halfway there...

I'm now *officially* on my way home... in the airport in Santo Domingo, past security, thru customs, and headed home.

Last night we all had dinner with the SODOPRECA gang on the malecone - it was Dominican Carnaval, so we were surprised with a firework show after dinner. I was more excited about the hot shower I had at the hotel post-airport, but feel like my soul washed down the drain with the Haitian dirt. I didn't watch TV or listen to radio in Haiti (just MP's greatest hits of the 80's over and over and over again) so I was out of the loop on current events. I didn't know about Chile. I couldn't (still can't) believe it. The planet is trying to shake us off like fleas. I sent an email to some Ecuador and Argentina friends - the news said the 8.8 mag earthquake was felt all the way across the continent in Buenos Aires. I hope everyone is OK, so far it seems like Chile got the worst of it.

Coming off the plane in DR, we were all coming from Haiti - it was strange, no one talked, no one smiled, no one moved. We just sort of slumped down in the plane seats and breathed a collective sigh of relief. Our passports weren't stamped going into or coming out of Haiti, so according to my passport, I was officially M.I.A. from February 21 till February 27th. There was also no talking, no smiling in the airport. The guy who stamped my passport smiled at me and said "Gracias por su servicio" (Thank you for your service) - that was nice and made me smile :)

Today most of our group left in the morning - JG and I hung out at EF's family's house, ate lunch, chilled out, and killed time before the airport. There was a dog at the hair salon/house down the block that had a skin issue of sorts. JG and I gave the dog an ivermectin injection and some vitamin B, then the ladies "repaid" us with a little beauty salon treatment - eyebrows and hair styles. Note the before and after pictures:




There is a delay of some sort at the airport (something about snow in NYC?? Jezus, seriously??) and there are about 7 screaming children in the waiting area for our flight. I just want to get home. This is one vacation I need a vacation from.

"Rosario or Bust"

I love the Argentinean gas stations/rest stops – they are like little mini-malls in the middle of nowhere. Some bathrooms are cleaner than others, but many are surprisingly cleaner than those in the States. For a peso (about $0.27), the gas pump guys will scrub the dead bugs off the windshield, and you can have café and pastries inside, at the Argentinean version of Starbucks. There are usually a few fat lazy dogs sleeping outside the store, and occasionally they lift their heads when you step over them.


After lunch in B.A., we are off for a weekend trip to Cordoba. Our first stop is Rosario – the half way point between B.A. and Cordoba. Tonight, we’ll meet up with friends for dinner (probably at 1:00am... when I'm more tired than hungry!)

Bienviendos a Las Nenas

Since arriving in Buenos Aires late at night, I didn’t see much of the farm in the dark. I had a brief tour of the farm house, but with limited lighting. The farm house is BEAUTIFUL! After a much-needed night of sleep, I woke up to an AWESOME surprise and tour of Las Nenas. The street dog pack followed us around the farm as I saw all of the horses and fields. Two females are pregnant and will probably give birth the day after I leave, but they are beautiful and I’m sure their babies will be too. I was able to pet two horses (a young filly and a young stallion) that haven’t yet been broken or ridden. I’m sure they will make awesome polo ponies, since they seem to be inherently attracted to people (and dogs – the dogs follow the horses around too)



Later that afternoon we took a few of the polo ponies out to the field to run around. Of course, I was stuck on the poor lame pony, who was only supposed to walk around and “walk it off” – they were at the farrier for new shoes that week and apparently her shoes were taking a minute to break in. Once she saw the other ponies running through the polo exercises, her desire to run was greater than the ache in her foot, and she took off! It’s been a minute since I cantered or galloped on a horse, so I flopped around for a few minutes, with everyone screaming instructions at me from the other side of the field. Soon enough, I was galloping along, chasing the ball around the field with the other ponies! The little unbroken filly came to the polo field fence, ears perked forward and intently watching us. Maybe next year she’ll be broken and playing polo too!


That night I went into downtown Buenos Aires (also known as B.A.) to have dinner with friends of friends and tour the city. Again, up until the wee hours of the morning – they party hard in B.A.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step….

.... but a journey of 11,066 miles begins with a long-ass, red-eye fight to Panama City! After almost 24 hours of traveling, I arrived in Buenos Aires and my Argentinean adventure begins!


Tonight I enjoyed the summer breeze (yes, it’s summer here!!) at a café in downtown Lobos. People in their cars cruised on the dirt roads (again and again – apparently “cruising” is a pretty popular past-time), kids rode by on bicycles (everyone stays up very late in Argentina – kids included) and dogs lay on the sidewalk, waiting for someone to toss them a snack (I’m always impressed when I see fat, lazy street dogs, and these perros were fatter than my dog!)


About 10 minutes outside of town, off a dirt road, was my friends’ farm – Las Nenas (the Little Fillies). When I got out of the car, I was greeted by an army of dogs – 16 to be specific. My friends have a tendency to take the “worst case” pups off the streets and give them a safe haven at Las Nenas. I am also impressed when I meet street dogs (even reformed street dogs) who are better behaved than most of the dogs I know in the States.