December

December's Adventures
Well now that January is almost done I guess it's time for December's adventures.  
We finished off November with a trip to Cuevas de las Maravillas Caverns and saw truly marvelous caves.  I was surprised such existed on a Caribbean Island.

Lots of Iguanas about on the path to the cave.

Very impressive and well maintained.

Depicting a beheaded person-probably a witch.
These were important to the Taino Indians-extinct people

More views

The place was the center of magical-religious 
activities, several of its artistic expressions are 
associated with mortuary rituals.

They were every bit as impressive as Carlsbad Caverns though much smaller.

Lovely Stalactites throughout 

Neat formations

Beautiful formations

There was something about the lighting on this one
that showed something but I don't see it in the pic.

Large columns were impressive

Ancient writing on the walls were symbols of Gods,
medicine men and kings.

Again representing something important.

This one I remember was a snake.

We had our Thanksgiving dinner the Monday after Thanksgiving.  I was a little disappointed we didn't have turkey with the trimmings, only casseroles and salads.  But we enjoyed all the English speaking company of all the missionaries in the area.

Thanksgiving Spread

Lovely table decorations

We found a lovely market where the locals shop.
Vendors get their produce here and it is very fresh and cheap.  There are two such places we have discovered--one close to us and one across town.

Papaya are 40 pesos each.  That's about $1

Lovely squash, avocados, oranges, apples,
pineapple-just about anything you might need.

Temple decorations were a lighted
manger scene, no lights etc.

Monday we went for a walk in the park across the street.  They were decked out royally with most of the tree trunks wrapped in lights and decorations everywhere.

Office or practice house for the arts
university that is attached to the park.
Or maybe the park is attached to the school.

Lawn decorations are tree ornaments

 The church put on a concert at one of the malls in town for Christmas and did an excellent job.  The large hall was full and they put on two performances a day for two days.

Ilumina El Mundo concert.

We flew to Guatemala on the 9th to get a broken crown fixed.  It was lovely seeing everyone who was still there and visiting with long time friends.  Norman's were gracious enough to allow us to stay with them while we were there.

Panama City

A lovely dinner with friends in Guatemala

When we returned from Guatemala, we went to Punta Cana with two other missionary couples.  The month of December is basically vacation time here and the entire country just goes on vacation so we went for three days and enjoyed the beach, luxury accommodations, and snorkeling. 

Beach right out our door.

Lots of small sailing boats and water craft.

Palm trees swaying in the constant, lovely sea breeze.
We did not have to use A/C while we were there.

Pirate ship that takes tourists on a day long tour
out to other islands and beaches.

The place we stayed.  We were on the
second floor and it was perfect.

Two and a half of our couples went on a snorkeling tour in a glass bottom boat for about $40 each for three hours.  We saw a sunken ship, starfish, coral reefs (these were in shallow water and not very colorful) and lots of fish.

The people from our boat out snorkeling.

We all got out and played in the shallow water.
Other boats there were having a drinking swimming party
and it was pretty wild and noisy.

Pirate ship heading out on another tour.

On our way home from Punta Cana we passed through Higuey and visited a Basilica or Our Lady of Altagracia.  The main door is bronze and covered in 24k gold.   Legend goes that the statue of Our Lady of Altagracia was brought from Spain in 1500 and was lost over time.   
The 17th Century the daughter of a merchant requested that her father get her a copy of the image. He set out to find it but no one seemed to recognize the name of Our Lady of Altagracia. Giving up, he decided to return home.

Staying overnight at a friend’s house in Higuey, he mentioned the problem he had in finding the image and as they sat outdoors talking, an old man with a long beard, who just happened to be passing by, pulled a rolled up painting from his bindle, gave it to the merchant, and said, “This is what you are looking for.” It was the Virgin of Altagracia. They gave the old man a place to stay for the night….but the next morning he was gone and they never saw him again.  Upon returning home, the merchant placed the image on the mantle in his house, but each time he did so it disappeared and was found outside so he returned it to the church.  They offered to allow us to touch the image.  We went up to it to look at it but declined from the reverent "touch".  There are 45 brass bells.

Declared a basilica by Pope Paul VI

Beautiful gold covered brass doors

The image people are allowed to go up and touch.

Very impressive building with magnificent
architecture, murals and stained glass windows

We also visited the oldest church in the new world.  I think I've heard that phrase before but it was old.

First church in the new world.

Nativity scene in one of the churches we visited.

All the senior missionaries prepared a surprise breakfast for the young missionaries Christmas morning.  It was quite emotional for some of the kids.  First time away from home on Christmas.

Christmas breakfast for the young missionaries.

Appreciative young missionaries.

we

Cool nativity scene in one of the downtown churches.

I will finish off December with the lovely sunrises we see from our new apartment that we finally got moved into.  The best part was trying to get the box springs up to the 4th floor.  It did not fit in the elevator so they tied a long electric extension cord around it and hoisted it up to our 4th floor balcony.  I was not there so unfortunately did not get pictures.  Great loss of interesting memory pictures.  Oh well.  

Sunrise from our apartment window.