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DominicanRepublic
(3-28-05) |
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Day #2 Ok...here we go...it begins. It is Monday morning...breakfast is no longer at 8am but is now at 7am. We also get our first real Guagua experience of weekday morning traffic...one word..."SCAREY!" Today consisted of experiencing Santiago traffic, being introduced to all of our clinic sites, city food, bartering for goods, clas de espanol, and an introduction to Merengue and Bachata dance by Eduardo. |
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| Here is a view of the inside of a Guagua from the back seat...there were two people on either side of me... |
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| The back of Jan's head... |
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| Here we had stopped to unload a few
passengers and pick up about 4 more...in the Guaguas there are 3 bench seat
facing forward with "seat extenders" on the sides which fold down for
additional seating...also there is a bench seat behind the driver's and
front passenger's seat facing backward...it is 10 pesos for a ride.
Doesn't everyone just look so happy? |
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| This photograph is credited to Margaret (one of the professionals on the trip)...people seem to be enjoying this Guagua...not always fun, happy games though, Jason had the fun experience of hanging out the side door of the Guagua...the only thing keeping him from falling out being Jenny's arms. |
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| Here is another contribution from Margaret.
In a Guagua there is the driver and then a second individual who hangs out
the side door and collects passengers, stuffs them into the any into any
space he can find or make, and then takes their money. This is a photo of one of those individuals (don't know what they are called). In order to communicate to the driver to stop he bangs on the roof...the Guaguas will reach speeds in excess of 50 mph. |
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| Well...here is a traffic cop...I am unaware of any traffic laws in the city...only "suggestions." |
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| Traffic... |
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| More traffic.. |
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| More traffic...
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| Some streets have designated lanes which are painted...however...these designations are often unheeded. Thus, it is utter chaos in the streets with traffic...cars going straight, diagonal, backwards, left from a right-hand-turn-only lane, right from a left-hand-turn-only lane, and driving into on coming traffic. Traffic could also be compared to 2 lane roads used as 4 lanes of traffic going all 4 different directions. Horns, of all different variability, are a constant noise, not some much as drivers having road rage but drivers letting others know that they are coming. |
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| Dominic's and my clinical site. |
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| (Left to Right): Jason, Me, Joe, Julianne, Dominic, Jan, and Sue (not pictured...Beth, taking the photo with my camera). |
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| Julianne exhausted... |
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| Cabral...clinic site... |
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| (Left to Right) Margaret, Sue, LuAnn @ Fernando's (Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| "The Girls" trying to wave down a taxi..." |
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| "Cuanto cuesta para un taxi?"..."What's a peso?...How much is that?" |
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| Spraying down the dirt street... |
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| Dominic bartering for a box of cigars...he didn't buy them though...demasiado dinero... |
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| Joe...need I say more. |
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| This guy hopped of his "moto" and tried to sell us all water...doesn't his helmet look like something from Star Wars? |
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| Coconut juice... |
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| Whack! Whack! Whack!...be careful now. |
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| (Left to Right) Jan, Dominic, Julianne, LuAnne, Joe (need I say more), Margaret, Me, and Jason eating some ice cream at BON. |
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| Chillin'...after a hard day's work. |
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| So I was just walking by and noticed Jes filling her water bottle...or is she? I can't tell... |
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| What in the world?!...you get some amazing photos when you hang out by the water cooler. |
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| Our first Spanish class in the DR...this is Manuel our Spanish instructor...he is a pretty cool guy. |
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| Lisa, looking exhilarated about Spanish class. |
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| Duuuhhhhh..... |
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| How do you say...? |
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| "Warm Up By Eduardo", for the Merengue and Bachata. Eduardo was a professional ballet dancer and started the first ballet in the Dominican Republic. (Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Stttrrreeetttch.....(Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Darcy...(Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Back, thrust, side, side, back, thrust, side, side...(Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Walk like an Egyptian...(Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Christen and Renae walking like an egyptian (Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| (Left to Right) Christen, Jenny, and Jes shakin' their thang...(Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Eduardo and Eva (Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Margarita and Eva (Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Eva training Dominic in the art of the toe step...(Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Don't I look like I know what I am doing...(Courtesy of Margaret) |
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