Riding in cars with taxistas

Tonight, we waited for over 20 minutes for a taxi, a relatively abnormal occurrence. Usually, we can call a cab and, within three minutes, usually less, it arrives. Tonight, however, the cab company kept sending cars – we ordered a minibus to fit all six of us – and we kept recalling and recalling until we finally ended up with three cabs (one minibus, two cars) arriving at the same time from two different companies. After standing outside and half arguing, half discussing our decision, we finally took two separate cabs and headed to the colonial zone.

The cab system here is quite interesting. You never know what type of car (or driver, for that matter) will show up. We’ve had some interesting run-ins with drivers – including tossing our money into the cab and running while the driver circled our area looking for us – and some memorable experiences as well. In particular, we have a driver that we always call for airport runs named Aurelio; riding with him is one of the most pleasant taxi experiences I’ve had in this country. His voice has a sort of child’s-show-announcer-guy quality to it and, although my Spanish is rather broken and not that pleasant to listen to, he makes an effort to communicate with me and we manage to have a conversation during the entire drive to the airport. (If you’ve heard my Spanish, your jaw should be dropping because you’re so impressed.)

The most important thing to remember, though, when riding with taxi drivers in the city is this: you will most likely see them again and they will recognize you. Of the many drawbacks of being blonde and American, this one has to be one of the worst. Believe me, we see the aforementioned taxi driver (ahem, the one we ran from) regularly and walk to the other side of the street to avoid him. Thank goodness all Americans look alike from a distance, right?

Running in the city

Running in the Dominican Republic is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Imagine dodging cars, motoconchos, roosters, and stray dogs, while having to scan the uneven roads and sidewalk every few seconds to avoid an ankle sprain or fracture. Now, add 90% humidity, blackened exhaust coming from cars, and, to top that off, Dominican men cat calling you at predictable intervals. If that doesn’t get your blood pumping and your body ready to try it out, add the constant nausea that many foreigners experience from the bacteria here on a daily basis, which is only amplified by the smells that seem to follow you the during the entirety of the run. Oh, and then there’s the fear of getting mugged.

For the past year, I have been toughing it out and haven’t had much luck finding places with good running conditions. On the verge of taking my workout to the gym, I searched the internet and asked other expats about running trails within the city. I’ve compiled a short list below:

1) Jardín Botanico (Botanical Gardens): a lovely park inside of the city with miles of running paths. I’ve heard that many marathoners train here.
2) Mirador del Sur: according to traveldk.com, this is “a large and pleasant expanse of well-tended grass, trees, and tracks, the park is a magnet for joggers skateboarders, and dog walkers. Younger, health-conscious city dwellers congregate here along with families, especially in the morning and evening, when the through road is shut to cars.”
3) Plaza de la Salud: a medical complex with nice grounds that joggers, walkers, and runners take advantage of.

Luckily, in many of the places outside of the city, the running is ideal (if you can deal with the heat and humidity, that is). In Las Galeras, a little fishing village about 3 ½ hours northeast, one can enjoy palm-lined paths that run along the water, hill climbs, and a breathtaking Caribbean beach at the end of this difficult, but enjoyable, run. I’ll continue to post ideal running spots as I find them. In the meantime, I guess I’ll just have to deal with city running.

Restaurant Review – D’Luis Parrillada (malecón)

We’ve been known to frequent D’Luis Parrillada on the malecón whenever people visit us in the city. Although the malecón is not the tranquil beach setting that one might expect, this is an enjoyable waterfront restaurant that serves traditional Dominican food, complete with a small serving of sancocho, which is a Latin American stew. Most of the seating is shaded and breezy and the environment is especially pleasant with one of their many fresh juice drinks in hand.

Average plate cost: $8 - $12
Favorite dish: Pechuga a la parilla, servicio de vegetales al vapor (Grilled chicken with steamed vegetables)
Favorite drink: Jugo de piña sin asucar (pineapple juice without sugar)
August 8th, 2010 11:54 p.m.
Location: Av. George Washington No. 25
Phone: 809.686.2940