A recap of my trip...long-winded version

[Jane J.]

WARNING: The following is like pages from my diary. Reader beware.

Finally, I’m ready to discuss my trip. 2 weeks spent in Sosua – we arrived back on Sunday morning at 6 am (our flight left POP at midnight Sat. night…kids slept fine…we, however, did not. Heads rested on laps, kid’s elbows and knees accommodated as best possible…it’s taken me till now to get it together to write this…unpacking still to do, school, work – agh, need I say more?)

Our trip was spent in my husband’s father’s house in Charamicos; very little privacy, no door on bedroom, just a curtain, suitcases everywhere. You must understand that 12 people live in this house, and with us 4 – 16 people in one house. A “vacation” this was not. So. We have a one-and-a-half year old, Justin, (sometimes known as Justino, El Hootie Hootie, or more recently, Busy La Pega – hee hee), who we had to put to sleep during election caravanas, who was up every morning at 6 am, who was extremely high-maintenance. My husband (Toty) and I would rotate mornings to get up with him and walk up and down the callejón, while he would gather rocks, and anything else he could find off the ground, much to our horror and annoyance, and this would go on till about 9 am. Up and down the callejón, up and down, with one of us stooped over behind him. It seemed interminable.

So. Then Toty and I would both be up and we would have a little breakfast (usually a tostada from the family barrita – you know, the standard hottened, flattened bread with jamón, queso and the quintessential catchú. With maybe a borruga or a jugo de cereza, limón, avena on the side – you name it, Vidal had it. But I digress…)

We 4 would go off early in the little car we had at our disposal to many different places. We went to Cabarete Beach several times. Ever the tiguera, I even tried to do an old Time Share acquaintance a favour and be his “Up” at Sansouci. Hee hee. It didn’t work though because I can’t tell a lie for crap. I was supposed to be a single girl, staying at Sol de Plata. Smooth-talking Johnny Gonzalez (I think the head guy there) took one look at my wrist – no bracelet. And I’m all, um, well, I’m really staying at a small place in Sosua…um, what’s it called again…um…And then another look at my lovely wedding ring, and I had to fess up about the two kids and I couldn’t keep any story straight. And there was Toty, my rasta-haired husband throwing a frisbee with the two kids (who I had supposedly left in Sosua) directly on the spot of beach beneath where Johnny Gonzalez and I am sitting. And I’m thinking, go away! You’re blowing my cover. It was silly. But Time Share is so full of crap.

We also did the Teleferico in Puerto Plata – my first time. It was really great. At the top, we were totally in the clouds, (um, literally) and it was freeeezing. The gardens up there are immaculately kept. There were quite a few people going up and down – we had to wait about 45 mins. to get on. Several times I heard people say, “esto es obra de Balaguer!”. I’m really glad we went.

Another outing was our day at Columbus Aguaparque. Another great day. We brought a teenage boy from the callejón to monitor our 6 year old ($500 pesos for the 5 of us – baby was free), enabling me to paddle with the baby in the shallow area, semi-without worry. Justin in the pool? Nadie le sacaba de allí - 4 hours straight in that pool. Prune fingers and toes, but always with his t-shirt, and big floppy hat. And sunscreen of course. Sometimes Teenage Boy would relieve me, and I got to go down all the slides with Liam. That was fun. El tubo negro is really cool – it’s pitch black in there! I also jumped off the trampolín 3 times. I’m a nutcase. There were several busloads of kids also there that day from qué sé yo qué diablo campo, which made things more interesting. All the lovebird couples. The girls all with their $40 RD to have their photos taken in various seductive poses. Ay, the tangas and Jennifer Lopez-like swimwear! Oh, and the Shakira dance-alike contest. Classic.

Another day, I met Hillbilly at Eddy’s bar. So neat. Of course, I got all nervous and freaked out – HB is soooo cool. Amazing speaking voice. And the flattery! A lot of cigar talk, but nonetheless. Also nice to meet Eddy (although he doesn’t remember we had met before) and Joe and wife. Encounters with strangers off the Internet – I highly recommend it.

Toty & I also made it to the Rubby Perez concert, sponsered by the pueblo-loving PRD. Seguimos? Sí! Nos vamos? No! Seguimos? Sí! Nos vamos? No! Arriba las manos! Arriba las manos! Arriba las ma-aahnos! Again, fun. Free rum too (although we were privones and bought beer instead). The whole town seemed to be there.

Guys, this is going to have to go to Part II. It’s one AM already…Or you could collectively gong me and I’ll stop. But you’ll have to drag me away with that big hook thing…

[trina]

Jane, you really make me miss Sosua. I refuse to stay in Angel's parent's house, though...Eddy's condos is the only way I go....BTW...how is Eddy?

And your time-share friend wasn't Fernando, was it? I don't think he needs help getting "ups".

Was Rubby in Sosua? I just missed him the last time he was there.

Can't wait for part II (shows what kind of a life I lead, I guess!)

[Meredith]

So interesting..... where's Part II? I can't wait to hear! I love stories

[Jane J.]

Trina, yes Rubby was in Sosua at the rotonda in El Batey. It was a great night, marred only by the fact that it was really a PRD celebration.

As for staying with my husband's family, it was really the best choice. Otherwise we wouldn't have seen them at all, and they were the whole reason for the visit. At first my husband (him, not me) was really stressed about it, because it WAS hard. "La próxima vez alquilamos un apartamento!", he would say. But if we had done that, once the kids were in bed one of us would have been stuck at home...probably me!

PART II coming soon, complete with photos, I hope.

[AnnaC]

Great report Jane. Looking forward to part two.

[Jane J.]

A few photos from my trip are Here

[Hillbilly]

She was so nice to come over to Eddys and hook up with a group of unknowns...
As I said before she is a looker and at 5'11" , blond, with all the trimmings....and smart.....

Has a memory like a trap and excellent Spanish, English and French....Any of the clutzes on this board would be tongue tied, and most would try to impress her....Would not work either.

Hell, yes, I was very impressed!

She and her tribe have a date at Hillbilly hovel next time....at least for a night...

HB


P.S. And it turns out I was her husband's aunt's daughter's teacher a long time ago... Small world....

[Jane J.]

And it turns out I was her husband's aunt's daughter teacher a long time ago... Small world....

Close, but no cigar, HB (get it?) It was my husband's niece, Wendy. And you were right, it was estomologia, not dentistry. She's in my photos. Her clinic is in the Enrique Hauser Plaza, above the Post Office, for any of you with dental problems in Sosua. She's great.

That's something else I did on my vacation! I had my teeth cleaned. What kind of wacko has her teeth cleaned on vacation? Gad.

[Bugsey34]

Great pics, Jane J! The 'mi primito' one was the best! So cute. And your husband is handsome... lucky girl.

Waiting for part 2...

[Meredith]

Those pics were so beautiful. It looked like you had a truly wonderful experience, that was fun and special for the family.