Drunks Bounce...

Yep, you heard me. Drunks Bounce.

That is what Amy said to me after a very bizzare incident this afternoon.

I was sitting on our balcony as Amy snoozed (siesta time and all that) when I heard this very loud, weird "thump". This was followed by what sounded like a very large kitten mewing, and then crying. Up I jumped to see just what the *** was going on, and there on the grass lay a mostly naked blonde woman in a position that any would have made any contortiionist proud. As this apparation tried to flop around and straighten her legs from under her I deduced that this woman had fallen or jumped from her second story balcony and shouted for Amy, who came running. Taking the situation in at a glance she made a beeline down to the woman just as a passer-by reached her and tried to help her up.

Amy did the first responder nurse thing, and it became apparent that this woman was completely blasted. People came running with towels to cover her, and Amy did her best to communicate... Apparent boyfriend stuck his head out from the balcony and asked what happened, and to his credit went running down. He was followed quickly by an older adult who identified himself as being a Coast Guard. Amy ceeded the field to him, mostly because nobody was taking her seriously... she looks so young that few people take her seriously at first.

Along came a smal transport vehicle, and this woman was more or less dragged over and slung into the back... off they went, no doctor, no neck brace, no backboard. When I asked Amy she said that the woman was lucid, could move all her extremities and would most likely wake up tomorrow in pain and with a hangover. And mom, don't worry... drunks bounce.

Bizzare.

Other than that we have enjoyed a very low key relaxed time. Some overcast and showers today along with the sunshine. The surf was large and lovely, and we had massages by the water this afternoon.

I continue to look at options for February, although nothing is confirmed as far as changed dates or final destinations. Travel Linda style it seems.

Thank goodness Toronto and -30 is still 4 days away.

Maybe tomorrow we'll go into town. We'll see.

Hola!

Canadian Tourist Mecca… The All Inclusive Resort. A sea of people gathered in the main lobby area, conveniently located next to the entertainment hall, main pool and bar. Definitely not a non smoking environment. Free wireless. Yay.

Getting here was the standard snowbird journey… We left Toronto mid-afternoon during a cold weather alert, -20 something, and had a smooth transition into the flying sardine can. Customs was quick, located the tour operators representative and were pointed to bus #25 to take us to the Bahia Principe San Juan in Puerto Plata. Caribbean efficiency ensued, and after requisite confusion our minibus had us on our way. I broke my own rule when booking this trip, the one about the resort needing to be next to an airport. So a long and crazy drive later we pulled into the resort about midnight.

A small midnight snack of fresh fruit was much appreciated by this point, and having been pre-checked in, and with key in hand, we called it a day and went to find our room.

Those of you that have had the dubious privilege of having me navigate will not be surprised that finding our room in what is a maze of two story blocks of rooms proved a wee challenge. Many circles later we found said room, a nice enough set up with a king sized bed, which we promptly fell into. I think Amy was relieved at the size if the bed. She has declared me a bed hog, having occasion to poke and push me away during our most recent “sleep over”.

Morning brought sunlight, blue skies and a buffet breakfast. We attended the required “orientation” performance and then went back to our room for a nap. Buffet lunch, wander up and down a lovely sandy beach, settle into chairs to read, get a drink from the bar and chill until the sky starts clouding. Shower. Beachfront sunset through the clouds. Buffet Dinner. And Amy is down for the count.

So here I sit in this lovely lobby, with its stone floors, high white wooden beamed ceiling, lattice work and rattan furniture. This is so not my usual form of travel. It will be a nice enough interlude, and we are looking forward to beach time and massages. Maybe we’ll go to town. Or not. Adventure travel will have to wait a week while we play.

Hey, by the way, the Spanish spoken here is way different than I am used to… faster and less enunciated. Oh well.

I am on my way to peek at the “entertainment. I here YMCA blaring through the speakers somewhere!

Buenos Noches,

Leaving most of my gear behind I abandoned Amy's downtown pad for the Suburbs a couple of days ago, but today was pack for the Dominican Republic day. So I took a drive into the big, bad city this morning. It became obvious to me that I had chosen the wrong route when, after hitting every red light on the way to the "expressway", said expressway was backed up for more than half it's distance. Would have been faster to take the slow route. Amy and I got all our clothes into one suitcase and a couple of carry-ons. Bathing suits and sun tan lotion. OK, so we'll take our tooth brushes too.

Inane snippets: Black cars don't look so pretty in the winter. Snow banks are slippery. No BC wines in the liquor store. Instant coffee is not my favorite. Telus service is as bad in Ontario as in BC. It IS possible for Amy and I to "do" one of Toronto's biggest malls without buying anything. Judging by the sheer number of cars shaking from over juiced "bass" speakers, there will be a LOT of deaf 30 somethings in this city. I still love my Saturday Toronto Star newspaper. Don't handle change as smoothly as I used to.

I have had occasion recently to ponder how it seems possible for people to change. Just before coming here I had a conversation with a friend during which I expressed doubt about this. Seems I might have been wrong. I have been wrong before. If so it will have been worth the bone chilling Ontario winds and -30 degree temps.

Lots to think about, but not ready to write yet. Bring on the Sun and maybe the words will come.

Tomorrow we voluntarily insert ourselves into the sardine can known as a charter flight, and hope the bar is still open when we get there. :)

Hasta Luego!

Wednesday was recovery day... slept late, puttered till late afternoon and then headed north of the city to start the friend circuit. Traffic seems way easier, which is probably a nice side effect of there being so many people out of work here. The recession obviously continues to hit Toronto hard. Boarded up storefronts, and noticeably fewer shopping mall patrons.

Sale signs abound.

Have managed to have great visits with good friends, and am spending a couple of nights sleeping in Richmond hill, the area with the greatest concentration of said friends. Have not managed to connect with my Aunt yet, but tomorrow will bring another try,

It will also bring a visit to the art gallary, and then packing for a much anticipated week in the Dominican Republic with my Amy. Bring on the cocktails and mother/daughter bonding time.

Sun, surf, dancing and stargazing are some of the planned activities. AND I brought a bathing suit with me this trip! Meant to be.

It is snowing tonight, and the roads are scary... slip-sliding, can't stop kind of scary. Cold is eating away at me. Will do a serious departure day rethink.... Must head south ASAP. I bow in appreciation to the maker of the high efficiency forced air gas furnace.

Hope all is going well at home

Another day...

And here I am at the Vancouver Airport, early enough to watch the earlier flight to Toronto take off. No biggie, gives me time to think and type. Not necessarily in that order.

Ever sit and really wonder at the ability to travel? It has me thinking about what a small world it has become. Calgary in an hour? Toronto in an afternoon? The Middle east in half a day? I have never had to consider a life that didn’t allow me to have a life in two different places. Let the arguments begin about whether this is in fact a good thing.

I did pause at the entrance to the spa and consider a “chair massage”, seeing as I have tension sitting heavily between my shoulders this morning. Way too much on my mind. Still have no firm plans over the next few weeks, and a flight to Lima Feb. 9^th, which I hope to change. From Lima, I just don’t know. I thought I had it all planned out in my mind, but once again there is a bug in my ear saying “why don’t you just wander for a while”.

I had every little bit of my stuff gone through at the security gate here in Vancouver. Literally emptied and investigated it all, so it is a good thing I didn’t have a really tight connection.

Ginger Ale and fries (or something) for lunch I think, and then dinner tonight with Amy.

Tomorrow will take care of itself.