I've been advised to get to the falls early, and it seems like I'm the
first,
A wide trail leads down to the river, but the
suspension bridge have gone. We cross the cold water, and head in to the
forest. Here are a few
It start to drizzle, and I'm kind of glad I didn't go
for the four hour track. After around 20 minutes, we reach the fall, and it
is the creek. Here are fall number one and two, each around three meters
high and less than half a meter wide. Considering the amount of money I have spend on
entrance, shoos and guide, I shoot quite some photos of the falls and the
primitive
We
head back, and start meeting other guests: All dressed up in swimming suits,
closed shoos, life jacket and helmets. It look more like a theme park, than a
national park! It have taken less than a hour, and I have to come up with a
plan for the rest of the day.
The fare north-west seems tempting, and I anticipate I
might be more dry. I set the GPS for Monte Christo, and hope the roadwork
will get an end. Here start to be some palm-leaves- I've been following the coastal mountains inland, but
as I get closer, the landscape dry out a bit. Strangely enough, rice fields
start to emerge at the same time. Guess they have a rich river to feed them.
Then there are more tobacco fields, and a single large field with epiphytic
cacti. It is for the tasty Dragon Fruits. In the bigger town of Maimon, a huge settlement along the road starts. It closes both sides for around 20 kilometres. Here are many butcher shops along the road, mainly with goats, but also cattle. All the meat is displayed under a palm-leaf shelter, next to the road. Some have live animal tied op to the poles too.
The
Here
start to be some military I finally make it to Monte Cristo, and it is fare from the large city I have expected. I do a few loops around the central part, but here is nothing that get me out of the car. Then Then I meet the perfect beach, and that gets me out of
the car. Here are not a soul, but some interesting snails and shells are
found on the white sand. The road then leads through a mangrove, and while I'll do another photo stop, a police car pulls up. Their English is worse than my Spanish, bit after several tries, they ask for a tip. They get my, for the occasion so firm handshake, and a wide and friendly smile. The road end at some small hills in the beach. Here,
it is a rocky beach with rounded stones. A single little agama sit on the
rocks. I do a short walk, but it is getting late, and I saw a restaurant
with cars in front.
It is getting late, and I start the tour homewards. I get
pulled over by a police control, and the officer claims I have been
careened. Well, considering the area is more pot-holes than sealing, I can't
really rule that The rest of the tour home is pretty eventless. I follow whoever drives the fastest of the locals. A big bus is really stepping on it, but I looses him to the police, after quite some time. I like having a pilot, screening for cops and "dead-cops", which are numerous. Waterfalls of Damajagua, Monte Cristo, the north-western part.
In Navarrete, I turn east, and see the mountains ahead. Highway 1 runs around the big city of Santiago, but I head into it. I find a huge monument, which relate to their heroes. It was commissioned by the dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, only to honour him. Here are huge statues of the heros around, and the view to the city is complete. The sun disappears, and I head down-town to find an early lunch. The town is pretty dead, and then it starts to rain. I
passes a little restaurant,
I find another place, and
head back. Here are several small but tree covered and green parks, and a
great view over the river and the orange suspension bridge. I find an
umbrella,
just to be safe, and do a few loops without finding anything I continues down the RD-1 to La Vega, and turn right into the hills and towards Jarabacoa for 22 kilometres of RD-28. Small wooden huts dominates the road sides along with green bushes and trees. I can't find the hotel I have a reservation for tomorrow and the coming days, but I find a posh resort nearby. I feel like I can treat myself with a bit of luxury, like a hot shower.
The Then I head down to the mountain town of Jarabacoa.
I had expected something more cosy somehow. It is not especially old,
interesting or pretty, but here are a lot of music! The middle of town is
closed to cars, and all the bars have expanded out on the streets. Posh cars
with several
It is not only a newly sealed road, it is really pretty.
A lot of steep cattle fields, some pines and huge fields on the slopes with
La tayota/Chayote; Sechium edule, an odd looking cucumber. On some of
the growing fence-poles, I find a single flowering orchid and many species
of Bromeliads along with a Golden Orb Spider; Nephila clavipes.
I
try two pizzerias, but they do not have vegetarian pizzas, nor do they want
to try making one. Then it is Penne Tres Tipos de Queso. Not that good, but
more expensive than a night in my last guesthouse. It have turned dark, and
I retire to work.
Santiago, Jarabacoa and a mountain road and more from the mountain
road;
Calle La Cienaga. |