Holiday to Sosúa and North Coast - Final Part

We left Tubagua at 10 am and Charly the taxi driver took us to Puerto Plata bus station, around 25 minutes away. I didn’t think I could subject Michelle to the public shared taxis. From there it was a simple route home on one bus, then another, then another which dropped us off outside my house. The public transport system works so well, with buses combining with each other and the conductors are always great at helping with luggage so traveling with a suitcase is not problem.

It rained all the way home and continued raining until Danilo took Michelle back to the airport on Monday and life returned to normal. Apart from the rain.

The rains have displaced tens of thousands of people and thousands of homes destroyed.

Even the hospital and airport in Puerto Plata were flooded.

There are loads of videos on youtube – here is just one so you can get an idea of the damage.

The situation has been exacerbated by the opening of the Taveras Dam in the middle of the country to save it breaching.

I understand why they had to do it, but even though those living close to rivers were warned the affect has been appalling.

The water has filled the main river in the north of the country, the Yaque del Norte which, together with the rain has caused tens of bridges to collapse or to disappear under the water. They have now closed the main bridge from Santiago to Puerto Plata, for inspection and should they have to close it for longer, the north coast will be more or less cut off as  the other routes from Santiago, over the mountains including the road we took to Tubagua are also closed – one as the bridge is going and the one via Tubagua as the road disappeared, although they are now making a bypass of the big hole!

Thousands of acres of agricultural produce have been destroyed especially the staples of bananas, plantains and rice, but in true Dominican tradition people are just doing the best they can.

And it still carries on raining, although supposedly things will improve by the middle of the week.

The good news is that when we got home, Danilo had bought a rat trap. I had bought some nice cheddar in Sosúa and he put a piece of that in it (don’t ask why not use Dominican cheese) and that did the trick – RIP rat. However, a few days later the television in our bedroom stopped worked and on closer inspection inside, there was a baby rat asleep. No idea how many more of the little sods there are.

So, the end of my annual holiday. Despite the rain it was a lovely break – no work, loads of fabulous food, and meeting friends old and new. Plus speaking English for a week! Now it is back to work and wait for the sun to appear so I can do my washing as am rapidly running out of knickers!