DR Trip Day 6

Today was another day of environmentalism at DREAM. We had some new kids and some kids we have had before. Today’s lessons: the importance of clean water, building a water filter, testing plants as natural filters, and cleaning up an oil spill. After two hour-long lessons, we had a special treat and got to join them for their end-of-the-morning circle time where we repeated basic phrases in Spanish and English.

 

After a wonderful Dominican lunch at DREAM featuring plantains(!), we rode the bus up to the Waterfalls of Damajagua, with some traffic that made for a long trip. At first we were told that they were closed due to rain, but Mateo made some calls, and we were cleared to do 8 waterfalls, instead of our original plan of 12 (here are 27 in all). A few did not feel up to it, but the rest of us put on water shoes, life jackets, and helmets, and  hiked about 30 minutes until we reached the falls. These are a series of cascades and falls carved 20-30 feet into the limestone mountain. We jumped in the river, and with our guides’ help, we slid down some natural slides, and jumped one big waterfall. It was intense and exhilarating. 

After another long ride with more traffic, we had a delicious dinner of steak/chicken/fish and fries, then debriefed and went to bed.