First Weekend

Whew, long weekend....

Saturday, after a lounge around the porch, we decided to go see La Zona Colonial (The Colonial Zone) on the far side of Santo Domingo. In my past trip, we took taxis for $5 each way. This time, Aldo and I hoofed it down to the main boulevard and caught a carro publico (public car) to the next major intersection. The public cars only cost 20 pesos per person, about 60 cents all told. The downside is we shoved 5 people into the back of a honda civic in the mid-day heat. Another 20 pesos got us on a gua-gua (public bus) to our destination.

Right off the gua-gua, we ignored Karla's instructions and bought food from a street vendor. I will probably catch up to Aldo with regards to his previous post, but that stuff is delicious so no regrets! We meandered around the streets until my memory found us at La Zona Colonial. The area was the first populated region on the island and was the site of one of Columbus' landings. Many of the buildings have been renovated but much of the original defense wall is still intact. The area has a feel akin to that of New Orleans, for those of you that have been there.

We took a look at the first cathedral in the new world as well as the first sundial, snapped a picture in front of Diego Colon's (Columbus' brother) house, and continued down the street to be tourists. We made it out of the vendors with only one purchase, Mamajuna, which I will elaborate on in a bit...

Getting back was more of an adventure than getting there. We walked through an area that I would equal to the slums of any major U.S. city. Refuse lined both sides of the streets and people were sleeping in different areas of exposed sidewalk. It is amazing how hard life really is behind the shops and restaurants that tourists see on a regular basis. One more block and most people could see a much more common Dominican Lifestyle. Though poor beyond my wildest conception, the people here are extremely nice and it was a joy for them to point us in the right direction. Another gua-gua got us to our main avenue and we plodded the several blocks home (for exercise...)

Saturday evening was spent on the porch with our friends. We had hot dogs for dinner and talked over glasses of Santo Libre (rum and 7up) until the wee hours and called it a night. If you can't tell, we really like the porch. Unlike the States, people get together every night and share stories and gossip, rather than sit in front of TVs in different rooms. Being out on the porch is not only helping to expand my Spanish, but also my world view.

Today we woke up late and Francisco offered to take us Los Tres Ojos (The Three Eyes), a set of limestone sinkholes just outside the city. It was a very calming and beautiful place, one relatively untouched by modern society. Next we visited the Faro Colon, a massive structure that doubles as a lighthouse and an artistic display. The building is in the shape of a cross and projects a cross-shaped illumination into the sky at night. It is said that the cross can be seen as far away as Puerto Rico. It is rarely used, however, because the amount of power required to operate it drains the surrounding ciy of power.

The rest of the day was spent tossing the baseball or visiting the colmado, a local convenience store that can be found on virtually every street corner. We made friends the first day with Luis and Luis and we see them sitting out front talking every time we stop by. We can sit and share a beer or a coke, learn about the world, and be on our way in just a few minutes.

In the evening Aldo and I sat around and discussed ways to create and market Mamajuana in the States. The drink is an infusion of roots and herbs that is cured in wine then soaked in rum. After a few days of soaking, the rum is ready to drink and packs quite a kick. No two bottles will ever be the same. It is rumored to enhance virility and claims to act as an aphrodisiac. Anyhow, we joked about including elements found commonly in Texas and we have a few ideas to start us off running when we get home.

We are headed to work tomorrow and will be there until Friday (unless a hurricane comes, in that case goodbye). We work in Guayacanes, about an hour from Santo Domingo. The housing development we are working on is in a very poor area and amenities will be basic. That being said, don't expect a post until next weekend. Keep us in your thoughts, as this week will challenge us physically and mentally. We are excited to get on site and work! We promise to drink lots of water and wear sunscreen...

It's official...

It's official...I have diarrhea! Not to alarm any of you all but I'm going to say that it's just my body adjusting to the various foods we have introduced into our bodies.  No more McD's for us...It's mangu and mofongo.  To elaborate what it is we've been eating: Mangu is a dish made of mashed plantains and topped with onions marinated in vinegar.  This is the national dish of the Dominican Republic and is served with a side of salami.  It is typically eaten for breakfast but is good at anytime of the day.  Think of it as a thick, mashed potato dish that goes with breakfast in place of hash browns.  Mofongo is a dish made of mashed plantains and chicharones.  Usually served with various meats, this a Dominican adaption of an African dish that is popular amongst tourists and locals alike.  My brief descriptions do not do any of these dishes justice but know that they are delicious!

On a different note, Sayer and I started the day off by visiting our new employer Constructora Manzano (Manzano Construction).  I met his office staff and brother, Carlos who are all very nice and generous people.  We spent some time catching up and went with Carlos to eat the previously described meal.  When we got back we visited with Luis Manzano, the head honcho and namesake of the company.  He is a young and friendly guy who was happy to have us on board. We chatted about the project and moved on to families and hobbies. 

We made arrangements to begin working on Monday in Guayacanes. Luis will drop us off out there and we will find our way back at the end of the week.  He ordered us some beds and we are currently prepping our stomachs for the high quantities of rice and beans we will eat alongside the workers.  The jobsite is about an hour away from Olga's house but Sayer has done it before so it shouldn't be a big ordeal to get to and from work. We will think of some things to do on the weekends to see some more of the country while we are here.

We closed off our day by watching a few innings of a baseball game at the park down the street.  Baseball is the third biggest passion in this country, right behind God and family.  Kids are raised to play from the time they walk and many end up playing in the States for major and minor league teams.  I look forward to getting out on the field with some future all-stars!

We will check back this weekend after some sight-seeing...

We made it!

After an uneventful flight from Texas and a lengthy layover in Florida, Aldo and I made it to the Dominican Republic! Customs was no hassle and we were greeted at the airport with some Cuba Libres and sent on our way. We didn't really have a plan for getting to our home in Santo Domingo, so Aldo negotiated a taxi and I provided the directions.

We surged through traffic for a while and pulled up to the front porch of our host mother's house. No one was home so we hoofed it down the street to the colmado, a local corner store. We took a few minutes to talk to the locals and scope out the neighborhood, then walked back just in time to meet Olga, our mom!

We are staying on a quiet little street with Olga, her son Francisco, and his Fiance Karla. I will post pictures when I take some later. This family hosted me on my last trip and were gracious enough to offer again. We milled around the house for a while and fell asleep, now we are on the front porch visiting with friends and neighbors and tossing around ideas for the weekend.

We just wanted to let everyone know that we made it, thanks for the support and stay tuned for some posts with actual interesting content :)

About Aldo...

My name is Aldo Gurrusquieta and as I prepare for departure, my hope is to give you a bit of insight on the purpose and nature of my travels. I am the third child of a great family of five and was raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Through the years, I learned that Life gives you back what you put into it.

My motivation for this endeavor can be best illustrated by paraphrasing Emerson: Success is measured by one's impact on a changed social condition. The ultimate goal is to leave the World in a better place than I found it.

My travels will not be a vacation but a study about the inner depths of the human spirit. How far will we go to help others and enrich lives? There are many more questions left to be answered but I am sure the results of this journey will be life altering.

We will be traveling to clandestine locations and learning from people of all walks of life. Construction is my first love and is followed closely by education. I have managed to couple these passions and create an itinerary that applies them fundamentally. We will be working free and contributing to construction and humanitarian projects in the Dominican Republic, Spain, Greece and Cambodia in exchange for food and accommodations.

Please feel free to post comments and follow along with me in this journey. After all, I am doing this with you in mind and I cannot wait to share the stories and photographs very soon!

Cheers,
Aldo

About Sayer...

My name is Sayer and I come from humble beginnings in Texas. While on a study abroad in 2009, I caught a glimpse of the world that lies outside of my state and came back home with more of a thirst than when I left. That trip was the catalyst for my desire to wander and now I get another chance.

I am teaming up with my good friend, Aldo, for what will likely be yet another life-changing endeavor. I am setting out to learn some new ideas in construction practices across the world, but more importantly, I am seeking to better understand the human way of life as it traverses across borders and continents. I have a strong desire to work with people, and what better way to be more open than to thrust myself out of my comfort zone?

I have several motivations for undertaking this adventure, but the biggest influence has come from my friends and family. Too many people have told me "do it while you're young" or "I wish I had the same opportunities that you do in this day and age." Therefore, I am doing this for everyone that was not able to. My hope is that those who influenced me can now experience their dreams through my adventures, pictures, and stories. Thank you all for igniting the spark.

Please check in and see what we are up to. If you have any questions or suggestions on what to do please offer them. I look forward to sharing when I get back!

How this all started...

Sayer and I met as undergraduate students at Texas A&M University during our sophomore year. Two years into our major, Construction Science, we participated in a study abroad program. The trip took us to England, Scotland, Germany, Italy and Spain.

This "dream" all started for us a little over a year ago. I remember being in London and having an interesting conversation with a Beefeater. He asked us why we were visiting England. In search of a "good" answer, we paused but he quickly remarked, "Come to see how it's done?"

A shot of laughter rang among the group but it left us thinking. It was true, we had traveled over 4,500 miles to learn about their culture. Realizing this and coupling it with our passion for travel and construction we decided to start planning a broader trip when we got back.