Santo Domingo…Umi and Icons…

December 3,2025

It was surprisingly cool(ish) when we stepped out on the balcony…Weather channel reported 74 degrees. That’s not how we remembered the temperature from our last visit two years ago.

At 10:00 am we watched the crew participate in the mandatory weekly training drill. We stayed on the balcony till about 11:30…lazybugs that we are, then lunch in Marketplace…

So 10 points to anyone who knows who this fellow behind the Ray Ban’s might be.

After lunch…iced cappuccinos and something sweet in the Bistro.

Then I hit the gym for the first time since we left NY…playing Mah Jong helps with the treadmill monotony.

If you are wondering why there’s two pics of my treadmill…it’s because I was forced to move after 10 minutes. There was a guy on the bike behind me…coughing, loudly blowing his nose, clearing phlegm…NON STOP…clearly sick. The worst part? He was blowing his nose into the TOWEL – over and over – provided by the gym. I mean he was blowing that nose – over and over…and over! Pity the poor attendant (and laundry person) who had to handle that towel. Seriously…what the heck is wrong with people?

…anyway, I spent the rest of the afternoon reading (The View From Lake Como- wonderful book) on the balcony…and enjoyed a magnificent sunset. Tim was napping but I had to wake him for nature’s show.