So, a bit of a delay since we got back from vacaion in the Dominican Republic. This is the beach at our resort, Sunscape the Beach. If anyone has ever been curious about the all-inclusive idea, I highly recommend it. It's pricey up front, but never having to spend once you're there, is so much better than having to carry around cash to pay for stuff. We did bring money, it's a very poor country, and the dollar is worth a lot, so we were very good tippers, but by no means was it expected by anyone.

This is a shopping area in the capital city of Santo Domingo. We took a tour to the city (3 1/2 drive there and back but well worth it) saw a bunch of old buildings from Columbus' time, ate at a Hard Rock Cafe (kind of a let down, but we figured they do it for the not so adventurous people on the tour) looked in shops, and did a good bit of sweating.

This is the reason we went there... one of Jen's college friends got married there, and this is the wedding area before the ceremony. Everyone working at our resort was great. Every member of the staff greeted every person with a genuine "Hola" when they passed by and were always happy, and helpful. Very hard workers too, there were numerous times that we would see someone working in the morning at breakfast, and see them working that night in a different restaurant. The entertainment staff hangs out by the pool and the beach all day, running games, teaching songs and dances, giving spanish lessons, and then at night do a show in their open air theater, and after that, at about 10:00 go to the disco and have a great time there. I never saw a single person with a look on their face like they wished they weren't there, a great break from what we usually see from employees here.

Here we are just after the ceremony, isn't Jen hot? I'm so grateful that we were able to afford to go, time-wise and money-wise, and enjoy a relaxing vacation that also benefitted us with a view of part of the world that most people wouldn't go to. It was also a great look into the lives of people that couldn't care less about whether or not they had a brand new gas-guzzling SUV (gas was $5 a gallon), the latest tv, the biggest house, or any of that. They were happy to have a 75cc motorcycle that cost them at least 6 months of work to buy as their only transportation, a roof over their heads, and a job. They all worked hard, and the attitude wasn't "feel sorry for us because we're so poor", it was "we're poor, but we work hard, and it will get better".
If you ever have the opportunity to go, do it... your spanish is better than you think it is, believe me!