We are still anchored in Luperon, Dominican Republic.  We have been using a tarp I sewed to shade the boat and it is very useful to keep the boat cool.  The good/bad thing also about this area is that around 11am wind picks up due to the land warming up which sucks the cooler water breeze (called sea breeze) which is good for staying at harbor BUT not good for traveling the DR north shore.  So Van Sant says that you need to travel at night.  You will see from some of the pictures that we probably are growing barnacles on Sojourn’s bottom as we have been here 2 weeks so far.  The weather gods appear that they may let us leave by Friday, March 9^th to start our 3-5 day journey across the Mona Passage and unto the Boqueron, Puerto Rico.  In order to do this we need to get the Camodante to clear us out of  the DR and make sure we aren’t taking any DR/Haitians with us – so they board the boat and hopefully not collect any more $10-20 fees (as there were lots of them clearing in)!  BUT it was worth every penny!  The agriculture and health folks that came to our boat asked that we throw international garbage (they burn) in a different bin than the national garbage but fortunately they don’t charge us.  What have we been doing and what have we learned since arrival?  All the trips seem to take a full day and end at a local restaurant to drink a LARGE 22oz. Bohemia beer @ $60 pesos/$1.80US.   Tom’s in heaven!  

We are now traveling the DR with 3 other boats as Sea Otter needed to leave to get to St. Thomas.  We first fixed things on the boat from the last journey while 3 people got rid of the stomach parasite via drugs from pharmacy that we purchased them.  Then we went to the 28 natural fresh water falls that you climb up (with help from the guides) and slide or jump down.  We did the first 7 (wished we did more but my fingers were numb) .   We learned that it is much cheaper to negotiate fee with a guagua (van) owner to drive you there than to take a tour.   

Then Wendy/I organized a trip to Jarabacoa for 2 nights/3 days.  We could of easily stayed there for a week with lots to do.  This is a mountain town in the Cordillera Central region of the DR about 3 hours away.  This is where all of the fruits/vegetables/flowers are grown and exported.  We saw a lot of tobacco/sugar cane/corn grown on the way there as well.  We stayed at a beautiful mountain resort with pool and HOT showers for $50/night.  We could of stayed a lot cheaper but they were booked due to the La Vega independence day carnival.  We hiked mountains/waterfalls/town, rode horseback and just relaxed.  On the way back we hired the driver (3000 pesos or $100) to stop at Santiago for provisions.  It ended up being abit more vs traveling by bus and then guagua but we could stop when we wanted and get there faster.  With our souls fulfilled and muscles sore, we limped back to Luperon to make sure our boats were still safe.  This was our first time leaving Sojourn since June and every day there are boats reanchoring – so you hope for the best.   

Then we went with Janet (a archeologist) on SV Satori in their van to  El Castillo/La Isabella area to learn more about the Tiano Indians/artifact collection, Columbus arrival/Park and eat/swim at a great Belgian resort.  Enroute back we were treated to a beautiful sunset and full lunar eclipse in the hills.  We even saw fire flies.  Walking/driving thru the small towns is very delightful!    Another day we took a guagua(van) to a cheese factory.  The first local smaller farm didn’t have any cheese to sell so we went back on the main road to go to catch another guagua to go to the larger factory.  After almost missing it due to our limited spanish — we walked down a dirt road and found the delightful cheese.  The cool thing about this cheese besides being fresh is that it is wrapped in wax so it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.  Same with the eggs as they are fresh from the chickens.   

One day, it downpoured about 4” so some boats collected rain water into their tanks by placing towels to create a damp.  We were off the boat unfortunately.  The junk that came down the hills via the river was amazing – chairs, stumps, garbage, buckets, etc.  One day we went to the local dentist to get our teeth cleaned for $400 pesos/$12 – no major cavities – as they seem to fill everything that looks suspect but its still cheap.  The current exchange rate is around $33 pesos/$1 US .  Its better to go to a exchange office than to a bank.  The ATM doesn’t work here so need to take a guagua to Imbert.  At times there is no money so you search for the next one.  We stocked up on some cash before leaving US so haven’t used ATM’s much here. 

Between all this we wash clothes (using local water from rivers that’s free – also shower with this water), walk the town and surrounding areas, update you and other via internet – free if eating (around $150 pesos/US$4.50/meal) at Steve’s or $50 pesos/US $1.50/hour, organize Tom’s son Kevin arrival on March 22^nd into Puerto Rico, go to next town Imbert to market on Thursdays, wash our hands a lot to keep from getting the parasite, go to marina to purchase drinking water @ $35 pesos or US $1.05/5 gal, fill our diesel via “Handy Andy” coming out to us @ $120 pesos or US $3.70/gal (however it took 32 gallons to fill jugs that hold 29 gallons – the DR gallon on Andy’s boat is different than a US!) , walk into town to pick up gasoline @ US $4.00/gal.,  purchasing bread/sticky buns from Marnie an ex-pat, going to the cruisers flea market on Sunday AM’s, listening to the local net on VHF 68 on Sunday and Wednesday, etc.   

I have been talking to other ex-pat cruisers and found another mountain trip to small towns that we will probably go on Tuesday – so am excited about that as it truly is beautiful to be in the foothills of the nearby mountains.  Tom did get bitten badly while sleeping at the mountain resort one night but otherwise ALL is well.  I used Skin-So-Soft and seemed to keep them away.   

We understand that folks back in MN got mounds of snow dumped on them.  I hope you find a way to enjoy it as I am still slowly learning that there isn’t a lot I can do about things I can’t change – weather is our life so have been tested several times.  Fortunately we have had good passages so far so feel very blessed!   

We miss your smiley faces!  Keep in touch as it matters to us.

 Our Love Always

Rose & Tom