Day 2: Try the Mangú!

Submitted by Carmen Ripley:

We started off our first full day in the DR with breakfast at our hotel! I tried a traditional Dominican breakfast food called “mangú,” made from mashed plantains, topped with onions. They were similar to mashed potatoes that we eat in the US, but had a little more sweet/savory taste. I also got to try “el café” (coffee), which was much sweeter than black coffee in the US! I didn’t even have to add sugar!

After breakfast, we visited a supermarket in downtown Santo Domingo called PriceMart, with John, our tour guide pictured here with us! At first glance, the supermarket looks identical to a Sam’s Club or Costco we would see at home, but with a closer look you see prices are in the thousands, because they are in Dominican pesos. They were handing out free samples too, of foods we know well like Kraft Mac n cheese, and some different ones like plantain chips. As you can see, plantains are a very big part of the Dominican diet! The purpose of our grocery store run was to purchase meat, vegetables, and bread to grill at our Dominican BBQ with John's family that night.

Submitted by Aneilya Carbaugh:

We rode through the city in style in our snazzy bus making our way through busy and narrow streets. Throughout the day we visited local and historic sites in the city. My favorite part of the excursion was walking through the city and getting a view of what living in Santo Domingo is like. As we walked through the streets the air was alive with energy, but the city still had a calm, easy-going feeling. Cars were honking, pushing their way through crowded traffic as locals sat in the outside enjoying the late afternoon weather and their meals while their children played around nearby. Pigeons flew above us, perching on balconies and trees, and a dog ran by barking at something he noticed. We toured museums, old cathedrals, a chocolate shop and more. Our journey through the city was wonderful and I can’t wait for the adventures the next several days will bring.

Submitted by Ashley Hogan:

For lunch we ate at Villar Hermanos. We were served grilled chicken, rice with lentils, eggplant with cheese, salad, rolls, and beef, buffet-style. The eggplant with cheese was definitely a new taste, and something many of us have never tried before. Rice, like plantains, is a fundamental part of the Dominican diet. Sometimes it can be frustrating to remember that eating fresh fruit or consuming ice or water here can be a potential health risk to our American stomachs. I’ve always loved eating fruits and vegetables from countries I visit because the produce is so fresh and locally grown, and sometimes the produce is something that isn’t even available in our local grocery stores at home. Even still, the lunch was really delicious.

While on our way to Museo del Hombre Dominicano, we made a quick stop at "Faro a Colón," the Columbus Lighthouse. Christopher Columbus’s name in Spanish is Cristobal Colón. The monument was built as a tribute to Colón, thanking him for bringing Christianity to the Americas. It supposedly contains the remains of Colón inside, as well as a museum showcasing Latin American artifacts. The building itself is a giant cross. At night, it lights up like a very large Lighthouse with multiple colorful beams of light. It was really cool to be able to see such a massive monument reflecting the importance of Christianity and their ties to Spain. It left me awe-struck to be able to see the monument containing THE Christopher Columbus’s remains!