Tropix Hotel Sosua

... Juan Dolio. Matilda was meeting the bride for lunch ( I was also supposed to, but Sunday travel is slow, and I wanted to be sure I caught a bus), and then would travel back to the farm for one more night before heading back on Monday morning. I had to get back on Sunday, however, because I was teaching the next day. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the bus ride back to Santo Domingo...it was a direct route back to the capital, and only 3 hours. The ...

... somewhat explains the blank stares when I asked for frijoles), and within minutes of asking the Comedor lady about Emma (a.k.a. la gringa que cuida a los perros), we were on a motoconcho heading to her house. Surprise!!<br><br>I felt bad dropping in on her unannounced, but it was great to see her. We knew we were at the right house when five dogs bounded out to greet us. Emma arrived in Cabrera more than two years ago with virtually no Spanish, but ...

... were shocked - shocked! - that the terrace-level rooms were $15 for the two of us. The rooms are basic and the terrace isn't well-maintained, but we walked out of our room to a wide expanse of ocean and a little beach off to the side. Really, the hotel made my week.<br><br>As soon as we checked in we headed back out for Playa Grande, supposedly one of the prettiest beaches in the area. It's hard to know how ...

... gives me the fortitude to be a good mother and role model for my<br>daughter.  Someday I'll share stories about these people, and I hope that<br>by doing so, my daughter will grow up to be sensitive and caring, and<br>hopefully, will have the same opportunity to offer her time and expertise to<br>those less fortunate than her.<br>I'm certain that I will be staying home for a while.  Only two semesters left<br>until graduation, so I have a long haul ...

... he said, "I don't have the money or the time."  It was maddening.  I truly believe in my heart that this child will not survive this illness, just because of his living situation.  It was difficult to walk away-<br>Please offer your positive thoughts, good karma, prayers, or wishful thinking to this little one tonight.  Maybe they will help.<br>Missing all of you,<br>Love,<br>Lani

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

... s forecast showed nothing but sun every day! not that that helped us!) Check out time was supposed to be 1pm, but Ray had gotten us a later check-out of 3pm, so we had extra time before we had to go back to the room to clean up. Our plane didn't leave until 8pm and the bus was going to arrive at the hotel at 5:25 to get us. So we had some time to frolick in the waves, and yes, although it was starting to clear up, the water was still very wavy/choppy ...

... then it started to really pour (we have pictures of that too - us hiding underneath the towels). Crazy weather! We went up back to our room then and then fell asleep for awhile. I was still not feeling well. Our dad came back to the room before dinner time and he offered to get me some medication from a pharmacy in town (being so familiar with this city, he has no problems in venturing "Beyond"). My sinuses were completely blocked by this point ...

... to it, to reunite with his only son. My dad wanted to take me and Leanna out today to the "real" world, that is, outside of our resort and into the city of Sosuà. And I can say it was quite an experience that I'll never forget. From nearly the moment we stepped out of the resort limits and onto the street, until we returned safely back about an hour or two later, we experienced constant "solicitations" by the locals, trying to sell all kinds of things ...

We stayed for two weeks in Sosua. I was intending to do a proper travelogue of the holiday but sadly have never got round to it. The highlights for us were: Beautiful sunsets Horseriding in the mountains (booked through a local company NOT a tour operator) Monster truck safari (good fun if a bit commercialised and touristy) Yummy cocktails in the hotel rock jacuzzis overlooking the sea Mingling with the locals