Eldon and Dawn Hurst's Travels: February

February

We started off with discovering more about our immediate neighborhood. We discovered just a block away more great museums. At the Natural History Museum we went to last month we saw all the whales and marine stuff. This week we went to the Museum of Man. Us old people get to go in free. :)

Typical festival costumes

Wagon and mock home of Europeans

Festival Costume

Inside the mock Cabin

Tools out in the yard

Lots more stuff but a museum is after all just a museum with lots of stuff in it from old times usually. A lot of this was costumes.

Feb 3

We took Greers with us and went to Los Tres Ojos--small caves with beautiful ponds of water just on the outskirts of the city.

First of the Three Eyes

Eldon heading down to the next pool.

The second of the eyes. The water was clear
and spectacular.

Admiring the pools

Going down into the cave to ride the raft
across to a fourth pool.

The boys pull the raft back and forth to take people
to the other pool and back. They really appreciate tips.

Fourth pool. Tarzan movies were shot here.

More of the fourth pool

Lots of fish in this pool.

More of the fourth.

Returning boat ride to civilization

Los Tres Ojos is worth a return trip. And the bonus is there are actually four!

We also walked down to China Town after returning from the Ojos. It is not far and only about 2 blocks square. But you know you are there.

Dawn with one of the Chinese statues

Gateway is on all the incoming streets to
China town

Another Statue

And another

We actually don't have to go far for entertainment on a daily basis. Most every day we can stand out on our balcony and watch the traffic on our corner. There is no consideration for others and the people simply pull out to go where there is no possible way for them to get to. They quite effectively end up blocking the cars in all directions so no one can go anywhere. It is very entertaining to watch and say to yourself "don't do it. You'll just block the intersection". But they do it every time.

Someone suggested I should have done a movie
of it but that would have been a waste. Nothing was moving!

Yes, both buses are turning left at that corner.

February 10th we were blessed with a visit from Elder Rasband, one of the apostles. He visited with all the missionaries in both missions and shook everyones hand. Since we old folks don't have the same rules as the youngsters we got to see him in both missions and in the employee devotional.

Eldon and Dawn shaking Elder and
Sister Rasband's hands.

Elder Rasband at the employee meeting.

There was a women's meeting with Elder Rasband. We got there in plenty of time to get a seat but as the time to start got closer, sisters just kept pouring in. There was standing room only. There were chairs in the aisle to where you could not get out once in. There were chairs in the halls and ladies standing. We missionaries decided to give our seats to the locals as they were the ones who really needed to be there. Again Elder Rasband thanked us and we went home.

No room anywhere. It was raining cats
and dogs outside and the ladies just kept coming.

February 14th

We and Greers went to Samana to go whale watching, an activity recommended by our managers, and since the entire office was on vacation for a week (no idea what for) we went. The VRBO we found was delightful and Greers brought Elder Greer's brother and his wife. Splitting the cost 3 ways made it most manageable.

The place we stayed fed us a lovely lunch.

One of the cooks

A church we found on a walk through town

The town is just building this delightful place.
All the buildings will eventually have stores in them.

The plaza behind the stores.

On the boat getting ready to head out whale watching.

Water was pretty rough although the
picture does not show it well.

Whales spouting

This one is just sleeping on top of the water

Floating along

Been a long trip for Elder Greer

We decided to go exploring around the area and visit the Boca de Diablo. We went in Greer's car as it is a 4 x 4. Ours would not have made it. We went down a narrow gravel road with large rocks in the middle of it, passed a granite quarry and finally made it. As the waves come in they are forced into a narrow tunnel that opens on the top of the cliff. Mist blows up like old faithful.

Granite quarry

Granite block

Beautiful blues of the Caribbean

Click here to see Boca de Diablo

On the 18th we went to Bani to visit and see if we could help the folks up there get going on self reliance. They know about it but... it seems like just another program to take up the bishops time. Used correctly it will actually free up his time.