On the way, the guide told us that that place was La Otra Banda. At that moment something of curiosity caused me such a denomination. However, with my mind set on my purpose of reaching the Municipal Library of Higüey, in the province of La Alta Gracia, the literary destination of that day, I soon forgot.
On my way back I saw the fence with the name at the entrance of the farmhouse. Each letter had a photo allusive to the region printed on it. In some the sugar cane and the bamboo walls of the houses were highlighted. The letter B featured a black and white cow and the others featured typical dishes, delicacies and products.
At that time the guide insisted on justifying us the reason why he did not like football, according to him, because of draws, different from the sport of his fascination: baseball, in which there is always a winner, even if you have to extend the game whatever is necessary.
My curiosity turned around, I couldn’t stand it and I interrupted his sports lecture:
—Franklin, can you please explain to me the reason why this hamlet bears such a particular, enigmatic name, as is almost everything on the island?
“Many years ago, when there was only one or another ranch around here, some came and stole a huge pig.” In order to carry it, they sacrificed it. But it was too heavy, so they broke it in half to take only part of it. When they got to Higüey someone asked them where was what was missing. Then, those answered that the other band stayed there. Since then, this site was baptized like this: La Otra Banda, and that’s how it stayed.
