We Have Arrived Safely in the DR!

After a smooth and hassle-free day of travel, we have arrived safely in the Dominican Republic.  We landed at the Santiago airport, cleared customs (with our 23 suitcases and duffle bags of donated material!) and took a short trip to our refuge for the night, a beautiful B&B called both SANA and The Secret Garden, which is even more descriptive.  It's beautiful!

We started the day in the rain and cold at the Norwich Congregational Church, and soon after 5:30 everyone was there.  Except the bus. Turns out he was waiting at the Norwich UUA church down on Rt. 5.  He was soon summoned, and we quickly loaded the luggage and were on our way to New York and JFK Airport.  Traffic was busy but not problematic, and we arrived at the airport well  over two hours prior to the flight. We were able to successfully negotiate with the Delta baggage folks to allow each of us to check a bag for free.  That means we only paid for six checked bags!  We zoomed through security, and had plenty of time to roam the terminal before we boarded.

The flight was on-time and effortless, and aside from the Amazing Screaming Toddler two rows in front of us and the explosion of Sam Strohbehn's water bottle, the three-hour trip was uneventful.  The in-flight movie was "Daddy's Home".  Great if you like Will Ferrell.  Before we knew it, we were filling out customs and immigration forms and preparing to land.  It took us no more than 30 minutes to go through both immigration and customs after successfully claim our suitcases.  Rita was waiting outside with the bus, and exactly 12 hours after we were in Norwich, we once again loaded up, this time in temperatures that were 50 degrees warmer.

It was a short drive to the B&B on the main highway, and there was so much to see.  It's election season down here, too, and there were signs everywhere.  We passed fields banana and plantain, and the mountains the the distance were topped with cumulus clouds, colored by the soon-to-be setting  sun.  We pulled into the little neighborhood and through the gate into the Secret Garden, and were greeted with the sight of flowering shrubs everywhere, mango and starfruit trees, and the scent of jasmine.

We had the unloading thing down to a science, and were soon moved into the dorm rooms.  The beds look comfortable and welcoming, the fans look powerful, and dinner awaits.  Tomorrow we'll make the trip to Cotui and settle in, and the we have a very full week ahead.  We're all well if a bit travel-weary, and eager for our adventure.  We'll be in touch soon!