La Cana Vacation Club Sosua

... ed to Laguna Dudu, an unfortunately named but really magical spot. It's a natural pool set at the bottom of 30-40 foot cliffs, with vines and plants hanging down the cliff walls all the way to the water. We were again impressed with the level of investment in tourism infrastructure. One side of the pool has a concrete platform with a ladder going down to the water, and there are several rope swings. When we arrived there were about a dozen locals ...

... for the guy to come the next day, and we walked over to Playa Preciosa, where the waves are usually a little better. It was still pretty bad - he caught a few waves on Thursday, but overall it was a bust.

We got back to the hotel right in time to have a drink on the terrace and watch the sun set over the ocean. Perfect! We went out for dinner and finally found food that wasn't of animal provenance. I ...

... the next six months.  The
comforts of home with the people I love, will surely see me through. That I
know for sure-
I hope you have all enjoyed the blog.  I have loved sharing some thoughts,
albeit probably a bit superficial at times, as feelings are often difficult to
retrieve-

Thank you for following my journey.  
Please look for more pictures in the days to come.

Love,

Lani

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... long he has been at home since the release.  He kept tugging at his ears, so I'm sure he has an ear infection on top of the Dengue.  He was so listless that he couldn't hold his head up for very long, and was unable to smile or reach out for a ball.
As we were evaluating him, his father walked in.  Drunk.  When we recommended to the father that he seek medical care ...

We pray for children
Who sneak popsicles before supper,
Who erase holes in math workbooks,
Who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
Who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
Who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,
Who are born in places we wouldn't be caught dead.
We pray for those who never go to the circus,
Who live in an X-rated world,
Santiago, Dominican Republic lstockwell

... only in underwear.  Sweet kids, but resorting to desperation (pinching others, manipulation, etc.) in order to get attention.  One child kept pinching the little girl I was holding!  So sad!  We will offer a health clinic to them on Thursday afternoon.  They speak mostly Creole, limited Spanish, so communication will be interesting.
We are watching Hurricane Bill, who looks like he ...

... people to get out when it's especially crowded. However, everyone is usually very courteous and cooperative on the guagua. If someone comes in, everybody makes room for that person. People in the back also pass their money to the side door guy via other people, and get their change back the same way. I saw my stop coming up and I told the side door guy "El Texaco por favor!" (the Texaco station please!) and got off at the ...

... to where I saw the "beauty parlour" on the map, which brought us to the edge of the resort and a row of stores. There were some cars parked there as well, and Leanna's eyes opened wide as she said to me "Are we... "Beyond"?? I think we're "Beyond"!" But no, we were not in the land of "Beyond" (although we were almost there!). We went to the pedicure place and I found out that it was only $21US (a good price) and I made an appointment for a half hour later. Then we ...

... asked him then how much for just the ring and the bracelet and he said $60. Still too much! (which I told him) Then he told me to make him an offer (I hate that!), so I considered what I would pay for the two items in Canada and I told him $20. He said no and I told him that's what I would normally pay in Canada and he said that the ring's stone is unique to the DR, but I told him that I've seen rings like that in Canada (I have) and that's what they would ...

... adventure.. FYI- if you don't jump completely vertical, you WILL get a nice shiner. Then we went on a bunch of errands with Zion, one of Jana and Bob's adopted sons and that was cool. We got to sit ontop of their Land Cruiser and dodge tree branches... hilarious for the first 2 minutes.. then just irritating after that... especially when the drivers are aiming for the tree branches.. Back at Ascension, our little group helped paint the ...