http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Dominican Republic en-us Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:29:35 BST Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:29:35 BST Every morning I pass Christopher Columbusrsquo memorial on the way to work. This memorial is somewhat of a controversy here. Christopher Columbus is a bad man to the Dominicans. He is responsible for killing all the original Indians here in the DR. No one here likes him at all. The memorial was built but no one wants it. It is also part of another controversy between Spain and the DR. Sp http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-334373.html Today felt long to me. I think I may still have a touch of jet lag. Plus working from 9 to 6 is hard to get used to. I met my new team today and I think we are going to do great We all get a long well. They are really a great group of people. Irsquom going to enjoy working with them over the next five weeks. I rained so hard this afternoon. The windows in my work area are boarded up and http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-334137.html I am going to try to post the picture of my view from my room. I took this pic sitting on my bed. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-333609.html Well Irsquom finally here I traveled all day yesterday and was too tired to post a blog last night. I have a great hotel room at the Hilton. Itrsquos small but I have an awesome view of the pool and the ocean. Looks like the Hotel sits right on the water I donrsquot have much to report now I just woke up and I havenrsquot explored yet. Itrsquos pretty funny how everyone here sp http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-333515.html Another week in Los Quemados Bonao.My second and last week in Los Quemados past quickly. In the day time Keith and I worked on the publicity. In one way it was a blessing to sit inside by the fans in the heat but at the same time I could see my body getting paler and paler which is juts wrong when in the Caribbean. After hearing my boss shouting at everyone and generally treating people with no http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Bonao/blog-332500.html The weekend 61514After work on Friday Keith and I had plans to go out but as Marshall had decided for us to go on an excursion the next day we decided to leave it for Saturday in stead but we did end up sharing a bottle of wine by the stream anyway Keith is just so great he is so easy to become fond of and to become friends with. He is so tolerant laid back kind and funny. We staid up http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Bonao/blog-331945.html After my first night at the ranch I awoke to a sunny morning. I went to the office and sat down at the computers with Keith and the boss. Keith is an American also volunteering here helping out with the marketing and publicity. He is 27 and absolutely fabulous. He is kind always in a good mood chatty great sense of humor handsome gay always laughing and my partner in crime here I am wor http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Bonao/blog-331670.html Hello One and AllI am so sorry this has been so long but the past couple weeks have been quite hectic and without internet readily available for use it makes it much harder. I also want to say that fotos will be up in due time I have so many to showSo I think that last time I wrote was mostly about my dona which I have a new lil story about her. She asked me about a week ago if I could do h http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santiago/blog-331125.html When I arrived to Boneo it was raining cats and dogs. I grabbed the taxi to the ranch and although it was hard to see much my eyes were peeled to my surroundings. It looked like a very poor area with small huts farmers and plenty of countryside. I saw the sign for ranch and as we drove through the gates I saw lots of horses on a field walking between the cabinshuts and chicken and roosters http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Bonao/blog-329792.html After a long flight and only 1 hours sleep i got up and made my way to the bathroom for a well deserved shower. The 1 hour of sleep was hot humid and buzzing with exitement.I sorted my room and made my way to the reception in the hostal and to get familiar with my new surroundings. Downstairs a lovely patio bar and common area awaited me. The staff was friendly and chatty. I got pointed in the http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Ciudad-Colonial/blog-329497.html Okay I finally was able to add pictures They are kinda of random here there and everywhere sorry.Now I must share two encouraging experiences. First last Friday I returned to Manabao to try to find my deaf study Faustina. On the way up the mountain I came upon a group of school girls all in there Khaki pants and baby blue polos. I offered them some tracts. Some refused others happily ac http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/La-Vega/Jarabacoa/blog-329121.html I have always been so unlucky whenever travelling before but this trip so far has been one lucky break after another I got to Oslo Airport Gardemoen with flat battery on both my Pc and mobile a backpack that weighed toooooooooooooo much for comfort. I checked in and the women at the check in desk weighed my bag looked at me for a moment and i assumed she was trying to find a nice way of t http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Ciudad-Colonial/blog-326917.html This past weekend was quite uneventful did some exploration of the city and tried a vegetarian restaurant but it was disgusting. One fourth of the way through my ventures here I can say I am almost completely comfortable most of the time. Walking through the busy streets of Santiago cars honking people yelling and busily chatting I think I have come to a point of contentment. I love that I http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santiago/blog-324394.html Hello Yesterday I ran of time to add more pictures. It makes things so much more interesting. Enjoy http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/La-Vega/Jarabacoa/blog-322832.html Photos http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Puerto-Plata/Puerto-Plata/blog-322495.html Okay first off I must apologize for never updating this thing. Technology is just not for me. Its funnyeveryday we have Siesta from 122 so youd think Quinn could find the time to write. The problem is that most of the Internet place are closed during Siesta. ERRWell lets see. Upon arriving Jarabacoa we promplty went to the Supermarket. There I was thrilled to find soy milk that was lik http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/La-Vega/Jarabacoa/blog-322420.html The past two weeks have been full of school and homework I like most of my classes but they are all with Americans which means it will that much harder to make Dominican friends. I have made a few but of course I would like to make many. The campus of the university is beautiful but SO spread out its takes forever to get to one building to the next. It feels so strange to be in a campus that on http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santiago/blog-321017.html So Saturday after showering I love showers cause you always feel a bit dirtier here Lily and I went to meet up with some Bethelites and to my JOY if you know me I'm being sarcasticwe went dancing. I'm trying very hard to embrace all the new stuff so of course I danced. But I was really happy when some more Hermanas showed up cause before it was like 2 girls to 6 brothers. YAY I can sit d http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/La-Vega/blog-318612.html Today signifies the end of the first week of my stay in the DR. After orientation week I feel that my feet are starting to sink into this part of the world. There are people places and things that I have not seen until this week and for that I am grateful. I would like to formally introduce the journal of me Miss Natalie Moses to all of you my family and friends. Here is a just a small window i http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santiago/blog-316984.html In 2005 I went to the Dominican Republic for a 1 week vacation for FREE It was the perfect place to relax but the food was below par at our resort... http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Punta-Cana/blog-306490.html A few friends and I were looking for short get away as a reunion after years of geographical separation. Lured by cheap all inclusive deals we found ourselves at Eden H in Punta Cana. I've always had an aversion to allinclusive resorts after all to independent travelers they are tantamount to a self inflicted hostage crisis. But even I cannot resist the idea of a few days spent under the sun in http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Punta-Cana/blog-304964.html Peace and quiet work and play it is about time to enjoy what hard work has offered. Welcome to Punta cana Domenican Republic. It is time to recoup and relax in blue turquois ocean water and palm trees in the backdrop. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Punta-Cana/blog-289998.html The pictures say it all This is why I love traveling Many stories to tell about this trip will add them later. Enjoy the views http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Samana/Las-Galeras/blog-289361.html Our goal for this school to make it COMPLETELY green. Meaning we want to teach the kids how to use biogas wind power water power solar power etc. So yah the thought is nice... but the action is not what we were expecting. There is A LOT of work to be done. We hit our first major road block when we got here and found a little school that we started helping out. We thought hey yah this is awe http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Rio-San-Juan/blog-277946.html I first came to the Dominican Republic when I was I think 11 years old. My family from Denmark and from other places all came for Christmas. But instead of getting presents we decided to give them. We collected all of our old give aways and we hauled them down here and we gave them to an orphanage. It was then that I realized that there were people less fortunate than me and sense then... I ha http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Rio-San-Juan/blog-277938.html A big hi to everyone sorry its taken so long but Dominican internet somewhat unreliable. Thank you to everyone for your best wishes it was a fantastic day the sun shone and Ris and Jonnie didnt stop smiling. Have just been to see the official photos 3 hours well spent and looking forward to sharing them with you all. So just as a taster will attach just a couple now. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Punta-Cana/blog-273171.html