Bad start to a trip with a fever of 102 and the shakes compounded by waking up at 04:30 for a 06:50 flight from Toronto to Sosua. The limo arrived 10 minutes early upsetting my rhythm and was not appreciated. The airport was hopping at 05:30 and most of the passengers had checked in so a shitty seat for me. The plane was a WorldWays ancient DC-8. Aside from its age it is a solid plane and I have taken it to and from Europe in the 1970s without any complaints. Had a screwdriver to start the morning and being a charter flight peanuts instead of smoked almonds. Breakfast was a cheese omelette and a bran muffin with pathetic coffee. Surrounded by suburbanites from WASP central Oakville excited about downing pina coladas. The airport in Sosua is small and the first thing you see is a burnt-out plane just off the runway. Super humid. Hopped on bus and at hotel in 10 minutes.
Hotel called Playa Chiquita and is 10 minutes from town. It is a low rise and right on the beach. It faces a Dominican general’s villa on a cliff facing the ocean. The room is simple and well air conditioned. A television with international stations. The hotel beach is small but sandy and beautiful warm water and is encircled by rocky cliffs. The entrance to the beach is protected by a guard with a Billy club. All the houses have metal bars on their windows and some have armed guards. You get that feeling this is a dangerous country.
To dinner in town. Taxi was $2 and the roads are atrocious and the diver constantly swerving to avoid potholes. Dinner was a seabass in a white wine sauce for $3.75.
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