Luperon - Las Cascadas

Yesterday we spent the afternoon changing the oil and fuel filters in both engines. We also had the local handymen bring us 20 gallons of diesel to top off our tank. There are two local guys who work together to take care of all the boats in the harbor: "Handy Andy" (not sure if that's his name but that's what he's called) and Papo (pretty sure that's his name). Recently a boat in the harbor sank because of a leaky head, and they were the ones who managed to get it afloat again. There are two marinas in Luperon but neither has a fuel dock, so we were happy that we didn't have to jerry jug the fuel ourselves.

This morning we had made plans to rent a car and caravan with the folks on "Adventure Bound", "Sol Magique" and "Eleytheria" to the "Cascadas". Cascada means "waterfall" in Spanish and the waterfalls here are really something. There are 27 levels (counting each waterfall, even the smaller ones) and they twist and turn through the rock just like the waterslides at a waterpark. As it turns out, that's exactly what they are -- natural waterslides. We arrived at the base of the mountain and were given life jackets and a helmet. We then had to decide how many waterfall "levels" we wanted to do. We all decided to do the first seven falls since that seemed to be the most popular. It was a twenty minute walk to the base of the falls and then we followed our guides wading through and climbing up the first seven waterfalls. Then they had us turn around and go down all the falls one at a time. Most were like slides, but there were a couple where you had to jump. In fact, Jim and Amanda (Adventure Bound) had already toured the falls once before and they convinced the guides to take some of us up one extra level to "Numero Ocho" which turned out to be at least a twenty foot jump into a deep pool of water below. Of course I am somehow first in line and Tyra (the guide) keeps telling me "es seguro, es seguro" ("it's safe"). Right. Looking down it was very intimidating but I couldn't back out, and when he counted to three I just jumped. It was actually pretty cool and it was nice to be able to turn around and watch the rest of the group jump as well (only two people didn't end up jumping). Of course our other guide, Jacobo, dove head first. Show off. Really, the guides were great, and the "Cascadas" was definitely a not to be missed experience.

After the waterfalls, the group split up and Kevin and I had our driver Titico take us over to La Isabella, the site of Columbus' first settlement in the New World. Titico was a great guide, but he spoke only Spanish for the most part, so I tried to translate what I understood for Kevin. I'm glad to know a little Spanish, but I'm pretty sure I sound like a small child (no prepositions, broken sentences only in the present tense). "Dominican Republic is country pretty. Many people is nice here friendly. I happy to speak small Spanish. Me talk pretty one day".