Bookcrossing

Something funny happened on the way to school - twice!
I usually stop for espresso on the way to class. Last week, I noticed a book sitting pretty next to the sugar containers. The post-it on the cover said, "Free book looking for a new home." I was not about to abandon the orphan! The book had a sticker with the bookcrossing identification number on the first page.

Now, this was not a new concept for me. I heard about the it a while back, but I never released or caught a book until last week. This is an anonymous book swap. People register here. Then they leave the books in public places for others to find and enjoy.

The book I caught was Reginald Hill's "Death comes for the fat man". It is not somethign i would have normally chosen for myself and this makes it even more interesting.

Wait ... there is more!

Yesterday, I was passing by the same spot on my way to class when I noticed a gentleman fixing his coffee and peaking on the side to somehting that looked like ... a book! He did not picked it up. I of course did. Both books have been released by the same person. This time I caught John Saul's "The presence".

Cool...

Food, flowers, fruit

Vacationing can be dangerous. One can come home expecting to be pampered the same way. Even worse, one might be still be dreaming about the cornucopia of desserts...

... the flowers ...

..and the fruit.

Trapeze

I was glad to see that the hotel had a trapeze! I wanted to try that for a few years, but I never had a chance. First day there, I showed up valiantly to check the place...32 feet high the platform!!! Hmmm this certainly sounds exciting, but maybe tomorrow,I am still jetlagged (that is a lie btw there is no time difference between Canada and DR). The next day it was just a tad too humid and I was lighheaded. The day after I had a mild case of Montezuma revenge, so hanging upside down was out of question. "La bomba" fixed my stomach, but by now it was the end of the first week and I was just plain lazy.

However, I tauted to whoever cared to listen (or not...) that I will be the next Cirque du Soleil star in DR and I needed proof. One day, I sheepishly approached the trapeze hut and got fitted with the security belt, all the while thinking that I must have lost my mind. I have seen others trying the trapeze all right, but most of them were 10 years old! And of course, once on the platform I did not want to let go. What if the guy cannot hold me? What if ....but I did not hace a choice if I wanted to come down from there.

It was fun and safe. Nothing to be afraid of, as it turned out. I thought about going back, but I did not. After all I have tried it and that was what mattered.

Punta Cana

The mid term exams are over and I am getting back to normal. I picked up Spanigh - again! - as I prepare for the placement test in December. I want to take language classes in January and I am hoping to place at least in Spanish II.

I downloaded thep ics from Punta Cana and I will be posting some here.
I stayed at the Barcelo Punta Cana, one of the few Barcelos on Bavaro Beach. This one is the farthest away from the airport, about 25 min bus ride. It is the biggest hotel I have ever stayed at, with 750 rooms. The open architecture, spanish style, is nice and not too kitsch. Some of the newer hotels try to hard I find and the result can be painful to watch, at least for me. The hotel has one the largest beaches and it is built parallel to the beaches, so no matter where one has the room, the beach is only few feet away. I heard that the newer hotels were built perpendicular to the beach and I suppose in high season it can be challanging to enjoy the crowded strip of sand. As for me, I will always go in low season. The weather was great and the service, excellent. The beach was empty as most people congregated by the pools. I don't like pools. I don't see the point of travelling so far only to see concrete and smell chlorine. Plenty of choices at the buffet, 6 a-la-carte restaurants. Can't imagine having to take turns for the buffet or for my sacred after meal cappucino. I'd like to go back next year, but I'll have to wait and see what happen to my other plans of course.

Oftern, a tiny bird will find its place in a flower arrangement next to the reception desk and sing at its own reflection in the mirror. Beautiful, strong song coming from such a small bird. On the beach I often saw a group of tiny birdies walking fast on their tiny legs and as the bus drove in fromnt of the hotel, we were greeting by the resident geese.

Punta Cana

Coming back ... slowly...Not my fault! I had mid-term exams! 'nough said ...

I stayed at the Barcelo Punta Cana. I had a nice room in the renovated part of the hotel. The beach was great and almost empty as most people congregated by the pools. I don't like pools. I don't see the point of travelling so far only to see concrete and smell chlorine. Plenty of choices at the buffet, 6 a-la-carte restaurants