A couple of days off.

I made a point of earmarking Friday as a day off as there was nothing urgent to do, and Saturdays lunch arrangement collapsed so Jose organised the day.
  I visited the Ojo de Agua again, a lovely spot with spring water with mineral properties.  I have been many times before, but this year it's had a facelift, which was good. There were new changing cubicles, a set of swings, a new trapeze area that looked much safer and new partitions in the water.

I met Jose at the entrance after walking part way there with Yupanque a local artisan, he said, ah England the betlees, I thought, what are you talking about. But then he started singing and mentioned Liverpool, the penny dropped!  We sat waiting at the entrance to the pool to pass the time until he decided a bus wasn't coming anytime yet and decided to walk along the beach to El Quino, for an Altagracia bus. Jose had paid someone to arrive by motorcycle. He was quute up front this time about clarifying payment. I said, this was my idea and therefore my treat, to him and Lourdes, Allan and Marcello when they arrived later

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We spent the day chatting, playing in the water and eating. My swim aggravated my chest again, this is clearly going to be a long job. 

When we left, we walked towards the main road and Allan checked the police had gone, they really have been very active this time. He dropped me off at the hotel.

Then Jose organised another outing for Saturday, this involved me meeting him at Urbaite then going to Santa Teresa with some of his friends. What a lovely group of young men they were too, so polite. We went by motorbike.

We spent a couple of hours relaxing and with coffee. It really is a lovely spot. 

I was approached by another young woman who wants to complete her university course. I said, not immediately but write a letter. I am sure this is another we can help with and she wants to teach children in the community too so could be a good case for a grant application.   

We later boarded the boat to go to Maderas and the Playa de Mangoes. Idalia came too.

It took us about half an hour to get there where we had a drink and shared  couple of plates of rather tasty food. It was clearly very popular with quite a few tourists. 

  

Later we enjoyed the views before returning.

It was slightly trickier getting back up the beach with the boat because the wind had got up and the waves were rather large. But even trickier was the return journey. Mateo took me and chatted about his life. How he is trying to improve his education and  earn something reasonable. He has trained in carpentry but has a partner with a child. He said they are very poor and don't have a proper home. I have agreed to include his child with the family's uniforms.  He explained how, without English you could only work in the country to feed yourself and would never save money.

When we got to the main road it appeared the transit police were in action again. So he left the bike with someone whilst we walked having arranged for Lourdes to collect me the other side. Surely the police aren't that stupid, seeing people waiting at the  side of the road or walking with crash helmets.  But it appears they are hoping for backhanders. 

So Lourdes took me the rest of the way whilst Mateo returned for the bike. The police had gone by now. But Lourdes shouted, quick, jump on they are coming back, so I felt like something on a get away .  But blow me down, as we were approaching Santa Domingo we met another, but not transit. He checked us and Lourdes explained she was returning me to the hotel and he let us go. 

Life is full of these adventures, I don't get to experience at home.  Life is simple and poor with little choice but there's such a range of experiences to be had!