While on vacation in the Dominican Republic we took an all day tour to Samana. The tour included a 2 ½ hour bus ride each way and three ½ hour boat rides. The boat rides were great, especially when we saw a large pod of whales.
Anyway, as we started the drive, the tour guide, Papa George, told us, ‘Julio is our bus driver. He has a license and went to school to learn to drive. Five minutes later, Julio hit a cow. It was not full grown and got up and walked off the road. Papa said animals are always in the road and get hit. We worry about people on motor bikes and bad drivers.
Later in the day, we were riding in a safari truck when Papa, then driving, was careening through the mountains, passing anything he could. As we reached town, he did not slow down and BANG. We rear ended the back right side of a brand new van. Not sure what happened but there was much conversation and hand waving. Not sure if pesos changed hands but off we went again. Well at least we hadn’t hit a person.
Whew, we’re all loaded on the bus to go home, tired, sweaty, and in some cases VERY drunk. There are cars, people, pets, and scooters on the tiny streets as Julio charges through the square. Bump! Someone said the bus hit a woman. The police boarded the bus and had calm conversations. They left. We left. No problem.
Moral to the story: If you don’t want an E-ticket ride, stay safe on your all-inclusive property!
