Cruzando El Pais con Amigos

I have just finished quite the trip/experience with one of my best friends, Mr. Christopher Mulvany. I am so very thankful to have any visitors down here, so its always a blast when anyone does decide to come. We had two weeks to see the island in its entirety…and we nearly did it.

Chris had brought along a friend, Akilah, from Boulder and we three had some awesome times. To start the trip off…of course the plane was 4 hours late and arrived in Santo Domingo at 2am. Which meant that I had to continually call the scheduled Taxi to the airport to postpone. It all worked out well enough and I still greeted my guests with my customary arrival gift of two Grande Presidente beers, which are consumed on the way back to the hotel.

Though we were up late, we got an early start and headed North to stay a night with a volunteer in Sanhez, Iris, whom was a most delicious Cook and a better host! We were able to walk around her Pueblo and meet her friends and neighbors as well as give my two guests a different view of Peace Corps, unlike my small community.

The following morning we packed up to head to the far east point of the peninsula, Las Galeras, a tourist town that lucky for us... was out of season. This allowed us to find some great deals, with my super deal-making skills, and sleep in a large beach house for Motel 6 rates ($40). It was nothing short of the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life!
The afternoon was spent drinking Coco Loco’s on the beach with food served on our towels (Chicken, rice, beans, and Fried Platano chips – Chris’s favorite) for about $5.
After showers, we headed out in search of a happy hour, an happened upon Marco’s beach bar. Marco and his loyal 40 something single dude-weirdo were our kind hosts and told us that happy hour did not ever end and lucky for us, this cut our bill by about 75%! We had planned to watch the Nuggets game at an ex-pats house, Earl from Canada, but he was F’ing weird too. So it didn’t work out, but we still had a great time and I learned that the Beach bar business can suck. Especially, in my opinion, if you don’t know what your doing.

The next morning we decided to head to the less heard of Playa Fronton, which was the most amazing place I have ever been in my life. I literally could not stop saying “ This is Amazing”. They luck we had was high as we ran into a crazy dude from the states on a beach with only 10 people whom invited us to rock climb the cliffs and spearfish with him in return for some of my peanut butter and bread we had brought along. The dude was insane. We couldn’t of asked for a better experience though…the only down side to this beach is when we were on the boat ($20), the waves were huge and the boat would rise to the crest of the wave and then slam smack down on cement water, thereby causing me to crush my man parts at least 6 times and feel a bit sick as a result. The guides need some sensitivity training maybe? I hope I can still have children someday.

We headed out in the Afternoon and stayed in a campo outside of Samana, with another Volunteer, Erica…whom is also a CSU Graduate! Go Rams! She had a friend Joan over and we all made some style of Mexican food tortilla wraps. Erica made the Tortillas from scratch and I was impressed. The Electricity was out all night and the climate is much hotter than where I live, so I basically sweated all night but had to keep the cover on because the Mosquitoes were annoying the ---- out of me. Erica and I had to leave for a PC all Volunteer Conference the next day, but she was kind enough to let Chris and Akilah stay a night by themselves instead of dragging them to a boring conference in the capital. They managed themselves incredibly well and made it back to SD the next afternoon just as we were finishing up our deal. The night was spent Dancing at the CarWash to all the Dominican Favorites. Those of you who know me, can guess that I danced one actual song (not by choice) and really just did some 12oz. curls while socializing.

The next day we got up a bit late, but headed out to the border to my house. It was a long trip (6 hours) but they were troopers. The first two days were just loungers at my house and we did some PB meetings and My Business Class. They got along just great, and didn’t even mind the outside auto-flush toilet I have!

Monday brought us to Elias Pina, directly on the border. Chris and Akilah, bless their hearts, were on a trip over the border to Haiti. Chris speaks some French and managed well enough he said, however the absolute lack of anything that can be called infrastructure, caused them to alter their plans. They did return safe and sound and have many stories. I stayed with a friend whom lives on the Border and helped with some Community Bank Presentations and English classes. It was nice to have a chance to be able to visit one of my closest friends, Ben.

Back to my house we wrapped up their time here with some hikes and new favorite card game (Casino or 21 – not black jack). Being the die-hard fans we are, we left on Thurs to see the Nuggs game back in the Capital that evening. This was the first time I had just hung out with Chris and it was good to have some Bro Time. We took our 20 bucks and went to the casino, where we were solicited sexual favors by prostitutes, which we declined, but may have been a better choice than losing our 20 bucks so quickly! I said my goodbyes the next morning, only to surprise them the next night because I hadn’t left in time to return to my site. So, Gracias a Dios, we had another awesome night.

They left for the nice and easy United States and I headed home to do some much overdue cleaning and teach my classes this week. I can’t wait to see them again when I get back in…66 days, if you read this today. Keep on keepin on, my friends and family.
Nos veremos pronto!

Jefe