Hot Spots in Kiskeya
During my most recent moments in Kiskeya (aka the Dominican Republic and Haiti), I have spent much of the time on the balcony of my room - basking in continuous sunlight, sipping my infusions slower than usual, breathing chemtrail-free air, chatting with my aunt and other family members about plants and their healing offerings, writing, reading, not doing, being. I also have been spending time doing things that feel activating to my heart and soothing to my nervous system such as genealogical research and sinking my feet more deeply into the soil, touching upon roots in this place that I’ve been enchanted by since child.
Kiskeya is one of my absolute favorite places in the world. Rich with plants in every home, mango trees on every corner, and a sense of connectivity between all the fibers of being, I feel very at home in this place outside of my own body. This most recent journey has enabled me to connect more deeply with the people whom I love the most - cousins, aunts, uncles, my grandparents, and some dear friends. Making most of my communal voyages by feet, I spent much of the time traveling from the balcony at my aunt's house to the porch gating my grandpa's old cottage. The decision had been made that I would use this time to go deeper into my roots and listen to the stories of times before my birth so as to get a clearer picture of this part of earth in which the seeds that became me first lay. Still, with all this being the case, I took moments to venture through the barrios and enjoy communion with local spots for pleasurable activity. My first stop was at one of my favorite eateries in town - PAPAUPA VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT.
Located in the heart of the capital, Santo Domingo, Papaupa is a spot I always make a point of going to whenever I visit DR. Offering hearty options for the meat-eater and plant-based foodie alike, this restaurant offers both vegetarian and vegan options that are sure to awaken your senses and remind you of well-known Caribbean dishes - vegan patties made out of plantains, fries made with batata, and jugo de cereza y guayaba - to name a few. A tropical oasis, tucked in a busy corner in the city, Papaupa never ever disappoints. Every time I find myself in this space, I make sure I eat extra slow and savor every bite.
As if the paradise of the island isn't enough to enchant, Kiskeyans have been blessed with the DR. RAFAEL MA. MOSCOSO NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN. A garden named after a Kiskeyan botanist who catalogued the flora of the island of Hispaniola. Featuring a Japanese garden, a pavilion of medicinal plants, palms, succulents, ferns, and even a butterfly garden, this location is the site for much photography and relaxation. I personally venture here to study and talk to the life all around, and during this trip I have spent about 12 hours here, enjoying time and space with plants I did not even know existed. El Jardin Botanico is one of the places we will be frequenting during our immersion trip to Kiskeya in October. Check out the Gold Water Education Center's "Campo Medicine" offering for more information.
Limestone. Turtles. Fish. Water. Caves. Ducks. Bats. A cenote. This is the organic makeup of a site I have visited countless times and even have a house next to. LOS TRES OJOS (The Three Eyes) is a highly frequented location. In part something like an open-air cave in Santo Domingo, the idea of bats may spook some away from ever visiting, but I promise that if you do, you will not regret it. The creation of this site was "accidental" - that is to say it was not thoroughly intended by man though it was intended by nature. Los Tres Ojos came about as a result of tectonic fractures when underground caves collapsed. Ultimately and naturally, some of the underground water networks were exposed while other parts of these caves filled with water, creating habitable space for the water spirits that I know and love. A deeply mysterious location, these lakes are filled with a rich history - Tainos were the first to inhabit the cave, performing ceremony and ritual and communing in depth with the mysteries. When you visit The Three Eyes, you will voyage through the cave in a wooden “boat” keep in route by ropes which are manually pulled to bring us closer to the portion where we enter cenote. A very raw experience, I personally never leave the island without visiting Los Tres Ojos. It's like stepping into a parallel universe filled with even more water and friendly creatures.
