Santiago de los Caballeros

Santiago is the 2nd largest city (population 1.4 million) of the Dominican Republic located in the Cibao valley, just 50 miles away from Sosua but on the other side of the Cordillera Central mountain range. Far from the lazy beach towns and all inclusive resorts, Santiago is the nearest large commercial center; the place to go shopping and to pick up the mail.
AGAPE makes weekly flights to 11 locations in the Caribbean, and this week it was our turn to run the Pony Express to Santiago for the mail pickup for all the members who live on the North Coast. It is always exciting to be able to receive a letter or parcel, but equaling disappointing when you know a box has arrived but no one went to get it. Argggh!

John & Lily Nakonechny arrived on Sunday, July 19th and joined us on this overnight excursion to the big city. Lily shopped for amber at a few of the local factory outlets along the mountain road while John patiently waited.
Wednesday afternoon after a bit of shopping, we went to tour the famous Centro Leon, the best museum of Dominican culture and history on the island only to discover that they were closing early and would be closed for the rest of the week because the founder of the museum had died the day before. Definitely worth making a return visit in the future.Beautiful sunset over the city skyline and the monument of the “Heroes of the Restoration” of this country.

Still smiling thanks to John's safe driving through the traffic chaos of Santiago and circumventing the numerous potholes and washed out areas of the winding mountain road and a mission accomplished.