Jarabacoa

I think my blog is becoming a tourism site for the DR. This country is just so beautiful! We headed to the mountains a few weekends ago. It wasn't as cold as I expected, just a few degrees cooler I think. I remember freezing my behind off there 10 years ago, so either global warming is real or it was just a fluke. You be the judge.

We shared a lovely home with 2 other families. This community has about 6 (10?) houses with a swimming pool in the center and a swingset at nearly each house. The kids loved running about.

On Saturday, the dads went white water rafting while the moms took the kids to see a coffee farm, Monte Alto. Ok, maybe it was mostly for our benefit, but the kids enjoyed learning that the newest seedlings (to the left of the pic below) are called "fosforitos" because they look like matches. When they grow a few leaves, they are called "mariposas," or butterflies. After that- well, I don't know. 

This (below) was everyone's favorite part. That machine is moving the bad beans to the right and the good ones to the left by measuring their weight as it blows air through the holes of the tray.

Final quality process- hand picking.

After the tour, we went to the Jarabacoa Country Club for lunch. I was hoping for somewhere more local, but I got my fix the next day. This place is lovely, though the food could be improved. 

By far, the nicest playground we've ever seen in country. We'll have to eat here again next time just to be able to play.

 Here's the river the boys went down.

Here is Jarabacoa's town center. I think it's just a sweet little town. 

A few (blurry) shots from the ride home. The countryside is so spectacular. My husband LOVED it here. He must've told me 10x.

Plantain truck

We're looking forward to going back very soon.