We’re growing tired of Luperon really. As our friends leave and others make their final preparations we both wish that we could join them in their voyage east. The D.R. has certainly proved an interesting place to hang out, we’ve both enjoyed learning Spanish, eating local foods, and picking up some of the history of the place, especially the Columbus voyages. During Dennis and Pat’s visit we spent three nights in Santo Domingo visiting museums and walking round the Colonial district, soaking in the old stories.

The D.R is also very corrupt, and we’ve become increasing weary navigating the various interactions with officials, all attempting to extract a few dollars from our limitless bank account (ha)! On route to the waterfalls in Imbert with Dennis and Pat we were stopped at a police checkpoint. I showed them all the papers they required, licence and insurance, and then was asked for a donation because the police are poor you know. These checkpoints increase in frequency towards the end of each month as their coffers empty before payday.

Luperon in particular is grating because the local officials have become expert at screwing money out of the boats at anchor. At the minute we’re visited about once a week for a reminder that we owe them harbour fees, which no one can really confirm are legitimate, and any time Kel has to deal with them for immigration or boat related issues they’re always asking for a little extra ‘tip’. We’re holding out for now, but I imagine that can’t last forever.

Sadly the yachties themselves have contributed to establishing this extortion culture.  Cruisers on bigger budgets than ours tip $20 for very small services,  creating the belief that anyone who arrives on a boat has such surplus cash.

In the last few weeks Kel and I have been coming to terms with the sad realisation that we will be leaving Luperon to go find work somewhere else as we haven’t managed to save what we needed to continue cruising next season. It’s unfortunate in that whilst we’re of course not fantastic with money, we did actually arrive here with a plan, and the plan was scuppered by other people rather than us. Firstly Kel got screwed on her delivery job and was only paid 50%, and then the guy I’m working for ran out of money and cut my job by 30%. This happened after we had spent the money we budgeted to do the upgrades on the boat.  So we’re learning, and we’re hacked off at the same time. We haven’t decided where to go for work yet, but it’s likely that we’ll head east from here as the work is where the tourists are.

It has been fantastic to spend some money on the boat though! We bought a new ham radio to enable us to communicate with other boats, and other geeks, over long distance. Last night I hooked it up for the first time and managed to make contact with a ham net in Texas, by this calculation that’s about 1500 miles – who am the best?

We bought an Air X wind generator from Dave and Danielle. We first met them when we got back from the Virgins, but in the last 6 weeks we’ve become really close. Dave has been at sea for about 40 years, delivering boats, running charter companies, as a dive instructor, running a salvage company.. he’s got a lot of energy! Danielle went back to school a few years ago to become a chef and now works on yachts. We’ve spent quite a few nights up late playing cards and laughing.

Rugby intermission…we’ll be back.