I am now in the US for the first time in 10 years. Barbara and I arrived last night. We flew American Eagle to San Juan, then AA to Chicago.
Among the new experiences we will have was our first with the airport screening process. I set off the alarm in the Puerto Plata airport due to a belt buckle and a plate in the jaw to connect a fractured jaw. Barbara waltzed through the screen in POP, but got nailed in San Juan. It was her new hip that set off the alarm. I took off my belt and shoes in SJ before going through the screen so had no trouble. Barbara can't easily remove her hip, so I suppose she will have trouble wherever we go.
Regarding the POP airport, I discovered the terminal has been changed significantly since I flew out of there in 1995. Huge area down below for last minute shopping, drinks and food, just like major airports in many places. But be aware if you eat lunch in the restaurant that they charge US$2.50 for a small bottle of water or Coke. Sandwich prices aren't too unreasonable, but $2.50 for water? I think our Dominican waiter was embarrased to tell me so when I questioned him about the bill.
My brother lives in an upscale neighborhood on the Chicago Gold Coast. Very quiet area, little crime to worry about. He said that as long as I stayed in the house and yard that I would be safe.
When I asked whether we could drink the water, he told me bottled water was available. I asked him what he drinks and he told me both. I suppose he has built up a resistence to the water here. So far I'm risking it by brushing my teeth with the local water, but drinking bottled water for the most part.
32 more days and I can return to Sosua.
PS: One thing I learned on the plane was that anybody can enjoy the inflight movie if they have their own earphones. I thought you had to pay, but they announced the movie was free, it is just the earphones they sell to those who don't have their own. On the way out of the plane, I picked up the ear phones left behind by a first-class passenger, so now I will be able to plug in during the rest of our trip.
Among the new experiences we will have was our first with the airport screening process. I set off the alarm in the Puerto Plata airport due to a belt buckle and a plate in the jaw to connect a fractured jaw. Barbara waltzed through the screen in POP, but got nailed in San Juan. It was her new hip that set off the alarm. I took off my belt and shoes in SJ before going through the screen so had no trouble. Barbara can't easily remove her hip, so I suppose she will have trouble wherever we go.
Regarding the POP airport, I discovered the terminal has been changed significantly since I flew out of there in 1995. Huge area down below for last minute shopping, drinks and food, just like major airports in many places. But be aware if you eat lunch in the restaurant that they charge US$2.50 for a small bottle of water or Coke. Sandwich prices aren't too unreasonable, but $2.50 for water? I think our Dominican waiter was embarrased to tell me so when I questioned him about the bill.
My brother lives in an upscale neighborhood on the Chicago Gold Coast. Very quiet area, little crime to worry about. He said that as long as I stayed in the house and yard that I would be safe.
When I asked whether we could drink the water, he told me bottled water was available. I asked him what he drinks and he told me both. I suppose he has built up a resistence to the water here. So far I'm risking it by brushing my teeth with the local water, but drinking bottled water for the most part.
32 more days and I can return to Sosua.
PS: One thing I learned on the plane was that anybody can enjoy the inflight movie if they have their own earphones. I thought you had to pay, but they announced the movie was free, it is just the earphones they sell to those who don't have their own. On the way out of the plane, I picked up the ear phones left behind by a first-class passenger, so now I will be able to plug in during the rest of our trip.
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