Barcelo Gran Hotel Lina & Casino Santo Domingo

... we were quite excited to take a picture of our Dominican lemon drop experience!

After dinner, we wandered along "el Conde," which is a pedestrian-only street, and had a few drinks outside at one of the bars...we walked along to check out the Hard Rock Cafe, but it was very quiet, and decided to go check out the Malecon - which is the street that runs along the water...in San Pedro it is a VERY happening and exciting place, but, as we sadly found out, it is not the ...

... this country. While we were waiting for a cab in the bar's little secluded parking lot - a place where tall people like stilt walkers should have a hard time hiding - a mime and his two stilt-walking buddies appeared. (Still not sure exactly where they came from.) We weren't really phased by this - in fact I don't think we even broke conversation at first. I guess you just get used to the bizarre. Pretty soon a girl was hauled out of the bar by her friends, and the ...

Hola! Everyone, 1000s of photographs and GBs of movie footage were used today by our 320 Advocates as many of them met their children. My two, Birian and Melanie were tiny / much smaller than I expected. Birian came with her Mum and Melanie with her tutor from the project, Maria. They were normal everyday children who enjoyed the activities planned for them like getting glittery birds ...

... for my book. We decided to go to Burger King for breakfast but on our arrival at 10.30am found it closed. This was hilarious because we´d been reading the advertising a couple of nights ago about breakfasts they supposedly had. We laughed and thought it typical. We´ve often found in restaurants that while they may advertise 20 or 30 items only a handful are actually available. It´s quite funny going "I´ll have this please," and they go "no have," this? no, this? no, what about this? no ...

... to the sea to a sea-food restaurant! The fish looks really *bombed* ... but it's good. :) Then, Juan shows us the red-light milieu of Santo Domingo. He drives us back to the hotel and we go to the restaurant "Harry's" to have a drink together and enjoy a Flamenco-performance. Back to the hotel, write my impressions down & sleeeeep.... Impressive day ... as all the others... and all the eyes of the kids.... just amazing... really... indescribable!...

Hi All! How is everyone? Hope all are doing well and enjoying summer as it winds down. I am back in the DR after an awesome two week trip home for Clare's wedding. It was so great to catch up with friends and family, and of course the wedding was beautiful and heartfelt. We had such a good time celebrating with Clare and Andrew, and they did such a good job with all of the planning, decorating, etc. Other than wedding stuff, I had some time to buy some ...

... cement, sand, etc. I am waiting for my water filters to be delivered but they should come soon. I now understand why Peace Corps is a two year committment. Grassroots development can be an agonizingly slow process. Meanwhile, I am still giving English classes and trying to cajole the youth in my community not to throw their trash in the street. The other day we were doing a trash pickup as part of an Earth Day initiative and after ...

... some protection. Then the priest comes out and is like, no, it´s ok, it´s a nice cow...it´s like the town´s pet...it won´t hurt you! There are just random cows running around this town of like 8,000 people. RANDOM! So training....we went into the schools this week for the first time, and we each have our own school or two to a school. My school is tiny...two rooms....pretty cute. But it´s insane. They have class from 8-12, and about maybe 20 mins ...

... while we were there but we took advantage of the beach while the sun was out. After 4 days at the beach, we went back to my campo for 4 more days. We just hung out and relaxed and played Jenga with my host family (a gift from the US that was a HUGE hit). I checked on my garden, which seems to be doing well, and showed my face around the community after a long absence. She got a taste of the local ...

... water, anything that would give you comfort if you were hot, you will surely die a sudden death). I nodded, humoring her, as she left the door and I sat down to eat the breakfast she brought me. One hour later. Neighbors from a block away appeared at my door. Then more neighbors. Then my old host mother. Then more people. Oh, here we go, I thought. The next thing I know, they are telling me how terribly sick I look and that I should go to the capital right away ...