Samana Road Trip: Day Two

After a Domincan breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and rice, papaya, mofongo we were  back on the van following the blue bus above deep into the jungle. It is estimated the Dominican Republic has 1.5 billion USD in marble, most of it mined in the Samana province.  When we explored  Mina de Marmol I again wished my dad was with me.  He’d worked in a rock quarry for years in Kentucky.





From there we headed to Boca Del Diablo, the Mouth of the Devil, a blowhole where the sea churns beneath and sounds like a dragon breathing until it spews water up and out  the cliff’s surface above.  I was so excited to get this on video that when I heard the ocean churning  I took off too fast across an overgrown path and tripped on the jagged stones under the vegetation.  Semi-dehydrated, when I was pulled to my feet and looked down upon a 2- inch strip of skin hanging like crepe paper from bloody gashes in my knee I almost fainted.  Thankfully Steve and Sana took my camera and got the shots of the cliff below.


Though only my traveling companions spoke English, a kind lady on our van from Ecuador gave me some antibiotic cream and our guide brought a bottle of water from the cooler.  Afraid I would vomit or faint, I poured the water over my head and felt better.
In the van as we headed to the beach, I thought about my first instinct after the shock of being bit by the devil’s mouth.

Blindsided by going down, I turned on myself:  What are you thinking going on an adventure like this at your age?  Living outside the US?  This is all a bad idea.
As my friend, Kim, and I have discussed often, when blindsided we feel shocked and vulnerable as  I did in an earthquake in Costa Rica or a van wreck in Morocco. The impact of being taken down unexpectedly shakes lose accumulated hurts and hard times  bringing us to our knees literally.

Challenges with this move had been churning in me for awhile and, released by my fall, they blew inside my head.  Once I could be as kind to myself as others were to me, I was back on track and headed to the next beach. The next day I’d get a stronger antibiotic

but at our next stop beauty would make me forget the pain and I’d plunge into the cleanest, most beautiful waters I’d ever seen.  The salt began healing my body at the gorgeous Las Galeras and I was again so grateful for the chance to see all I’ve seen on this island.  Here we played in the water and had delicious fish for lunch.

The last stop of your beach hop was Cano Frio where the Atlantic creates a freshwater swimming area locals love.




While I enjoy solo travel, this weekend reminded me of the importance of friends wherever we live.  Together we are stronger and can pull each other up when, far from home, we fall down.