This morning we were awoken early by the cheery Dominican sun as we arrived for breakfast at the resort’s patio restaurant. After a hearty meal of bacon, omelets, and various assorted tropical fruits, we boarded the bus and headed to Higuey, a town outside of Punta Cana.
On the ride there, our guide Ben told us that one out of six people in the Dominican Republic were employed by the tourism industry. We quickly drove through the area that many locals and even workers of the resort live who must be bussed in for their shift. We become overwhelmingly aware of the poverty that this country faces and appreciative that we are able to stay in such nice accommodations.
Upon arrival in Higuey we toured La Bascilica de Higuey. This cathedral is one out of three Bascilicas in the world. La Bascilica de Higuey was built to resemble the headdress that Mary wore and inside, a similar architecture is used to resemble praying hands. On Sundays, the cathedral is visited by over 3,000 people for their two services.
We then were taken to the downtown part of Higuey where we were shown the oldest church in the Americas and the downtown village market. There, we were shocked to see so many different varieties of fruits, vegetables, beans, and meat displayed in the street.
After a long morning of sightseeing, some students relaxed at the beach while others explored the resort’s gym. We then visited the airport to get ID photos taken to be printed in time for next week’s survey distribution. Our next stop, the grocery store, provided students with the opportunity to purchase local Dominican food for snacks.
Free time was then given and we spent the remainder of the day relaxing on the beach in the sun until dinner time. Tonight’s dinner is at the resort’s pizzeria; Yum! Adios!
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