my daughter!

yeah me! my daughter is here! she is a ton of fun to be with. she is used to the country and has no problems adjusting, as well as she is an easy traveler. if that isn't enough, she talks to me non stop and holds my hand and wraps her arms around me the whole time. that makes all worth it. you know the commercial....air tickets to the d.r., 700., meals out 600., hanging with daughter, priceless!!!!!

when friends and family arrived, we began our stay in santo domingo. our hotel, coco boutique, was beyond our expectations!!!! i can not say enough good things about the space or the couple that owns it.i think for my friends however, that santo domingo was too much for them. as it is filled with exhaust, trash and noise pollution...however, the people are friendly and the history is tremendous. i love santo domingo!

this trip has been most wonderful in the people i have met. we went to the synagogue for services, and i was overwhelmed with no matter where you go, the similarities are tremendous. the jews at the synagogue were completely different from the typical dominican. and the fact that services were in rapid fire spanish and hebrew, didn't deny the commonality of the people and our faith.

also, i met a fabulous walking tour guide for zona colonial that will be able to work with me in the future. i also met a woman who owns a farm in the southwest territory, that brings groups for birding! bricknell's thrush anyone? that is the bird that journies from vermont to the dominican annually! what a very smart bird! i have a fabulous dance teacher that i can not wait to return to...i had more fun in a few hours than i have had in 3 years of dancing in vermont! i can't wait to bring people to him!

and now, we are in samana. it is a peninsula in the northeast tip of the island. the beaches are straight out of a magazine. absolutely breathtaking. however, for me it is as if you could be anywhere...mostly french, italian and german are spoken here....the music is mostly not dominican and the town seems to roll up early....when i am here in this country i like to know i am here. i must say that the experience of getting here is a blast, as after a bus ride from santo domingo for 4 hours we had to take a taxi over the mtn. we had a truck and our suitcases were rolling around in the back of the truck, as we wound our way up and down through the mtn.....it was a blast!

so, more later and my apologies for being out of touch for a few days....it actually looks a little overcast today....we are arranging for a whale ride tomorrow! i can't wait!!!!

kisses to you all and stay warm.
a