This road trip is a feast for the eyes.
Recommended for mountain lovers and anyone wishing to appreciate the scope and diversity of beauty in this country.
Escott and I began Friday afternoon, exiting the Autopista Duarte for Constanza. The road is narrow, constantly climbs, and gives new meaning to ?zigzag?. Expect to travel at 30 miles/hr max, although the max might be a lot less. Escott was driving. (Note to self: wear a crash helmet and lots of padding next trip.)
Note to everyone else: Be sure to phone a friend if you decide to make this trip on the fly, as we did. If one were to launch off the road, I doubt the wreak some thousand feet below would ever be noticed or found. Escott happened to speak to AZB, so he knew where we were? the debate was whether or not he?d remember if his good friend unexpectedly disappeared. There?s always the chance he?d assume the best? that Escott had found heaven with some remote female tribe.
Until you pass into the mountains for good, you?ll catch sweeping views of the country below, depending on whether you?re zigging or zagging. Each view is more spectacular than the last. At first, I wanted to stop and enjoy this view or that one, but as Escott said, ?they?re all views?.
The vegetation changes with the elevation, as does the air. Turn off the air conditioner and enjoy the coolness? later, you?ll need the heater. We?re still unsure what crop we saw clinging to the steepest hillsides?. Maybe coffee?
In the final miles to Constanza, the terrain levels and you pass one small town? the road to Jarabacoa splits from this town, 28 km to Jarabacoa. Hmm, we thought we?d be staying in Constanza for the night, not a good plan to backtrack the way we?d come 2 hours in the dark. But now there was a possibility of making it to Jarabacoa before nightfall. Great, more pedal to the metal.
The valley holding Constanza is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and is awesomely fertile. Everywhere, crops are growing? covered greenhouses with thousands of flowers, corn, cabbage, carrots, and who knows what else. We saw those little vegetable trucks laden with produce, each one loaded higher than the one before. In this valley, even the horses are fat. It appeared to us that this must be the bread basket of the country. Does anyone know?
Constanza is a thriving rural town? there?s a Caribe Tours bus station, so if you prefer to let someone else drive, you can make the trip and explore this piece of paradise.
? will break off now and continue on to Jarabacoa next post.
Recommended for mountain lovers and anyone wishing to appreciate the scope and diversity of beauty in this country.
Escott and I began Friday afternoon, exiting the Autopista Duarte for Constanza. The road is narrow, constantly climbs, and gives new meaning to ?zigzag?. Expect to travel at 30 miles/hr max, although the max might be a lot less. Escott was driving. (Note to self: wear a crash helmet and lots of padding next trip.)
Note to everyone else: Be sure to phone a friend if you decide to make this trip on the fly, as we did. If one were to launch off the road, I doubt the wreak some thousand feet below would ever be noticed or found. Escott happened to speak to AZB, so he knew where we were? the debate was whether or not he?d remember if his good friend unexpectedly disappeared. There?s always the chance he?d assume the best? that Escott had found heaven with some remote female tribe.
Until you pass into the mountains for good, you?ll catch sweeping views of the country below, depending on whether you?re zigging or zagging. Each view is more spectacular than the last. At first, I wanted to stop and enjoy this view or that one, but as Escott said, ?they?re all views?.
The vegetation changes with the elevation, as does the air. Turn off the air conditioner and enjoy the coolness? later, you?ll need the heater. We?re still unsure what crop we saw clinging to the steepest hillsides?. Maybe coffee?
In the final miles to Constanza, the terrain levels and you pass one small town? the road to Jarabacoa splits from this town, 28 km to Jarabacoa. Hmm, we thought we?d be staying in Constanza for the night, not a good plan to backtrack the way we?d come 2 hours in the dark. But now there was a possibility of making it to Jarabacoa before nightfall. Great, more pedal to the metal.
The valley holding Constanza is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and is awesomely fertile. Everywhere, crops are growing? covered greenhouses with thousands of flowers, corn, cabbage, carrots, and who knows what else. We saw those little vegetable trucks laden with produce, each one loaded higher than the one before. In this valley, even the horses are fat. It appeared to us that this must be the bread basket of the country. Does anyone know?
Constanza is a thriving rural town? there?s a Caribe Tours bus station, so if you prefer to let someone else drive, you can make the trip and explore this piece of paradise.
? will break off now and continue on to Jarabacoa next post.
