I have not posted...
A trip report on my last 2 visits yet, but here' what happened to us on this last trip...
We rented a car in Santo Domingo, insurance and all...and around 3:00 p.m. started the drive up to Nagua...on a saturday afternoon...
We stopped on the way at this place called Turey...to get 'bolitas de queso', crackers and something to drink...and we got to Nagua around 8:00 p.m.
There was no electricity at the apartment where we stayed when we arrived, so we went to the colmado to get candles...but when we went back to the apt. the lights were already on...
On Sunday, we took off early to go to the Carnaval de La Vega, beautiful experience...more on that on my report...(when I have time to write it!, are you guys in for a surprise!!!)
Left La Vega around 6:00 p.m., and by the time we got close to Nagua again it was already dark...on the way, we encountered a 'protesta'...on the route (i think I heard someone say 'la 3'...whatever that means...)
They had started a fire on the road...blocking the way...some of the drivers waited a few minutes, but then they started to get impatient and drove right through it...We waited some more, but there was nothing we could do...we had to keep driving...and were stoned when we got close to the fire...My companion told me to lay low on the car, just in case they started shooting or something...but we made it through with only a dent on the driver's side of the car from one of the stones...
Drove directly to the police station that night in Nagua, together with some of the other drivers that had gone through the same thing...but of course the policemen on watch at that time, it must have been close to 9 pm, were 'too busy' or not in the mood to work, and told us to come back the next morning...
Monday morning we went back, and after talking, checking our driver licenses, and more talking, they finally gave us a certified police report to bring to our car rental agency...It was so funny, the way the cops wanted to know so many details, that had nothing to do with what had happened to us, my friend had to say we were married, that I lived with him in Santo Domingo, that I was his wife, because they kept wanting to know how much we paid for the rental car, where I lived, etc.
The cop in charge of 'Traffic', said he was 'giving' us as a gift the stamps we needed, so we would not have to go buy them, and that the total cost would be $50RD, but of course he let us know that he expected something more because after all, that Monday was a 'holy day' in Nagua...My friend ended up giving him $500 RD, 'cause he had no change at the time...But at least we got the report, and were there only for about an hour...
What an experience...I'll write more about it in my trip report later...
But I just wanted to let the poster know that IT IS a little dangerous to drive at night, especially if it's the first time driving there...
Although the scenery is BEAUTIFUL...I have pictures to prove it...will be posted along with my report...
Take care and have fun!!!