Saturday, August 1, 2009Up bright and early, well not so bright and 8:30 isn’t so early, we were treated to breakfast Dominican Style. Two kinds of boiled green bananas, fried salami, scramble eggs with chopped peppers & onion, and backed sweet potatoes “batata”. As usual Sister Almonte makes wonderful food and it was delicious.
Next we were off on another hike. This time we headed in the other direction away from the river up on a ridge overlooking his valley and the Villa. We encountered more beautiful flowers and wonderful vistas in every direction. The second half of the hike was cross country and down very steep mountain sides. The footing was very precarious. All of us took many slips and stumbles. But it was a grand adventure and we had a lot of fun.
Back at the Villa we were very hot and sweaty so those of us that had swim suits put them on and went swimming in the President’s swimming pool. I didn’t know this until a month ago but senior couples don’t have to follow the same rules as the young elders. Unlike the Elders & Sisters we can go swimming! So… Note to self “when called on a Senior Couple mission, always pack your swimming suit right next to your 12 pair of black socks and 12 white shirts.
On the hike this morning I lost my hearing aids. I put them in my shirt pocket after about a half hour because they were malfunctioning due to all the sweat. When we got back to the villa I discovered they were not in my pocket anymore
After an exhaustive search of the President’s house and grounds we said a prayer and the President, Elder Larson and I headed up the same trail to see if we could find the hearing aids. President Almonte kept saying, you have to have faith. Well, we hunted for hours. We searched the only two areas on the hike that I had bent over and may have found them but no luck. We retraced every step of the hike but finally we had to give up and reconcile myself to the fact that they were lost. I will have to phone Costco back in Mesa and have them replaced.
Another wonderful lunch was prepared for us and her family. There are about another dozen of the Almonte’s relatives are here with us. Both of Sister Almonte’s parents are here too.
Mid afternoon we started our drive back to the capital through the pot holes and Rain. Driving in the Dominican Republic is an adventure. In the mountains, and sometimes on flat land, half of the road is just washed away with no warning and only allowing one lane of traffic. It is always a “game of chicken” with the oncoming traffic. Pam has to close her eyes most of the time. She just can’t stand seeing all of the close calls!
Late afternoon we were back in our apartment safe and sound were we continued unpacking our bags. Later in the evening we ran to the grocery store for more essentials for Sunday. At our last stop we treated ourselves to ice cream bars. They were the Dominican equivalent of a “Hagen-doz “ bar and it was delicious. It was actually the first Ice cream I’ve had since the MTC.
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