Tres Oyos

Very little of what the richness Dominican Republic has to offer can be found in Santo Domingo. Even people who have lived here all their lives recognize the city to be hot, humid, noisy and crazy. The Colonial Zone has its charms, but otherwise the city is pretty challenging without a lot of rewards. This is where the jobs are, but anyone who can, gets out of town any chance they get.

So imagine our delight to find Tres Oyos - Three Eyes - Park. My friend Paula read about in online in August, told me and then forgot about it. Fortunately, I did not. Our friend Kirk had rented a car this weekend because his mother was visiting and off we went.

The Eyes are small underground lakes created thousands of years ago from tectonic action and collapse. They were sacred sites to the indigenous Taino people, but were only rediscovered in 1916. It took about an hour to meander up and down the coral stairs with our excellent guide explaining the features as we went.

Stalagtites. Our guide told us most sincerely that those coming up from the floor were stalagmites, and that those that met in the middle were called Dolomites. I just left it.

Paula, me Kirk's mother Jimmy and Kirk

 Un-retouched natural colour in the slanting rays of light.

Until ten or fifteen years ago, kids still used to swing from these fig roots and let go over the pool. Now there's no swimming allowed. Perhaps Dominicans don't believe in Darwin, just like born-agains.

I liked this loop of root.

Crystalline water

We did not have to pay the ferryman.

Laca de las damas - so called because it is small and shallow.

 A termite nest

This formation is called a Big Stone Willy

 I wish my column was this strong and straight!

Tilapia on the hoof in the fourth of the three Eyes. (It doesn't count because it's open to the sky.)

 For Robin and Paul. A natural beehive way up on a dolomite wall.

The four amigos at the outdoor lake.

Near the exit - and the gift shop - the guide pointed out this natural stone dolphin. Cool.

Now on to part two of our day trip in town - the monument to Christopher Columbus.