On Monday our tour guide Martin rowed us up the Indian River. This river is part of a protected national park where no motorized vehicles are allowed. The river is overhung with huge Bloodwood trees with gigantic buttress roots that spread out from the land into the water, Palms, Mangoes, vines dangling across the river, birds, and more flowers then I could possible name in this blog.
At the head of the river we walked a path where Martin told us more about the vegetation and pointed out flowers. He also cut down and opened a coconut with his machete and shared it with us. There was a remote jungle bar there too, where some of us drank this peanut punch with rum and some kind of jungle fruit. I don't know what the proof was but it was quite good.
We were overwhelmed with this amazing adventure, and I believe Martin too was very appreciative of the day as he rowed us home. He then burst out in song, treating us to the Dominican National Anthem which is a heartwarming song about this lush green island.