We paid to have dinghy chaps made at the marina, and they turned out beautifully! (Engine cover previously made by yours truly)
The embassy granted us an appointment for passport services – Chris’ is expiring. Unfortunately, they could only do the morning of our weather window to depart Samaná. We rented another car and drove to the capital. While the three hour drive to Santo Domingo was lovely, the city is completely overwhelming. We’re talking hours to drive two miles. We aborted plans of walking around colonial Santo Domingo because there was fear if we did that we wouldn’t arrive back at the hotel until after 8. As it was, it was past 7 when we got back to the hotel. Dinner was snacks in the lounge for this mom who is totally winning at the bad mom game today. Chris and Wren tried the pool but it was too cold!
The embassy is an absolute madhouse. We arrived at 6:20 after parking at 6:00 for the 6:45 appointment and the line was around the building. We scooted into the line for US citizens, and I dropped Chris and Wren at security while I went back to the car with Lily. Chris and Wren returned because there are no video game consoles allowed inside (Wren had her Switch). Back in line for Chris.
Chris’ thoughts on the embassy: My experience with the American embassy in Santo Domingo Puerto Rico was mixed. The beginning of the trip was very rough and third world, but the end result was pleasant. Many many many locals were clamoring to get in at six AM with us. We assumed our appointment would help but we basically had to wait in the same line as people who appeared to not have appointments or missing paperwork. Once we passed that massive crowd we went through security. Though security made me leave and re-enter because they didn’t like my child’s video game, it was not that bad. I returned by myself, went through security, and was given a number to wait on what I assume to be the American citizen side. The other side more resembled the morning mayhem with hundreds of desperate people. My number was called within 30 minutes, where it was determined I had a case, had paid, and had completed my paperwork. An agent would determine whether my request for an emergency passport would be awarded. I would not see the agent for about another hour. By now it was 9 AM? Eventually, the agent said I could get a one year emergency passport tomorrow. We went back and forth as I said I couldn’t wait and needed to leave on a few hours for our weather window. Eventually he was able to complete my request but not until I demanded my passport back because I had to leave. Around 11 AM I had an emergency passport. Overall experience 5/10 stars.
Back to Kathleen typing now. When I discussed our embassy experience with marina staff later that afternoon, the response was, “You can see how desperate people are to get out of the Dominican Republic by how crazy the American Embassy is.” Anywho, we checked out of the marina, checked out with customs, got our despacho from the armada, and were on our way!
We felt that the Mona passage was benign. We crashed into waves and wind as we were leaving the Dominican Republic, but our course through the Mona itself wasn’t too bad. It was mostly motoring, as seems to be our experience with moving eastward into the trade winds. No fish were caught, but we did have a mama and baby humpback whale welcoming squad as we pulled into Boquerón!
One semi-exciting event was being denied entry into US territory! What?!? We are US citizens! Thankfully, we were able to turn on a cell phone and call the coast guard. Turns out here you cannot check in via the CBP app until you are on the dock or anchored (this hasn’t been the case for other US territories per our sailing buddies). We made it to Boquerón, anchored in big rain, and checked in, passing our video interview and being allowed into Puerto Rico. The anchorage was super duper calm, and despite our intentions to leave early in the morning, there were two other kid boats so we elected to stay for Wren to play. Poor baby got her first jellyfish sting, 5 strands that wrapped almost around her thigh just above the knee. Total bummer.
