Wednesday, November 29
Intersection From Hell (Sosua Version)
There is an intersection in Columbia, Missouri that is known by everyone who lives near there as 'The Intersection From Hell.' I won't go into why as I am sure you can figure it out.
Here in Sosua we have our own 'Intersection From Hell' that makes the one in Columbia, MO look quite tame. Actually it is a lot of fun and always interesting to walk up to la bomba (the gas station) around 4:30 pm, find a shady spot and just sit and watch for an hour or so.
The cars, trucks, gua guas, taxis, buses and motos are bumper to bumper. They are all honking, like that is going to make a big difference. Making a turn is like a game of 'chicken' as they turn right into traffic. Cars get cross ways in the road and it becomes a giant tangle of vehicles. There is no need to put turn indicators on Dominican vehicles because they don't use them. They do use some form of hand signals, but they don't mean the same thing as they do in the States. If a guy sticks his arm out, don't assume he is going to turn left, he probably isn't. It could mean anything.
I am not sure if the traffic cop helps much, but he tries. He does make it easier for the swarm of people on foot to get across the road safely.
La bomba.
These people are all waiting on a gua gua (minivan) or a publico (public taxi). When one pulls up, they will swarm it and all try to get in.
It is an interesting experience riding in the gua guas and the publicos. The most people I have ever ridden with was 27 in a gua gua and 9 in a publico. Remember a gua gua is a minivan with three bench seats and a publico is a compact car.
I used to ride in them all the time. They are really cheap, but I don't so much anymore. I am a big guy and it is just too crowded. But the gua gua and the publico are the main forms of transportation for short distances.
The fruit and produce stand is right next to the highway at the intersection.
This is a gua gua taking on passengers heading toward Cabarete.
A Dominican 18-wheeler sort of.
A motoconcho with his passenger.
So on your next trip to Sosua, be sure and go up to the intersection around 4:30 or 5:00 and take your camera. It is great fun.
Stay Tuned!
Intersection From Hell (Sosua Version)
There is an intersection in Columbia, Missouri that is known by everyone who lives near there as 'The Intersection From Hell.' I won't go into why as I am sure you can figure it out.
Here in Sosua we have our own 'Intersection From Hell' that makes the one in Columbia, MO look quite tame. Actually it is a lot of fun and always interesting to walk up to la bomba (the gas station) around 4:30 pm, find a shady spot and just sit and watch for an hour or so.
The cars, trucks, gua guas, taxis, buses and motos are bumper to bumper. They are all honking, like that is going to make a big difference. Making a turn is like a game of 'chicken' as they turn right into traffic. Cars get cross ways in the road and it becomes a giant tangle of vehicles. There is no need to put turn indicators on Dominican vehicles because they don't use them. They do use some form of hand signals, but they don't mean the same thing as they do in the States. If a guy sticks his arm out, don't assume he is going to turn left, he probably isn't. It could mean anything.
I am not sure if the traffic cop helps much, but he tries. He does make it easier for the swarm of people on foot to get across the road safely.
La bomba.
These people are all waiting on a gua gua (minivan) or a publico (public taxi). When one pulls up, they will swarm it and all try to get in.It is an interesting experience riding in the gua guas and the publicos. The most people I have ever ridden with was 27 in a gua gua and 9 in a publico. Remember a gua gua is a minivan with three bench seats and a publico is a compact car.
I used to ride in them all the time. They are really cheap, but I don't so much anymore. I am a big guy and it is just too crowded. But the gua gua and the publico are the main forms of transportation for short distances.
The fruit and produce stand is right next to the highway at the intersection.
This is a gua gua taking on passengers heading toward Cabarete.
A Dominican 18-wheeler sort of.
A motoconcho with his passenger.So on your next trip to Sosua, be sure and go up to the intersection around 4:30 or 5:00 and take your camera. It is great fun.
Stay Tuned!
posted by Miguel at 9:15 AM
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