Viaje de Riquita...
Friday, February 18th 2005
I arrive at the airport de las Americas... I didnt go to sleep the night before. I didnt see the point. I had to wake up to get to the airport by 5 and we needed to be up by 4. Alex Bueno (bachata singer) was on the flight looking a bit crazy with a cowboy hat, long hair to shoulders and glasses... weirdo. Anyways my flight was a bit uncomfortable... this BIIIG dude sat next to me and he just kinda didnt fit in his seat. I felt bad for him cause he just looked anxious to get off... When I finally touch DR ground, my cousin Samil was waiting for me. I was sooo giddy. I thought I wouldnt be going to DR anytime soon. I went two years ago and got sick and didnt do anything fun... grr! But this time, I just appreciated it so much. I love driving back to my uncle or aunt and looking at the sea on the way... gosh, it was like a high. My cousin took me to eat a sandwich and shake of Lechosa (I dunno what that is called in English). It was off the hook!! The strawberry shake my coz got was dope too, it tasted like ice cream. Everything tastes better there people! Later on in the day, I traveled to Tamboril which is a pueblecito outside of Santiago. We stayed at the Fortaleza... hehe. It's two houses down the Kingdom Hall my cousin worked on constructing and also where she had her ceremonia. It was really nice and they often give that apartment to brothers that are staying for a lil bit or they rent it out. Tamboril was real nice. It was quiet, I was surprised to not hear loud music and "motoconchos" (motorcycles). I met Mika for the first time. Super nice guy. He is a joker man. Also met his brother Tomy and best friend Samy. I met a brother named Mati who has been serving as a Regular Pioneer for 5-6 months in DR. He says that enjoys DR because the people are so nice and open compared to Finland. Which is true, you can spark conversation anywhere. All of them tall and would bend down to look at your eyes when you talk. So respectful. They knew English so that is how I spoke to them. My cousin, Damaris, did my nails, hands and feet, they came out cute. I was falling asleep in my chair and it was like only 11ish... the overnighter got to me ... :P . She did my tubi (hair wrap) too. Tee Hee, I am always taken of over there... =) So yea we called it a day and went to bed...
Saturday, February 19th, 2005
It must have been 12 noon time. I wake up cause I hear my family coming into the room. They traveled from San Pedro de Macoris for the wedding. Which takes like 3 hours... yea. I was amazed how big DR really is... lol. Haha.. it's bigger than RI... So they are saying hi and I am like all drowsy. I get up right away cause I am sooo excited to see them. There must have been like 30 people in the house by then. We have to take turn taking showers but I took that bad boy early on... it was getting crazy closer to wedding time... the men were stinking it up and wat not... my mom was like we need to light a match! So yea I got ready on time to walk to KH. The hall wasnt too full so yay cause I sat in the front. My coz looked freakin GORGEOUS! I'll let the pics do some of the talking...
She was leaving from the house of some brother and his family let her stay at for the past year because of construction and cause they super nice. The house was dope in the inside...
My cousin Haziel and a lil Canadian sister. They looooked adorable. The lil girl would imitate everything my coz did, take off the veil, hold her dress up... yea princess for the day...
The date on the camera is a day late, ya noticed... the background is of Santiago...
My cousin Cecilia, who I traveled to DR with. She lives in NY... my homegirl!!!
My cousin, Yaneira, youngest sister of Neandra... THE SKY WAS HOT!!!!!
THIS CAKE WAS HOT!!! Sooo goooood!
The night was great... they had this guy sing named Willy. I developed the illest crush on him. But I think he must have been 18. He sang two songs and played the guitar. One of the them was Marc Anthony the one that goes, Marry Me lalalaaa... but the Spanish version. He also can dance his booty off. We also danced a waltz together... haaa! Bananas... he was just soo much fun... (sigh) The wedding reception had baaangin food. I cant complain. Also the they had a cute play, another couple sing Endless Love and like two skits. It was getting a lil long after a while... Yo no vine pa no bailar!!! When we did dance it was like 40 minutes... boooo! But the wedding definitely mad spiritual. Each table had a fruto de espiritu... I was en la mesa de Gozo (Joy). And of course the bride and groom were in Amor (Love). AWESOME IDEA!!!!
Last pic of the night... we drove back to the capital in this beat up bus. I sat with my legs on top of luggage. I sat right next to the sliding door that couldnt be open from the inside and no longer had the covering part to it.. icky! Thank goodness the tomboy is still in me, that I can handle it just fine in that dress... When we drove back to the Capital there were travestites on the corners and a crackhead at the 2 30 in the morning trying to wash our windshield... uh yea that is DR for you. When we finally arrive at my aunts around the tire like lost all its air. And there was no spare in the van. It was a brother who let my uncle rent the van... but it was a piece of crap yo. And if we got stuck in some dark highway we would have been soooo asked out. Just good thing that they were able to fix it cause the rest of the fam had to still drive to San Pedro de Macoris which is like an 45 minutes away... It was 3 officially when we got to the capital... Before bed, I chit chatted with my coz Sole and then we got knocked out...
Sunday, February 20th, 2005
Went shopping at la Sirena and Mega Centro (the MALL). We wanted to see Los Locos Piensan Tambien but we were sooo sleepy and tired that we stayed home and saw the video of the wedding. The children over there out of control though. We were at the stoplight and this 7-8 yr old throws some water to wash the windshield. My coz didnt want him to do it so she turns on the wiper. The kid gets pissed and he gives her the illest grill evil eye look. And then he walks to the front of the car and hits the hood with his brush thing. When the light changes we hear another bang on the trunk from the lil kid with a look of thug walks away like a "matataaan"... I guess not that eventful but the shopping...
Monday, February 21st, 2005
That is at Colon's house... I have gone to DR mad times and havent stepped foot on that... It was cool.
That is where they have the tombs of the Patriots of the country, people who wrote the national anthem and what not... I look horrible in that pic.. ya see my belly.. hahaaa... i obviously have not gone to the gym this year.... HAHA
MALECON ... love it
BOCA CHICA... ten minutes before I headed to the airport... haha fui modelo para mi prima Sole! hehe... see all the white people tourists getting naked and wat not...yea dominicans think it's winter. We aint about that... I was sad to see 12 year old girls that walk around resorts as prostitutes... a damn shame...
Johnny Ventura!!! Yea I freaked out when I saw him! I went to the restaurant thing there and I see a moreno in a wheel chair. I go by him, my mouth widens and I am like that is Johnny.. I was with my coz Cecilia and she goes to check if he is JOhnny by checking all the angles... haha.. she takes a pic of him on her camera phone. Then I go back to her mom all anxious and I got my camera from my bag. I plead to my cousin to come with me to talk to him. I go up to him...
Daisy - Senor, usted es Johnny Ventura?
Johnny - Si.
Daisy - Podria tirarle una foto?
Johnny - Si. (Johnny gets up from his wheelchair. I felt wicked bad)
Daisy - Disculpa, no lo queria molestar.
Johnny - No se preocupe. (He stands next to me. PICTURE TIME)
Daisy - (He walks back to his seat) Gracias, me encanta su musica, y mi papa tiene todos sus discos! (I sounded like a hyperactive child and giddy. He sits down... and my vacation obviously was freakin worth it!!!!!)