(Above: The sunrise of 6/18/2024 seen from the Villa de las Sirenas in Cofresi, Dominican Republic.
El amanecer del 18/6/2024 visto desde la Villa de las Sirenas en Cofresi, República Dominicana.)
6/16/2024: Today began in the high 70s and warmed into the low 90s. Slightly less breeze today.
A photo taken by my father in the early morning of 6/16/2024 from the Mermaid Villa. Una foto tomada por mi padre en la madrugada del 16/6/2024 desde la Villa de las Sirenas. 
Some recommendations for eating and drinking in the Dominican Republic, given by Pedro from the Hotel Hodelpa Gran Almirante. Unas recomendaciones para comer y beber en la República Dominicana, dado por Pedro del Hotel Hodelpa Gran Almirante. 
A photo of me at noon on 6/16/2024. I was looking at the mountain. Una foto mía en el mediodía del 16/6/2024. Yo estaba mirando la montaña. 
Lunch for 6/16/2024: A plate of pork chops accompanied by a salad and a mixture of rice and red beans. El almuerzo del 16/6/2024: Un plato de chuletas de puerco acompañadas de una ensalada y una mezcla de arroz y frijoles rojos. 
This photo is a little late. It was actually taken on Saturday when I got the massage. It was the first massage of my life. I liked it quite a lot. Esta foto es un poco tarde. Realmente estaba tomada el sábado cuando recibí el masaje. Fue el primer masaje de mi vida. Me gustó bastante.
6/18/2024: Today began in the high 70s and warmed into the high 80s. Partly cloudy.
The early morning of 6/17/2024 from the second floor patio of the Villa de las Sirenas. La madrugada del 17/6/2024 desde el patio del segundo piso de la Villa de las Sirenas. 
A photo of the Mermaid Village from the pool where my family and I spent a lot of time during this vacation. Una foto de la Villa de las Sirenas desde la piscina donde mi familia y yo pasamos mucho tiempo durante estas vacaciones. 
This is the lunch we enjoyed at noon on 6/17/2024. It was cooked by Tonya from Villa de Las Sirenas and consisted of: pork ribs (seasoned with garlic, oregano, black pepper, salt, and barbecue sauce), salad, fried yucca, and cooked carrots. Este es el almuerzo que disfrutamos en el mediodía del 17/6/2024. Fue cocinada por Tonya de la Villa de Las Sirenas y consistía en: costillas de cerdo (sazonadas con ajo, orégano, pimienta negra, sal y salsa barbacoa), ensalada, yucca frita, y zanahorias cocinadas. 
We played this card game called Coup a lot during our vacation here. Jugamos mucho a este juego de cartas llamado Coup durante nuestras vacaciones aquí. 
Dinner: a baked fish, seasoned with peppers, onions, garlic and spices. The restaurant where I found this delicious meal did not have a name, but its location was next to the bar “Puro Trago”. La cena: un pescado al horno, sazonado con pimientos, cebolla, ajo y especias. El restaurante donde encontré esta rica comida no tenía un nombre, pero su ubicación era al lado del bar “Puro Trago”.
6/18/2024: Today began in the low 80s and warmed into the mid 90s. Partly cloudy morning. Rainy afternoon.
The sunrise of 6/18/2024 seen from the Villa de las Sirenas in Cofresi, Dominican Republic. El amanecer del 18/6/2024 visto desde la Villa de las Sirenas en Cofresi, República Dominicana. 
The early lunch on 6/18/2024 consisted of: Cubanos (a type of sandwich), fried cheese, sweet potato fries, and a fruit salad (pineapple, cantaloupe, and papaya). El temprano almuerzo del 18/6/2024 consistía en: Cubanos (un tipo de sándwich), queso frito, batata frita, y una ensalada de fruta (piña, cantalupo y papaya). 
A photo of the green landscape I saw during the trip from Cofresi to Santiago, Dominican Republic. Una foto del paisaje verde que ví durante el viaje desde Cofresi a Santiago, República Dominicana. 
Sunset on 6/18/2024 from our bedroom at Hodelpa Garden Court in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The afternoon had been stormy. La puesta del sol de 18/6/2024 desde nuestro dormitorio en Hodelpa Garden Court en Santiago, República Dominicana. La tarde había estado tormentosa. 
We ate at the restaurant in Hodelpa Garden Court called “El Valle”. One of our starters consisted of mozzarella cheese wrapped in eggplant. Comimos en el restaurante de Hodelpa Garden Court se llama “El Valle”. Uno de nuestras entradas consistía en queso mozzarella envuelto en berenjena. 
For my main dish, I had the sancocho. It consisted of a beef, chicken and pork broth. In that broth, there were several vegetables, including sweet potato, yuca, yautia and plantain. I enjoyed it quite a lot. Como plato fuerte, comí el sancocho. Consistía en un caldo de res, pollo y cerdo. En ese caldo, había varios vegetales, incluyendo batata, yuca, yautia y plátano. Me gustó bastante la comida. 
My brother’s desserts (cheesecake) and my mother’s (majarete, a type of Dominican corn pudding). Los postres de mi hermano (pastel de queso) y de mi madre (majarete).
6/19/2024: Today began in the low 80s (Dominican Republic) and warmed into the high 80s (U.S.)
The return home. Our day (6/20/2024) started at the Santa Domingo airport with the black rabbit dressed in a blue shirt and glasses. El regreso a casa. Nuestro día (20/6/2024) empecé en el aeropuerto de Santa Domingo con el conejo negro vestido de con camisa azul y lentes. 
While my brother’s flight was getting ready to leave, I started working on the blog for the day before. It was a nice place to work and drink a Diet Coke. Mientras el vuelo de mi hermano estaba preparando para salir, yo empecé a trabajar en el blog para el día anterior. Fue un buen lugar para trabajar y beber una Coca Dieta. 
The flights went very well and my parents and I arrived home at 1:45 p.m. A little later my father, uncle and I were helping a cow give birth. Los vuelos salieron muy bien y mis padres y yo llegamos a casa a las 1:45 de la tarde. Un poco después mi padre, tío y yo estábamos ayudando a una vaca a parir. 
Lunch: A platter of sushi and a bowl of miso soup from Sushi Bistro in Ocala. El almuerzo: Una bandeja de sushi y un tazón de sopa de miso de Sushi Bistro de Ocala. 
The southeasternmost field of the ranch on the afternoon of 6/19/2024 during pasture inspection. El campo más sureste del rancho en la tarde del 19/6/2024 durante la inspección de los pastos. 
For dinner, we enjoyed a pan-seared Wagyu steak accompanied by a green salad. Para la cena, disfrutamos de un bistec de Wagyu a la sartén acompañado de una ensalada verde. 
And for dessert? Of course, I had a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. ¿Y para el postre? Por supuesto, comí una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
6/20/2024: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the low 90s. Mostly sunny.
The dawn of 6/20/2024 in the southeasternmost field of the farm. El amanecer del 20/6/2024 en el campo más sureste del rancho. 
I lacked eggs today, so I made beef leftovers to top the salad that I ate at lunch. In spite of the beef being leftover, the salad really was delicious. Hoy me faltaban huevos así que yo hice sobras de res para cubrir la ensalada que comí en el almuerzo. A pesar de que la res era sobrante, la ensalada realmente estaba deliciosa. 
At least two green pepper plants began to fruit in the garden while we were in the Dominican Republic. Al menos dos plantas de pimiento verde empezaron a fructificar en el jardín mientras estábamos en la República Dominicana. 
Dinner consisted of a reverse-seared Belgian Blue burger-steak (roasted in the oven and then seared in the skillet). This was accompanied by a springmix & arugula salad and by a cup of homemade barbecue sauce for dipping. La cena consistía en un bistec de res molida de azul belga sellado al revés (asado en el horno y entonces sellado en la sartén). Esta res estaba acompañada de una ensalada de mezcla primavera y rúcula y un tazón de salsa barbacoa casera para mojar. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. The core felt to the left while I was taking the photo. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. El corazón cayó hacia la izquierda mientras yo tomaba la foto.
6/21/2024: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the low 90s. Slightly rainy afternoon.
Photo: Chubby cow #738 standing with her calf on the morning of 6/21/2024. Foto: La vaca gordita #738 de pie con su ternerita en la mañana del 21/6/2024. 
For lunch, I cooked round steak topped with a sautéed egg with a soft yolk. This was accompanied by a green salad made by Padre and dressed by Madre. Para el almuerzo, cociné bistéc de ronda cubierto con un huevo salteado con una jema blanda. Esta estaba acompañada de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre y aliñada por mi madre. 
The southeasternmost field of the ranch on the afternoon of 6/21/2024. El campo más sureste del rancho en la tarde del 21/6/2024. 
On vacation, I discovered that I really like freedom from my cell phone. I made this mat to put out of my reach. It has worked great so far. En las vacaciones, descubrí que me gusta mucho libertad de mi celular. Hice esta estera para poner fuera de mi alcance. Ha funcionado muy bien hasta ahora. 
Dinner: Pan-seared Belgian Blue Shoulder Steak accompanied by a colorful salad (topped with tomato and pecorino cheese) made by Padre. La cena: Bistec de hombro de azul belga a la sartén acompañado de una ensalada colorida (cubierta con tomate y queso pecorino) hecha por mi padre. 
Dessert: A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. El postre: Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
6/22/2024: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the high 90s.
Photo: Grimace and his mother on the morning of 6/22/2024. Foto: Grimace y su mamá en la mañana del 22/6/2024. 
Lunch: Some scrambled eggs with chiltepin, mozzarella, and fresh rosemary topped with a little bit of Cholula hot sauce and accompanied by a salad made by Padre and dressed by Madre. All of the food was delicious. El almuerzo: Unos huevos revueltos con chiltepín, mozzarella y romero fresco cubiertos con un poco de salsa picante Cholula y acompañados de una ensalada hecha por mi padre y aliñada por mi madre. Toda la comida estaba deliciosa. 
La Croix is a type of drink that a Master Blend customer gave me yesterday. It does not have sugar, sodium, or artificial sweeteners. It only contains carbonated wáter and a Little bit of grapefruit juice (called ‘pamplemousse’ in French). I liked it. La Croix es un tipo de bebida que un cliente de Master Blend me dio ayer. No tiene azúcar, sodio o edulcorantes artificiales. Solo contiene agua con gas y un poco de jugo de toronja (se llama ‘pamplemousse’ en francés). Me gustó. 
A photo of the heifer called Tigra. She is a hybrid between the cow breeds Santa Gertrudis and Gaur (Indian Bison). Una foto de la vaquilla llamada Tigra. Ella es un híbrido entre las razas de vacas Santa Gertrudis y Gaur (bisonte indio). 
The field to the east of Jacobhouse on the cloudy afternoon of 6/22/2024. El campo al este de mi casita en la tarde nublada del 22/6/2024. 
Dinner: A Wagyu sirloin tip steak encrusted with coffee & salt, seared over high heat in a skillet. This was accompanied by a salad made by Padre and half a baked potato filled with sour cream. La cena: Un bistec de ronda de Wagyu incrustado con café y sal, sellado a fuego alto en una sartén. Este estaba acompañado de una ensalada hecha por mi padre y una mitad de una papa asada rellena con crema ácida. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
Final Note: I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It was excellent to get together with my brother, to have everyone spend time in the pool with each other, and to experience a land very different from home. On returning, I’ve had to contend with a battalion of ants in my bed, a cold, and internet that does not work. However, even if I knew I’d have to do all of those things again (and more), I’d be ready to depart on another adventure within the week.
This week, I leave off with one of the quotes that will be used as part of the epigraph for the final Lani Chapter of Book 2:
“Yes, yes. I know they’re supposed to serve some form of purpose, but when you’ve got one of ’em caught in your eye, logic’s tossed straight out the window. Right now, for instance. All I know is that it’s there. Bottom left lid. I’ve got to get it out, but I—I bloody can’t. Gotta wait for it. Gotta wait for the tears to flush the damned thing out. Bloody useless as guilt.”
“Come now, don’t be so hard on the wee hair.”
“Believe me, if I could live without eyelashes or without guilt, I’d choose the bloody hairs.”
“You surprise me, Spaid… that is, unless you’ve already tossed the latt—”
“How the feck else could I’ve come to lead this place? Now, hells, that stings. Hells. That’s it. That is it. Hand me the pincers. Princess? Hand me the feckin’ pincers.”
– Conversation between High Alchemist Lennard Spaid and Princess Rhowena Plompaytis
Incredible week, I’d too head back today. Your writing never ceases to make me smile and/or laugh out loud, surely appreciate your sharing.
Tigra 🐅 🐮🐄 It reminds me of the fur of Mom’s now deceased best friend; La Croix and Coca-Cola and coffee are competing on your palate.
We love you. I know you asked about us last night, today I ate caramel bananas, but my husband / husband / my master, Monty, only sees my tail…
Te queremos