It was a dark and windy night, there was not a whole lot a stirrin'. I cranked up the ol' V dubya TDI and took off after my son. We took off, pumped RD$1000 of good ol' diesel into the Vee Dubya and off we went to the Big City.
No problems until close to town, traffic started behavin' like a bunch of onery steers with no herders. We decided to get off at Las Caobas, another maelstorm of traffic, more like cats than cattle!!. We made it to the traffic circle--what them English call a "roundabout"--with narry a scratch, something praise-worthy for sure.
About a quarter way around the circle we headed South on Luper?n, about a block and a bit to an office with a couple of flag poles out front. It was early, barely 7:00, and the guy let us park and wait until the office opened up at 8.
Nap, a visit to a very clean loo (another English reference) and we were escorted by an elderly gentleman to the offices some 20 minutes to 8. Special treatment for being nice, I think. Anyway we had the first tickets.
After waiting until the mice and lemmings and bureaucrats arrived, with son trying to explain why I really did not need to pay since I am covered by a very old law, etc etc etc etc etc....all going in one ear and out the other of the jefe of the office.
The cutest girl in the office came by to check documents--Passport, old c?dula and Residence Card,and no sh!t, counting on her fingers, she wrote something on a little paper and put it inside the passport.
Shortly thereafter a line formed at the CAJA (Cashier)...I didn't pay much attention. Then the old guy comes by and says: "you have #1, go up to the line!" Well sir, I did that. and when the system went on line, I was told RD$5,000!! I asked why and she told me ten year renewal and $1000 fine. Okay...paid (crying inside) and went to the photo.
15 minutes later I was out of there with a c?dula that might be renewed in 2021...damn, that seems like a long way away...I just want to renew it twice more...
Then we went to DR1, but nobody home at that hour...then to have "breakfast at EmpareDADO" a sandwich shop on Gustavo Mejia Ricart. Seems my son had a gf nearby and knew the area. Pretty nice food, too.
We were home by 1 o'clock in the afternoon with a couple of good deals made and money in the pocket.
Highway was so-so...still not marked 100% and some "nice holes".
Traffic in Sto Domingo: We took the 27 de Febrero extension that goes through Las Caobas because it was easier than going to JFK and Luper?n...from the C?dula office we took 27 de Febrero going East. Not nice with the construction going on, and early morning traffic. We eventually were able to cross over to Gustavo Mejia Ricart, go going, and from there we went to Lope de Vega and crossed over JFK to the DALSAN offices, and then back to JFK and home. The new overpasses on JFK are really speeding up traffic,and are a welcome
sight.
When they fix the mess at the entrance to Manoguayabo leaving Santo Domingo will be a lot easier.
HB
No problems until close to town, traffic started behavin' like a bunch of onery steers with no herders. We decided to get off at Las Caobas, another maelstorm of traffic, more like cats than cattle!!. We made it to the traffic circle--what them English call a "roundabout"--with narry a scratch, something praise-worthy for sure.
About a quarter way around the circle we headed South on Luper?n, about a block and a bit to an office with a couple of flag poles out front. It was early, barely 7:00, and the guy let us park and wait until the office opened up at 8.
Nap, a visit to a very clean loo (another English reference) and we were escorted by an elderly gentleman to the offices some 20 minutes to 8. Special treatment for being nice, I think. Anyway we had the first tickets.
After waiting until the mice and lemmings and bureaucrats arrived, with son trying to explain why I really did not need to pay since I am covered by a very old law, etc etc etc etc etc....all going in one ear and out the other of the jefe of the office.
The cutest girl in the office came by to check documents--Passport, old c?dula and Residence Card,and no sh!t, counting on her fingers, she wrote something on a little paper and put it inside the passport.
Shortly thereafter a line formed at the CAJA (Cashier)...I didn't pay much attention. Then the old guy comes by and says: "you have #1, go up to the line!" Well sir, I did that. and when the system went on line, I was told RD$5,000!! I asked why and she told me ten year renewal and $1000 fine. Okay...paid (crying inside) and went to the photo.
15 minutes later I was out of there with a c?dula that might be renewed in 2021...damn, that seems like a long way away...I just want to renew it twice more...
Then we went to DR1, but nobody home at that hour...then to have "breakfast at EmpareDADO" a sandwich shop on Gustavo Mejia Ricart. Seems my son had a gf nearby and knew the area. Pretty nice food, too.
We were home by 1 o'clock in the afternoon with a couple of good deals made and money in the pocket.
Highway was so-so...still not marked 100% and some "nice holes".
Traffic in Sto Domingo: We took the 27 de Febrero extension that goes through Las Caobas because it was easier than going to JFK and Luper?n...from the C?dula office we took 27 de Febrero going East. Not nice with the construction going on, and early morning traffic. We eventually were able to cross over to Gustavo Mejia Ricart, go going, and from there we went to Lope de Vega and crossed over JFK to the DALSAN offices, and then back to JFK and home. The new overpasses on JFK are really speeding up traffic,and are a welcome
sight.
When they fix the mess at the entrance to Manoguayabo leaving Santo Domingo will be a lot easier.
HB
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