We had a long weekend, so we went away for just one night, but it felt like longer. We drove to Bani, a town about 1 1/2 hours away. Its a cute, but quiet town with some beaches, sand dunes, and almost desert like areas, very different from other beachy areas I have been to. I didn't get any pics of the cacti, but there were whole stretches filled with them- really cool! The trees and mountains were amazingly beautiful. We stayed at what my travel books called a "shabby" hotel but it was fine, especially since Raul had the foresight to bring our own sheets. :) We had an awesome dinner, a fun night out at a local bar with crazy kareoke kids, and too many tequila shots...Then, on the way home we stopped off at a beach on the way. Awesome weekend away- our first since I moved here!

Bani and Pelenque beaches

Walking around the town of Bani- if anyone knows Oscar Wao, its where his mom grew up

Bani, Salt pads and mountains

Raul and I doing our 1st 5K race together!

It was put on by the American Embassy "Green Team" and was promoting recycling here in DR (which there is very little of...) Raul finished strong and I...won 3rd place for the women! Obviously there weren't so many women runners, if I was able to come in 3rd, but it still felt really great. In the many races I have done, I have never even come close since usually professionals compete. So it was cool!

The kids!