dominican republic, the good, the bad, and the ugly

i have realized that i have not mentioned too much about the dr itself, for starters, it is a far cry from the comforts of the states. the city is very lively, the people are extremely friendly and helpful, the the history is second to none in the americas, and i am staying in the heart of the zona colonial, in other words, i am sitting on a historical bedrock. outside of my hotel is a 3 minute walk from where christopher columbus lived after he discovered the new world and another 2-3 minute walk you are surrounded by a hospital from the 1500s, the new worlds first cathedral, (which after being to spain, you can notice the spanish influence on the design) the new worlds first painting, and the lighthouse/fortress that guided columbus and protected the city form the usual invasive powers.

on the other side of the spectrum, there is trash everywhere, piled and a sort of organized, self-proclaimed dumpster in the corners of alley ways and lampposts. to some this may seem obscene, but in retrospect, it is not even the tip of the iceberg. the sidewalks can seem like a virtual landmine of sick and dead stray dogs, both in the road, the sidewalk, and even shoveled into the "drainage system" that separates the two. the true problem lies in the fact that the majority of the dogs found are full of their nursing nipples which leads to the question of what is happening to the pups? there have been some organizations recently who have started to take in strays and help them find adopted homes, but they can truly do so much. it is a tough problem and the light at the end of the tunnel does not seem to be closing in.

the last of the culturing experiences has to be one that is not often seen by many in the developed world. now, i have seen many things that should be done behind the privacy of closed doors such as drugs on the street and couples having sex in a park behind buckingham palace in london, not to mention the perv listening in from behind the tree, but this may top the list. i was walking down the street on my second day here, in front of a church i might add, where i spotted a 10-12 year old boy squatting down into the drainage system fumbling with something in his hand. as i walked closer, i realized that there were some droppings coming from his bare end, pants at the ankle, and that something in his hand was paper towel. normally, i feel the natural reaction would be what the hell, but i think only my past travel experiences helped me react the way that i did. i did nothing. no facial expressions, not raised heartbeat, no laughter, nothing. i did not realize it until much later what had just happened, but my lack of reaction stems from an idea that i have adopted while traveling-expect the unexpected.

i am in a unique area of the world with a vivid mix of extreme poverty, wealth, natural and man made wonders, touristic and historical hot spots, and a honeymooners paradise. santo domingo has something for everyone on any budget, but it is also a place that much be experienced first hand. me touching the cross of forgiveness, i could use some i am sure.