The Shorter Route Directions!
I PM'd this to Barry, but for anyone else who is interested here's my best description of the route through Tamboril to Sabaneta:
As you pass the Cinema, having just turned right from AP Duarte onto Av. Estrella Sadhala go straight through the first light. On the right one block ahead is a small pharmacy, just as the street splits into an overhead portion on the left, and an exit ramp to below on the right. Stay right and do not go on the elevated portion.
At the bottom of the exit ramp is a light. Codetel is ahead and right at this intersection, A Burger King on the left. Go straight one block. At the next light you will see a McDonald's ahead and right. At this intersection turn right. This is the road to Tamboril & Moca. Just keep plowing ahead, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get to the turn into the mountains. It's mostly straight ahead, for whatever that means here in the DR. But no turnoffs!
The turn into the mountains (left) is marked with a sign that says Sabeneta (I think) but Nagua (don't ask why) for sure. As you go through Tamboril you will pass first a chocolate factory on the right, then 2-3 minutes later a speed bump with a PN station on the right and a cigar factory and store facing it on the left. Continue on. Maybe 5 minutes later through several curves a ball stadium left with an Isla station nearby on the left, then a few minutes more and a Texaco on the right, and 1/2 block ahead another PN station next to a town square on the left with a speed bump in front. Immediately after a small bridge. A few minutes more an Endy's Egg farm (you'll smell it) on the left. Then a middle school with speed bump. 3-4 minutes later another speed bump and school.
After this speed bump maybe 1-2 minutes more and you're at the intersection. There is a new gas station going up on the right, a PN station on the left. The road is marked. Lots of taxis there and people buying fried pork as you turn left and head up into the mountains at La Cumbre.
That's it! Just keep going! La Cumbre, Arroyo Frio, Palo Roto, La Caoba, Victor Guzman, Palo Blanco, Jamao, Las Brasos, etc. and then Sabeneta. Turn left there, and it's 10 minutes to Cabarete, and 10 more to Sosua.
Tom (aka XR)