Tour of the countryside – by Lucy

If you asked me what I learned yesterday, you would get a very long answer. I learned so much, from where coco beans grow and more importantly other ways of life. I learned to be more happy and be thankful for what I have. Some people have a lot less than me and they are equally nice, kind, and happy.  Even in hard times many people smile. They know that is something that is worth the while. I learned what I learned, and I hope I can teach you, to be thankful and happy no matter what you have to do.

Bright and early the day started a little before 8. We motored on in to the government dock and we grabbed our toothbrushes to donate. Our tour guide Jose was there soon and we went right into the big van. It was super nice and air conditioned. We rode around Luperon and decided where to go.

On our way out, we saw a cow community. These are very common in the DR and  Cows were here, cows were there, basically cows were everywhere. We saw the man milk them, which was very cool. He used a bucket and that was about it. The milk was then delivered to the store or cheese factory by their truck or even cooler a donkey. It was a fun stop, that is for sure, we got tons of pictures.

The next stop was corn plantations. Corn is good for the locals cause they use it to eat, for feeding the animals and they also export it to lots of countries.  Well, corn is corn. By living in Wisconsin over the summer we saw lots of corn, corn isn’t the most abstract thing for us!

Then we stopped at the place where cruisers go and it was very pretty.it had lots of little tiki hut and has lots of stairways leading to the water! It was beautiful and festive. A great place to hang out at. You could hang out there and bring lunch and buy a drink or something from the place. We all thought it would be a really good place to go with a few friends or family.

Then we went to Isabella where Christopher Columbus came to. There where lots of beautiful murals as well as a cool museum. The museum was in Spanish so I couldn’t understand it but Jose translated some of it. The water was very azure there not at all like the bay. The sight was beautiful with lots of flowing greenery and tropical flowers. On our way to the car, a guy that works at a wood carving store, called us to look at his stuff. There where lots of cool carvings and Heidi got a necklace and Sally got earrings. We where going back again and then another person called us. We went into that store and Mom got a wood turtle and I got a beaded necklace with a carved coconut shell on it. Very pretty. We beelined, (not really) to the car before we where brought into another store.  The van set off and we were now on our way.

After a while we decided to get some lunch. And like always, it was very good, and also big servings. I had rice, beans, fried chicken, pasta salad, and a sprite. It was good and we had leftovers today!

We headed on to a cool coco plantation with full stomachs. It was very cool to look around and see where and how all of the coco, coffee, fruits, lots of spice herbs, and veggies grow. It felt very magical in the gardens. There where lots of animals and a baby goat that Sally held. They had the funniest looking ostriches too. There where lots of kittens as well. Super. Cute. We went on little hikes around there. There were trees everywhere and we tried some cherries from one. They were very good. We also saw a coco bean plant broken on the ground so we looked at it. After a fun and beautiful filled hour we started back on the road.

We where going down the highway and there where lots of fruit stands. We wanted to stop at one so, we did. We got a WHOLE STOCK of bananas and a bag of tangerines. We also got a big tomato can full of mangoes. We also got 2 papayas and 3 very cold and refreshening coconuts. They had like a gallon of coconut water in them and came cold from the fridge. Once we drank the coconut we ate some of the meat inside. “The island gives us what we need.” The coconut water was muy muy delicioso! The bananas are very delicious and super good and sweet. We continued our way to Cambiuouso.  The car ride up the mountains where very bumpy and since it has rained the past few days, some places on the rood where flooded about 6 inches if not a foot.

When we got to Cambiuouso we got out and brought our toothbrushes with us. Jose helped us tell them and soon all the kids that weren’t at school came running out to meet us. They were very super cute and were all happy to get toothbrushes. It was really neat to see the kids be so happy about them. Despite the kids and families hardships they were very kind and happy to everyone. I hope more can learn to be more happy no matter how much money you have. Seeing all the families as one community and all working together was very touching scene. In one home a we went to there were lots of kids  and they were all overjoyed to be getting a toothbrush and paste. A little girl in the house, probably about 4,  was given a kids toothbrush that was purple and pink. The look on her face when she received it made my day. A few brushes and paste made many of kids happy. Small things really do have big impacts.

We stopped at multiple houses and down the streets where kids were coming home from school. They were all overjoyed to be getting toothbrushes and toothpaste as well.  Past the houses, donkeys and beaches, we made our way out of  Cambiuouso and back to Luperon.

When we got back, we put all of our fruit away. Then we went oven to the marina where we got our boat pulled to see what time we where going to have dinner at. Issac’s family owns the restaurant Casa Blanca and he invited us to dinner. It was in an hour so we had some time. After an hour we went to dinner which started at 7 and we ate a very good dinner. Heidi, Sally, and I shared 2 pasta bowls and chicken, and very good potato fries. We had fun and Elena.

If you asked me what I learned yesterday, you would get a very long answer. I learned so much, from where coco beans grow and more importantly other ways of life. I learned to be more happy and be thankful for what I have. Some people have a lot less than me and they are equally nice, kind, and happy.  Even in hard times many people smile. They know that is something that is worth the while. I learned what I learned, and I hope I can teach you, to be thankful and happy no matter what you have to do.