The Dominican Dogs and I decided to take a walkabout to the Parque Enriquillo. We never walked there before so I thought it would be a nice little adventure. Buenagente loved it, as usual, he loves the streets. Inteliperra just wanted to go home. There was just too much chaos in the streets for her.
Map of our route
The route was not that long, less than 3 miles, but it took us 2 hours because we had to stop and look around. And then there was sniffing time. The dogs love to stop and sniff as they have their adventure. We went from Villa Duarte, Santa Barbara, Barrio Chino, Parque Enriquillo, Villa Francisca then back home.
Fisherman at Puente Flotante along Rio Ozama straightening out his lines
Starting from Villa Duarte we met a fisherman friend straightening and detangling all the lines and hooks to take to the sea. These hooks were all attached to the same line.
Inteliperra and Buenagente are passing the Museo Ron Y Caña and the entrance to the culverts
Walking past the Plaza Ermita de San Antón
We passed the Plaza Ermita de San Antón.
Princess Inteliperra with Chinese Princess in Barrio Chino
Princess Inteliperra stopped to pose with the Chinese Princess in Barrio Chino on the way to Av. Mexico.
Entering Parque Enriquillo full of trash
We finally made it to Parque Enriquillo. There were people everywhere and it was only 7 AM! There was also trash strewn around everywhere. It was sad to see all the mess.
Panorama view of Parque Enriquillo
The beautiful Gazebo in the center of Parque Enriquillo
The Gazebo in the center of Parque Enriquillo was very pretty. But looking closer it was full of sleeping humans and trash. So sad.
Man running away from Buenagente
Buenagente was just looking around, not even barking or acting crazy as he does sometimes. A man came down the Gazebo stairs, saw Buenagente and ran back up the stairs. He was afraid and Buena didn’t even do anything.
Escuela Primaria República de Uruguay Santo Domingo, Calle Caracas, Villa Francisca
The school Escuela Primaria República de Uruguay Santo Domingo was along our walking route. I love the statue of the woman on the horse. I’m sure it has some religious significance, no idea, I just thought it was nice.
Christmas time already. A water bottle Christmas Tree in Villa Francisca
We kept walking and there it was. Christmas decorations already. A plastic water bottle Christmas Tree. I love it! (How Dominicans celebrate Christmas)
Wooden House with beautiful latticework on the doors on Calle Ravelo, Villa Francisca
I love the wooden houses that can be found throughout the city and countryside in the Dominican Republic. This one, with a tin roof, has beautiful latticework on the front doors.
We stopped to get some water in a Colmado. The Colmado was all behind metal bars. When I see that I know that I am in a not too safe area. We got some hydration and walked. I would have taken more pictures but I just did not feel comfortable taking out my little camera in this area, even when I had my Guachiperros / Watchdogs with me.
A mean dog came after Buenagente. Buena loves to fight and he went in for the fight. Just then a man I knew came out of nowhere to chase the mean dog away. He told me not to continue walking in the direction I was going. It was too dangerous. Then an off-duty military man I knew came by on his motorbike and told me to go down a different street. I was planning on turning and heading back to the safer feeling ground. But it’s so nice to have people watch out for me and my dogs. Knowing lots of people helps too.
Inteliperra stopped to look at the graffiti on the entrance to Puente Ramón Matías Mella
We headed back towards home. Under the Puente Ramón Matías Mella, past Seabord heading to the Avenida Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó.
Panoramic view of the steep stairs from Seabord to Avenida Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó under the Puente Ramón Matías Mella
Usually, I go through Santa Barbara because the stairs under the bridge are really steep. But Inteliperra wanted to go down the stairs. I gripped the railing and we slowly descended.
Buenagente and Inteliperra have to stop and do some sniffing at the wall of Fuerte Carina
A short walk sometimes can take forever when I let the kids do their sniffing. This was their big walk so I had to let them sniff and stop and chose the streets they wanted to walk on. They had to stop along the wall at Fuerte Carina to do some sniffing.
Crossing the Puente Flotante and watching the fishermen
We headed across the Puente Flotante. There were men fishing. Some had to say hi to Buena and Teli. Everyone seems to know my dogs.
Buenagente spotted a chicken bone. Usually, Teli and Buena see a bone at the same time and both go in for the grab. But this time Buena was faster. He pounced and got the bone before Teli even knew what was going on.
It was a good walk. Inteliperra got stressed a few times but she did well. Buenagente was his tigre self and wanted to walk down every street and stop and visit every person he passed. We got home and rehydrated. The dogs had their morning bones. I had some coffee and breakfast was served.
