Columbus & driving home

Columbus built the first fort in the New World near Cabarete in 1492. It was more of an emergency solution, similar to “Houston, we got a problem”. Of course, there was no radio back then. As one of his three ships was a little too damaged to return to Spain, a few people had to stay behind. They waited in Fort Isabela for their master to return.

Today we are there, quite far out in the West Dominican Pampas. The only visitors. There are no more masters, the ones left behind have been massacred. Not all of them. Those who survived gave Columbus a hell of a reception when he returned. Thanks to our half-Dominican friend José, I get the whole story this time, because the guide only speaks Spanish.

The roads are kind to us today. Few drunks, few potholes, little traffic. We make fast progress. After the first fortress Columbus in the New World, there is suddenly a real concrete ship next to the road. Despite the high quality of the Dominican cuisine, the French cook gives us a welcome change.

Then, unfortunately, we have to move on. Sabine’s plane leaves in just a few hours. There is another Playa Grande near Luperon. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near as good as THE Playa Grande near Rio San Juan. The beach may be big, but the sharp coral and rocks in the surf are even bigger.

On the way to the airport, we pass the crossroads where Falco successfully underwent macrobiotic mitosis in February 1998. He threw himself with his jeep directly in front of a Dominican bus that was probably travelling far too fast and was killed instantly.

We drop Sabine off at Puerto Plata airport. She arrives safely in Munich a day later. I drive my companions José and Robin to Cabarete, then drop off the car. Surprise: yes, our car has four different wheels after yesterday’s crash. Stupid: the new one is much smaller. I didn’t realise it in yesterday’s stress. Pay again for stupidity.