Dominican Republic. Day 10: Cemetery and Conde

1Cemeterio Nacional de la Avenida de Indepencia, that’s where we headed to begin our day. Not because we were there to visit anyone in specific but because it’s Dominican Republic’s first official cemetery founded in 1824.2I decided to edit this picture two different ways. One was to show life after death, while the other is meant to just show death. Can you tell which one is meant to be which?3When we walked in there was a bout 4 women, all speaking to tombstones, smoking cigars and chanting. My cousin tells me, that’s where santeria/brujeria comes into play. These women come and prey on the dead to ask/beg/trade  for higher blessings and selfish gifts.4 5After the cemetery we headed to El Conde where there’s a whole bunch of little shops.

I have been urging for some ice cream from Helados Bon ever since I got here, and I finally got to get my hands on some. Yenny got a vanilla milkshake, my cousin Franklin got a chocolate milk and I got a macadamian cone…. it was soooooo good!

And to add to the hype the cousins cups had Licey on the them. Licey is like their Yankees. And right now they are hot hot hot. They’ve won 3 games in a row right now and my cousin Cesar gets crazy hype blowing air horns whenever there’s a home run.

Enjoy these pics I’ll see you guys soon, the pool is waiting on me.
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Dominican Republic. Day 9: Pescado y Vino

1 2 4 5 646dfdffc5e53de36a4c80baba3c0eaa7Claudia and Hector, some of my cousin Yenny’s closest friends invited us over for dinner, Fish and Wine. And ooooooooh, how much I love wine… oh and fish too!

Peep how my glass has as straw due to my mouth being all messed up ( and the swelling seems to be going doing, even though you can still see it in pictures)

After chatting up a storm, laughing and making adult talk, I taught the kiddies how to play red light green light 1-2-3

it was too funny!

Until next time guys.

Dominican Republic. Day 9: Una Visita a mi Abuelo

1 25f6186a740e6f1c2d3745375fc51d63dMy abuelo (grandfather) was the sweetest man. I never had the chance of saying goodbye when he passed. My mother came to the island to pay her respects, but I remember myself being torn. I knew he was very sick, but reality didn’t hit me, especially since I was only twelve years young.3My mother’s aunt, who is also my abuela’s sister is burried here.

As well, as my abuela’s mother, father, brother and nephew.

See here in the Dominican Republic, the tombstones are like mini houses and depending what size you pay for, the more people live an after life in that house.4I had a lot of questions, this was my first time in an actual cemetery.

I even had the chance to bond with my grandmother while we small talked while we all cleaned up. I asked her about her boyfriend, and she looked at me with surprise.

My grandfather was her first and only boyfriend, her first and only love. I asked how they met, and she tells me he crushed first, he kept insisting they would be together and she would say no. She would lie and say she had a boyfriend, my grandfather being witty as he was, said well, when I see him, we’ll settle it then.

My grandmother laughed, because she knew that was never going to happen, since that boyfriend didn’t exist.

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Love stories are always interesting to me, but knowing houw your family started and has become so much more, all because of a romance is amazing to me. Our family is so  big, my grandparents had 4 children, who have had 12 children, who have had 8 children and our family continues to grow.

It’s a beautiful thing.

He would be so proud.

Dominican Republic. Day 8: Domingo de Domino’s

1 2 3My face is still a  mess, and since I can’t really go out much, spending the day in with family is always great.

Domingo de Domino’s = Sunday of Dominoes

My camera has been collecting dust these last couple of days while I heal, even though I promised myself I would take pictures everyday, no matter what it was. So of course I grabbed a few shots of my family in their natural habitat, lol.

Laughing it up, playing, blasting music and drinking.

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Aaaaaaaaah, isn’t family great!?5The little cutie in red is Edward, he loves oranges as you can tell. That’s my cousin Yoca’s son. And the mean mugger in the trike is Frandy, my cousin Franklin’s son. Both full of different personality.

I can sit in this rocking chair and watch them play all day, they are hilarious and so damn smart!
6This right here is my ”Adam and Eve.”

My grandparent Lilia and Ernesto are the two most sweetest souls I have ever met. They look so beautiful and in love. Tomorrow I most definitely have to go pay a visit to my abuelo’s grave. I never really had the chance to say goodbye when he passed.

He always had a good game of dominoes in the backyard with his fellow mates, and a beer in hand, ready with witty remarks.

I think he would be proud of my grandmother. She’s the glue to it all. Mostly everyone in this house has grown and moved, had kids and have lives to live. But they all manage to be here everyday, spouses, kids, dogs and all.

Our family has gotten bigger and better in time.