Pearls of the Caribbean (4)

Casa De Campo/La Romana

Costa excursion: Relaxation in Bayahibe. The program includes an extremely relaxing "stay" on one of the most spectacular beaches in the Caribbean, in the shade of the palm trees. "Stay" is a big word, more accurate to call it half a day, but the beauty of the beach is indisputable, especially for us who set foot there for the first time. It's almost instinctive to kiss the ground as (perhaps) Christopher Columbus did upon his arrival in these parts..! By coach departing from the pier, in about forty minutes we reach Bayahibe. Of the picturesque fishing village "very much in vogue among tourists, which does not renounce its traditional charm" we see very little, in fact nothing at all, given that we are "catapulted" into the "five-star resort" hosting us during these hours of absolute relaxation.

The afternoon's activities were (in no particular order and repeated several times): swimming, walking on the sand, relaxing on a sunbed, sampling drinks and cocktails (the latter much appreciated by the dads of the group) and finally sunbathing not so much to "show off an enviable tan" as the program says but to turn red as our local bell peppers. In all honesty and for intellectual honesty it must be said that Matteo and Caterina got a tan; Davide did in fact take on the color of the aforementioned vegetable.

Catalina Island

Costa excursion: Cueva de las Maravillas and San Pedro We leave from the tourist pier of Casa de Campo heading towards La Romana to take "a scenic tour of this modern city". By scenic tour they mean a Japanese-style tour in which the tourists sit in the minibus and the monuments move as it passes by. It's not great; we like to wander on foot, but time is what it is, so we adapt to what has already been arranged. Right away we notice the clear gap between the tourist panorama (beaches and fully equipped resorts) and the real life of the Dominicans. A harsh contrast that clashes and jars with what we are used to seeing in catalogs and television footage. After taking our last photos we head to San Pedro de Macoris, located between Santo Domingo and La Romana (southern part of the Dominican Republic).

Interesting is the contrast that the guide deliberately presents to us between the houses of ordinary citizens and those of the baseball players (the national sport). The former are quite rudimentary and on the verge of decay, while the latter are little villas where big-engine cars and well-kept gardens are put on display. In this city rich in culture and history, the program includes a visit to an "internationally famous cigar factory, Agio Cigars" (!?). To be honest, we're not convinced we saw Agio Cigars but rather one of the many cigar factories on the island. Perhaps, to be malicious, our guide "spontaneously" changed the itinerary to stop off, coincidentally, at a factory he knew. No big deal.

Our curiosity to see the cigars that are born from the hands of the "bonchero", who pass the unfinished cigars to the "rolera" (who rolls the cigars), was fully satisfied, so nothing to complain about. As per the manual, we observe the speed with which the employees roll the cigars and, amid the smoke of the cigars offered by the company (obviously to try them), we too buy our "legendary" box of cigars with a vanilla aftertaste. From San Pedro we set off again towards La Romana to make a stop at La Cueva de Las Maravillas. The Cueva is an underground archaeological museum, consisting of an immense cave featuring over 800 meters of underground labyrinths, of which 240 are fully accessible to tourists. The cave is characterized by wonderful geological formations.

In addition to the stalactites and stalagmites that fill the cave, in one of the caverns there is a beautiful underground pool of crystal-clear water. The pool is not natural but was built artificially to keep the cave's humidity constant. But the cave's most important attraction is the drawings of the Taino Indians, which date back to pre-Columbian times and are preserved in practically perfect condition. In addition to the rock inscriptions there are also "fake" inscriptions made in the past by tourists, proof that it's the same everywhere and that bad manners have no borders. We end the tour with a visit to La Romana, again Japanese-style. From the tourist pier we board to reach Catalina Island, where we spend the afternoon among feasting, diving and snacks together with the friends we met on board.