Going Home

It's our last day!

We went for supper at DaGuicy last night and said goodbye to everyone.
I finally did get some extra machetes for Glen and I... now the trick will be to get them back to Canada.
It has been quite an adventure filled with experiences and memories that none of us will forget. Right now none of us think we would ever do this again for this long - 2 months is too long to vacation, but too sort to settle in. And we are all pretty homesick.
Good news is, we are still getting along, we are a little closer, we saw some culture and diversity, and we learned a little bit of a new language.

And now we are headed home!
See you all in a day or two!

Two days left!!

We decided on another day for the kids. Both wanted someone to hang with today so we headed back to the Bahia Principe to pickup Zach and Kenzie. For the first time, we had trouble getting through security. The guards at the resorts are usually pretty resonable if we can prove to them that we plan to only go in and then out. This time, though, there was no getting in.I think the problem is that they have seen our faces now a few times - especially with being on site for a day pass yesterday. They are either suspicous, or are just reminding us that they are in control... either way, we were not getting in. On top of that they also were not going to let us us the phone to call the lobby.
After a compromise we made it to the lobby to get the kids - then back home.

Brendon and Kenzie shopped along the beach while Ben and Zach played around the pool.
Barb and I began the task of tidying up, collecting our things, and starting to pack.

We head home in two days!

One last day on a resort.

Sunday we decided to let the kids have one last 'holiday' before going home. Since being here we have spent our time trying to balance between living like Dominicans and seeing the sights as tourists. So, we checked into the Bahia Principe. Both kids had friends staying there this week so it made for a nice break before we head home. Ben played with Zach all day and Brendon chilled in the pool with Kenzie. The was was more than worth it... free booze and 3 great meals for all of us plus the boys got tatoos!. We didn't get many pictures though - we were too busy doing nothing :)

Supper on the Beach

Another night out for us. We had supper today on the beach at a restaurant is called Solés (solay's) which is right near the ocean. There is certainly something to be said for eating seafood on the beach with your feet in the sand!

A Friend in Our Pool

This is what greeted us in the pool this morning... gotta wonder how it got in there?
Not super big, but large enough to keep the pool empty for most of the morning.
:)
Shelley and John go home today. We will be taking them to the Airport with enough to time to also give Rick and Michelle a ride to their resort when thier plane comes in.
Our last week of company and then it's home for us next week.

another trip to Macao

Today we grabbed John and Shelley and headed to Macao. The crazy Saskatchewan road was not as big as a thrill for them as we had hoped. I guess they were prepared :) Ben had his first coconut on the beach. The milk was actually pretty uninteresting.

There were plenty of fishermen today - what looked like Mahi-Mahi and some Langosta. We didn't eat there though, just hung around on the beach and headed back to Fruisa for lunch, stopping at the school in El Macao first to hand out the rest of the school supplies.
Before taking them home we had a few drinks on our deck with Jose. Not sure if we've mentioned Jose before. He lives next door. Ex-military, Puerto-Rican, retired. Seems to have lots of money and always lots of company. Usually heavy into the sauce by mid morning every day :)
He started telling stories - most of which were half English, half Spanish - and all exciting. The best one took place late in the 40's - he was stuck in Brooklyn while between army posts. He and a buddy were in a second storey apartment and had nothing - not knowing what they would even do for supper. Through the window they ended up watching a religous demonstration - Voodoo! There were people all around, chanting, swaying, spooky music, complete with a live chicken. The ceremony gathered a crowd - more music, more chanting, so vivid we could picture it. The Voodoo electrified the air. The situation grew more and more intense. People were swaying and chanting like it was out of a movie.
Jose and his friend snuck (yes.. they 'snuck') downstairs and into the midst of the crowd. They joined the ceremony. Joined the swaying. Joined the chanting. Then you won't believe what happened next...
They stole the chicken!

A day of Shopping

A heavy rain this morning left us thinking that it would be a dull day. That was short lived though and it turned into a good day to go shopping. We picked up John and Shelley mid morning and headed to El Cortecito. First stop was to tour a cigar store. Pretty cool! They make cigars right in the store. Jewelery in Plaza Bavaro and a new nose ring for Barb, then we headed to the fruit stand for a snack. (When the kids read this they are bound to be a little cranky to find out we stopped for fruit without them ...)
We learned that John is an expert at bartering. Every purchase was a bargain and a great deal. Plus now he has a ton of new 'Best Friends" here in DR. We waited to go to the grocery store (Caribe) for booze and coffee though.
Something to note: Shelley needed Aloe for her sunburn. the small, 8 oz bottle of cost more than the 1.14 L bottle of fine Dominican Rum.

If it were me I think I might be tempted to just rub the booze all over me:)


And finally, the Salsa taste-off. Well, the boys conceded. Seems that there is sightly more work involved in slicing vegetables than expected. Barb is still reigning champeen and now there are no contenders.

It's been raing for 2 days

Since going out with John and Shelley the weather has turned a bit. Mornings are nice and quite peaceful, but by around noon the rain starts. The potholes along the main drag (which were nearly all fixed) are bigger than ever now and the puddle we are frequently trapped in along the way to the fruit stand now covers the entire road. It will take a day for the water to disappear. :)
This afternoon we have planned a homemade salsa "taste-off". The boys and Barb are having a salsa making contest to see whose is the best homemade salsa.
Hopefully we will hear from Shelley and John a little later to help out with the judging!
(and yes, they gave their permission for the picture on the last post :P)

Alex and Kyle left and Shelly and Jon are here

Yesterday we went swimming with the Alex and Kyle. Then we hung out for a while and went shopping at the beach and i bought souvenirs for my friends. We went to a shop named Big K Mart and the guys name was Slim. I also bought a marble turtle for my room. We got back and played in the pool for a while and we played hide and seek. Then they left an we all said good bye. Finally Shelly and Jon are here. My mom and dad went to pick them up and brought them to their resort called NH Arena. When they got back we stayed inside and it was pretty dark outside. So then we went to bed. We had a great day.

Then we woke up and Shelly called for us to go to the beach with them and we saw them. we walked back to our place and we showed them where we we've been staying. Then we decided for all of us to go out for supper later. So when they left to eat lunch at their resort we went to Fruisa for lunch with Aaron. The food was very good yummmmy :) . We got back to our condo and my mom went to sleep and Brendon did homework. me and my dad hung around and watched tv. Then we went to supper with Jon and Shelly. We were going to go to a place called Juicy. But we could not find it. So we went to a other restaurant and it was very good i ate pene with Alfredo sauce. When we got back my dad dropped us off at the house and they went to Steve's Bar. Me and Brendon hung till they got back late and we all went to bed.
-Ben

Well the last week has been alot different. A great family from ontario came to punta cana to spend there spring break in the hot weather. Sandra, Greg and there kids Kyle and Alex have been awesome. Our last couple of days have been spent with them either by the pool, or at the beach. Yesterday Brendon, Ben, Kyle, Greg and Barb went down the beach. The boys went out for pizza. there we met a guy named slim who lives here in dominican but grew up in Boston for 20 years. So he has perfect english. Today was juts a homework day for Brendon and everyone