Weekend Warriors

​My Dominican bucket list had contained many of the same items for some time, but it turns out fiancés make great adventure buddies! My very accommodating one logged more miles than I want to count every Saturday I was in town during the month of November and helped me tick four checkboxes. 

   November 1: Mirabal Sisters Monument

This roadside attractions commemorates the spot where Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa, leaders of an underground faction that opposed the DR's longtime dictator, together with their driver, had an "accident" (read: were run off the road) on the way back from visiting their wrongly imprisoned husbands on November 25, 1960. 

November 15: Basilica Nuestra Señora De La Altagracia / Anza's 1st birthday party

Featured on the back of the $50 peso bill, this modern structure honors one of the DR's patron iterations of the virgin Mary. It was built on the site of a homestead where - legend has it - a portrait of her that a father brought back for his daughter as a memento from his travels would daily appear at the top of an orange tree in the yard. 

The most sacred object in the space is said portrait; there's a staircase that leads right up to it. As we descended, we paused to watch what we sadly recognized as idol worship: the visitors behind us in line, some bearing candles, holding objects such as letters and rosaries up to the glass and offering a prayer. 

On the way back, we stopped in Santo Domingo to celebrate Anza's "berry" first birthday (it's actually 11/17, two days before mine). 

A downpour during the party equaled this and a Google Maps departure time that kept getting later...and later...and later...

November 22: Estadio Julián Javier, San Francisco de Macoris

[I lowered my expectations from wanting to visit ALL of the stadiums besides Estadio Cibao (4 in all) to one that was within day trip distance, especially with a 5 pm game...vs. our hometown team. Much to my surprise, the stadium's namesake played almost his entire MLB career for the Cardinals!]

Ashley (left), joining us from PR for a month to support the Human Care team, joined us for this one. The Gigantes del Cibao have a bucking bronco in their logo and are also known as the "Potros" (colts). 

Cacao power! San Francisco de Macoris, or SFM, is known for its chocolate industry. 

We sprung for the best seats in the house, at a fraction of the price of nosebleed seats at an MLB stadium.

November 26-29: Constanza

[Eight of us, including Josh & I, Ashley, and Anza + family, spent Thanksgiving in the mountains! Separate post coming soon.]

Sneak peek: the view from our front yard. 

Thanks be to God for safe travels, good friends, and chances to continue exploring my host country. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!