Dominican Republic

I'm afraid that our first impression of DR has not been too impressive. We arrived after a short, low-flying flight on an outdated plane, then passed through what can only be called a very selective security check. We got through and luckily found our driver, a real talkative character who only goes by the name "Waris." By the time we reached the hotel he had told us about all the candidates in the upcoming presidential elections, the histories and differences of their various parties, and the colors associated with each one.

Along the way we passed a rednecking traffic jam; a pedestrian had tried to cross the highway (as they frequently do) and some cars and people had gathered around an ambulance. The man lay dead on the asphalt, covered in a sheet of cardboard. I was brought back to images of New Orleans post-Katrina. Also like New Orleans, Santo Domingo is very underdeveloped, with small, one-story houses, unkempt plant growth, and many unpaved roads.

Santo Domingo seems like a tough place.