the street was a pedestrian street that had all kinds of clothing shops and a few restaurants. Further down and closer to the water was the oldest Catholic Church in the DR, well all of the Americas too (I think - because Hispaniola was the first place for Christopher Columbus to drop anchor). Across from the church was a Hardrock Café that no one was dining in, as well as few nicer restaurants and bars. This is also the port area for cruses to stop and let out their passengers. We saw a huge group of men walking with a tour group and it dawned on us that they were there as part of a gay cruse ship! I also took a tour of Christopher Columbus’s house, it was nothing special since he never married therefore never having a woman to make it inviting. I’m not trying to be sexist, but it makes a difference in a home if there is no woman, especially back when he was around. Basically the day was a lot of walking and trying to speak Spanish. The weather was cool this morning but by mid afternoon the sun was out in full force with no cloud coverage. It was a long day in the sun. So, if you can’t tell I’m tired and in need of good night sleep. Things are running right along here, in no time it will be May and a whole new chapter will start. Stay tuned…