Cruise Day '8'

Santo Domingo redeemed
December 30th

So here's our problem. We had to check out off the ship at 8am this morning. Our flight, assuming it was on time, leaves at 4:30. So either we sit at the airport for 8 hours, or we find something else to do. The cruise offered one last excursion, which was a 3 hour tour around Santo Domingo. After much deliberation, miscommunication, and ill-will, we decided to do it. At the very least, they're supposed to drop us off at the airport afterwards, and frankly, the tour cost us just about as much as cab fair does for us gringos. So this time, we went around Santo Domingo in our little tourista bubblebus, shielded from the unsavory elements and it was very enjoyable. Ok, when I say 'went around Santo Domingo' I mean we drove 6 blocks, went up a block, drove back the way we came 4 blocks, got out, walked the 2 blocks to get back where we started, and went to the airport. But those 6 blocks were really cool! Santo Domingo is the city Columbus founded, so we were standing in some of the oldest buildings in the New World. Where Columbus lived. Where Cortez and Pizzaro planned their conquests. Where Sir Francis Drake plundered. It's all more interesting than I thought it would be. We then went to the Amber museum which was cool. Chris has a thing for Amber, fortunately for me she's always been more interested in the process than the possession.

Mmm... Old Cannons...

Anyway, the excursion left a much better impression of what Santo Domingo will be like for future tourist. It's a beautiful nation, given a few years and I suspect it'll be another regular stop for most of the cruiseliners.

And no, they did not charge us to leave. :-)