How to make the best out of a 3-day trip to the DR
This was my 3rd trip since July, it was just a long weekend so I was hoping to pack as much fun in it as possible.
I arrived late in the evening and at night we went out to a car wash in Higuey, great dancing, good fun, some rum not too much, well and on the way back, after a good 40 minute drive, I brake in a curva peligrosa, car skids to the left, out of my control and yeah next thing I know is we´re all checking our bodies for injuries and try to climb out the car. I may have been going to fast, my reaction time too slow due to rum, jet lag, long plane ride, whatever the reason not a situation you want to be in. Car is totalled, we are all ok, except my boyfriend, his brazo hurts. Of course no one stops, even though I jump up and down in the street, eventually some one takes us to the hospital, where police joins us, and so on blabla. We manage to talk them out of taking me to the station right there, but they are sure to pick me up first thing in the morning. Yes I had full coverage, low deductible, my boyfriend gets released without serious harm the next day, but I`m worried, it is not my first encounter with the police in the DR, but it´s the first time where I actually am the one to blame, and where I feel really stupid and bad for not being careful enough and always having to be the one that goes just a little too far (and fast).
Why am I telling this story, well because I feel REALLY LUCKY for having survived in the first place, for being patient enough, speaking good enough Spanish, and having some seriously great Dominican friends. I end up spending almost half of my three day vacation (finally added a day to still enjoy) at the police station, either waiting for this jefe, or that firma, absolutely refusing to go to a court hearing and/or paying my way out. It was hard figuring out which one was in charge, and they gladly played with my ignorance. Every one at the station including the jefe wanted to go out dancing with me, when all I wanted was that piece of paper for the rental company... I even bought a nice old classic merengue CD of the guy that came in selling while I was waiting...
Well like I said my good friends helped get me out of this very cheap (not the hospital bill though), and I ended up enjoying the rest of my holiday, although at a slightly more relaxed pace. I learned my lesson about putting my friends` and my life in danger, I have kids.
Next time I go back, I will have them with me again, - the dancing will have lower priority -, but we will be driving across and around this wonderful country again.
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