This week’s ‘Only in the DR’ photo and article has been provided by Carol Burke, who writes the weekly ‘Memories of Casa de Campo’ article for us.
The above photo and the ones below were taken by Carol approximately 20 years ago and show men delivering lunch boxes to the workers of the factories in the freezone, just outside of Casa de Campo. Nowadays many of the factories have their own canteen so this scene is no longer seen on the road leading into Casa de Campo.
Below Carol explains a little more about these lunchtime deliveries and how their strange cylindrical canisters work – fascinating stuff!
When I lived in Casa de Campo the road to the main entrance ran directly from La Romana past the Free Zone factories.
It was often crowded with motorcycle and bus traffic to and from Casa de Campo and the factories. Most of this traffic were motorcycles delivering things and people.
Sometimes you would see a carpenter and his twelve foot long ladder riding on the back of a motorcycle or a plumber with his tool box and pipes.
Motorcycles were everywhere and functioned as taxis for the people.
The La Romana housewife would buy her groceries at the market, then flag down a motorcycle. She would jump on side-saddle, holding the bags of groceries, and ride home for a couple of pesos.
One of the most amazing roadside sights was the lunch delivery convoy. Dozens of motorcycles loaded with expanding lunchboxes would drive to and from the free zone each day to deliver a hot lunch to their clientele who were workers in the factories.
First they would stop at their customers’ homes and pick up the lunch boxes which had been prepared by the worker’s family at home.
After collecting dozens of lunches, they would drive the lunches to the factories. To support these lunch boxes they used a dowel system of some sort or large boxes attached to the motorcycles.
These lunch boxes were sold in all the La Romana hardware stores. They usually consisted of four canister dishes attached by a handle. They were made out of metal or plastic. Each dish would be filled with a different part of a meal, such as rice, beans, meat, and salad or dessert. The five canister dishes would fit together one on top of the other for carrying, and easily open up in a row for serving.
Article contributed by Carol Burke – Thank you Carol!
Inglés
