Day 3: Hiking Bruson and Cabarete

7.1.12.

We woke, once again bright and early and left for a nice, long three hour hike up a mountain, Bruson, after slipping in a quick breakfast of fruit and cheese sandwiches. The bus ride was 40 minutes long, so while most of the exhausted GLA members dozed on the way there, a few of us stayed up chatting and taking in the scenery.

Some adorable kids we met on the way up

The hike began with a bathroom break in one of the local houses (Dave knows everyone) and a water stock up at a local store - especially for me, since I'd drank all my water on the bus ride down. The DR isn't like America in many ways, particularly in that it lacks an abundance of clean water. You can't just pop into anyone's house or turn on any faucet and expect fresh, filtered water - not even in Santa Domingo motels. This lack of fresh water forces most Dominicans to buy it bottles or packaged, which not only costs them money (if they even choose that over the local, polluted but free rivers) but wastes infinite amounts of plastic which take centuries to decompose. This water industry also allows large corporations, like Coca Cola and Desani to conquer underdeveloped countries like the DR, which only adds to our world water crisis.

Beautiful view from the top of Bruson

On the way up, we observed some completely sustainable families, who didn't generate much income, but didn't need to purchase many items either as they raised their own animals, grew their own plants and had access to water through either an implanted water system or the river. We stopped for water half way up the mountain at a local store, where we filled up our bottles using one of these water taps that a peace corps member had set up just years before. At the almost-top, we met a 80 year old woman who took care of her sick sister and three nieces and nephews, while caring for herself and her garden/animals. Her kitchen was primitive looking, completely made of plant material from the roof to the gourds she used for cooking. It was shocking to me that people could live as she did, but she was content with her sustainable lifestyle, making trips down the mountain only every so often for supplies.

Caberete Beach! 

At the top, we enjoyed a delicious meal of chicken, rice and beans and a beautiful view, before heading back down the mountain (which took half the time but was twice as hard, in my opinion). We then made our way to the local, touristy beach, Cabarete, where we explored the warm, lulling waters, the souvenir filled shops, the refreshing and delicious Bon and got our hair braided (by choice, or by force).

After reuniting with the other half of our GLA group (who switched and worked at the orphanage today), we played in the pool until dinner time. Afterwards we curled up and watched a movie about one of many world crisis' - Dave informed us that we are going to learn about all the problems before looking at the solutions - and how many problems there are...

* Emma's photos :)