First Impressions

It's pretty hard to sum up all of what we have seen (and heard...the DR is loud!), but we have had a great first week. Terry and Jill have been playing the role of host and hostess and have showed us around their town. It is quite an adventure learning to drive and find your way around the many twisting streets. Part of the adventure is not having a phone and internet yet, so I am posting this from Terry and Jill's apartment. The pictures are just what happens to be on my camera! I thought I'd just give you a little shot of the streets and a little Sunday afternoon hanging about at the "Confluencia"(kind of like our "Forks", but with nothing to do but to stand around, play loud music and drink. I don't know whether you can hear the thump of the subwoofers or the revving of approximately 100 or so scooters, mopeds, and dirt bikes, but it was definately an assault on the senses. Noise pollution is a term that is foreign to the Dominicans. I have a lot more pictures of the city and I will post up a photo album soon.

Exit

Friday marked our final day in our Winkler house. Leaving really didn't seem so hard when there was nowhere left to sit, eat or sleep! The endless week of goodbyes was difficult for some in our family though, and I think we were all looking forward to getting this show on the road. A relaxing day in Niverville with Carrie's folks (chinese food, steak, and a few other "Last time in Canada" things), and then up at 3:00 a.m. to catch our flight on Sunday morning. We should have know everything had gone too smooth up until this point. The word was that our plane had suffered "damage" (enemy fire perhaps?), and we would have to try again Monday morning! At least this time we can sleep in until 4:00 a.m.! Something tells me that we may be a bit tired by the time we arrive in the D.R.