La Vega Diaries: Humidity, Fried Chicken, and a Whole Lot of Chaos

the first thing that hit me stepping off the bus wasn't the heat-it was the smell. fried chicken, exhaust, and something sweet i couldn't place. the humidity? yeah, it's here. i just checked and it's 21.6°c with 91% humidity right now, hope you like that kind of thing.

walking through the central market felt like stepping into a movie scene i didn't know i was cast in. someone told me that the best empanadas are at the stall with the broken sign near the church-couldn't tell you the name, but i can tell you they were fire. crispy, cheesy, and gone in three bites.

if you get bored, santiago and jarabacoa are just a short drive away, but honestly? la vega's got enough going on to keep you lost for days. the people here don't move fast-they move intentional. and loud. and with a rhythm that makes you want to stay.

heard a rumor at a colmado that the old fort ruins are haunted. local kids dare each other to sneak in after midnight. i didn't. but i thought about it.

check out *tripadvisor* for local guides if you're into that structured stuff, but honestly? just wander. la vega doesn't need an itinerary-it needs your curiosity.

and maybe a fan. or three.