Piergiorgio Palace Hotel Sosua

... bride nor groom had to say a word, and before we knew it, they were married and it was time for the kiss! Immediately following the ceremony, the bride and groom had a toast, and then it was picture time. While we were waiting for the pictures to be taken, I took the opportunity to take a few pictures myself of the beach, which was quite beautiful by this point, as the sun was setting and the moon was coming out. <br><br>Once pictures were finished, we ...

... three weeks she had organized her first spay/neuter clinic, and now she works with all the local vets. She had been living in SF, but she moved to the DR to decrease costs and allow her to work for Animal Balance full-time - a brilliant move. She's really a force. So we enjoyed a cold glass of water while catching up in her peaceful, tropical garden.<br><br>Emma also had some great recommendations for places to go, so after we left her house we ...

... define that, because the whole north coast is stunning. The beach is indeed gorgeous, with trees buffering the road from the soft sandy beach and a long peninsula of palm trees shielding one side of the bay. Shen was hoping to surf, but the guy with the surfboards wasn't there, and also there wasn't there any surf. Supposedly it gets very good in the winter, but this time of year it's hard to predict. He ...

... can't wait to see them.  My little Ellie Grace has<br>grown at least one inch, is beginning to give up her bottle, and is saying new<br>words.  She grew up some while I have been gone--I'm going to eat it all<br>up when I get back!<br>I haven't been able to reflect on this experience.  I've heard that<br>reflection comes in bits and pieces, interwoven during normal daily routines--a<br>thought here, an image there.  What I do know, is that this ...

Hi everyone,<br>Just when I thought I had seen what living in destitution represented, I walked into a neighborhood this morning that redefined the word "poor" for me.  It seems that this redefinition is a consistent happening here.<br>This community lives in squalor, not only in ramshackle "buildings" but in filth.  In fact, their homes are literally built upon a dump. So, you ...

... aren't spoiled by anybody,<br>Who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,<br>Who live and move, but have no being.<br>We pray for children who want to be carried,<br>And for those who must,<br>For those we never give up on<br>And for those who don't get a second chance.<br>For those we smother,<br>And for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.<br> -----by Marian Wright Edelman 

... nicknamed Casa Goethe). A large number of their students are from Germany or neighboring Austria or Switzerland, so at the breakfast table I could hear many of them chattering in German. Since Frank is also taking his kite-surfing class at a German-run company, we joked that we came to the Dominican Republic to take a "German vacation." I was placed in a class with 3 other girls, one from D.C., a German, and a Hungarian ...

... or braid my hair. Well, we waited and waited for our dad to come get us, as we thought he would, but he didn't. So then Leanna and I finally went to lunch around 12:30pm and then Lynette and our dad came to us at lunch, getting back from "Beyond" - they had gone without us!! Really nice. And they knew we had wanted to go too - my dad took everyone except Leanna and I. That was probably our last chance to go out there - oh well, I guess ...

... for awhile. The weather was starting to get worse and it even rained (lightly sprinkled) for a bit. The water was getting a little rougher and it was getting a bit cold (windy). Then we went back up to our rooms and Leanna and I rested a bit. We weren't going for dinner until 9pm (reservations had been made for the Italian restaurant then). During that time, it got dark and then it started to pour! (I am so glad I thought to bring an umbrella!) I guess this was ...

... tonight. It's interesting how we see our group in that movie a lot- we do have a lot of trust and we are fighting a racially-tense fight here. Today, we were set back by a water and electricity shortage and then a huge downpour. We went to Nazaret and I was on construction again- on a fireline with cinder blocks and then wiring together rebar. Mud was ALL over our shoes. Now we're at Sosua. BIEN. The next time I write to you, I'll be in ...