So let me try to paint this picture for you. The ride to the club is about a half hour. I always sit in the front row of this half bus and it basically has no front. Just drops straight down so it feels like you are about to hit the cars in front of you. We start at the beach with two policemen on motorcycles that aren't brand new. They lead us down empty roads for a few miles until we turn onto the main highway which is no more than March Lane width. There is traffic on this road but not to heavy at first. Forget about the dogs, they know not to hit the middle of the roads or else die. As traffic gets heavier the closer we get to Santo Domingo and morning work traffic the more aggressive the officers get until they are now ordering everyone to scoot over at speeds of 40 mph or so. Sometimes giving cars a shove with their feet as they ride. Everyone is getting pissed at them but that only makes them more aggressive. Then we start hitting busy intersections and this is when it gets amazing. These officers will pull up to an active intersection and straight get off their bikes and stop traffic for us and any other cars who happen to be lucky enough to be near us get the privaledge to pass with us. Then they hop on and haul ass to get back in front of us, at times weaving in and out of spots that are only about two feet wide if not less. I'm of course tripping but loving every minute of this. Fully expecting to get in a wreck on one of these trips. I'd say there have been at least three or four unbelievably close calls that we somehow escaped accident. When we get in the heart of SD then it's a little different but equally interesting. Traffic is slower but noone pays attention to the lanes so everyone is weaving in and out of each other while we of course still have two officers paving the way for us. People in cars next to us do not appreciate the athletes they are trying to get to the venue. It's truly amazing and I realize this happens in other countries too but it's just a shocker. Well that is all for this story. I hope it gives you a good vision of drive.
As for a few of your questions, there are 8 courts here and they are in great condition. The facility could use some air conditioning outside the courts but so could the rest of the island. No big deal with that. The courts are air conditioned perfectly. No other work out stuff but they have plans to add. Rocky and I are meeting with Rafa today to brainstorm ideas to add outdoor racquetball courts to the venue. Probably needs to begin with our portable outdoor courts and then build the real thing and plenty of them. More to come on this later if the news is good. We're getting ready to start today with the men playing Chile and the women playing Venezuela. Should be a good day.
Johnny Bruce