Tribute: Cochie

Yesterday morning my dog of 9 years, Cochie passed away. She was 14 years old. She had grown quite sick the past couple months with struggled breathing, hard coughing, and bloody nose-runs. Things got even worse when she got into a fight with my brother's dogs and got bit in the face. This lead to a pretty bad infection in which I had to take her to the vet about a month ago. Cochie has always been quite the anxious dog, and never did well at the vet. So like usual they had to sedate her, just to give her some proper care. But the sedation really took a toll on her. I almost thought she might die from the sedation, but she eventually regained her strength after a couple days. However she was not herself after that sedation and completely lost her appetite. It was a struggle to give her the pain/penicillin meds since she just wouldn't eat much. 

During the 1st week of October we went on a family vacation to Punta Cana and I got my aunt and niece to watch over her. One of those days she had a pretty bad blood discharge from her nose. My understanding is she did okay but still her appetite was at a minimal. When I saw her after that week vacation I was shocked at how much weight she had lost. She no longer wanted to eat her canned food or leftovers. I was able to get her to nibble on some chicken skin and broth, but just not much. I think by that point I had finally accepted that Cochie was dying. The kids came that weekend and I think this brought her some new life and energy. But it was short-lived and a few days later she was back to her very fragile state. I was afraid it was only a matter of time until I would find her dead on the floor. 

Last weekend I was planning to go to Fort Wayne for my grandmother's 80th birthday. However on Friday I let Cochie outside and she laid on the ground for a bit and then simply could not get up again. I had to carry her inside. After this she struggled for some time to stand up and simply could not which lead to some very heavy breathing. I feared that I could not take her to Fort Wayne in this state and did not want to leave her alone, so decided to stay home with her last weekend. I'm glad I made this decision since it was her last couple days. 

On Sunday evening she somehow managed to walk down to the basement, but could not get back up after that. So I had to carry her upstairs again. After this she struggled for some time to try to stand up. This was the hardest part to watch her struggling with this reality. That she could no longer stand up. This lead to over exertion which led to some heavy breathing. She would also bark and let out some loud cries. Not sure if it was physical pain or more emotional pain. Maybe both. I stayed closed to her that evening and gave her as much pets and attentions as I could before going to bed. I had a good feeling she would die overnight. And sure enough Monday morning there she was, stiff as a rock. Was such a shock to see her in that state. It was sad, but also brought me peace that she was now in peace. 

Look Back at Cochie's Life

Philip and Shawnna got Cochie as a pup and named her "Cochina" which is Spanish for pig (since she was eating like a pig). She was a black dog, part lab, part German Shepard, and definetely seemed to have some wild in her. I quickly liked Cochie the first time I saw her, for her athletic/wolf-like appearance. We had a Germán Shepard (Loba) as kids, and ever since I have been more partial towards the wolf breed dogs. She was extremely energetic and fast as a young pup and I remember seeing her several times leap over my parent's fence at Kekionga. 

I remember our first time together, I took her camping with me in 2010 with my friends EJ, Laura, and Daniella. She was only a pup, not even a year old, and this was our first adventure together. She sat in the backseat as we drove to Van Buren, Michigan. I remember at one point at a gas station she broke free of her leash and I was so afraid she would run off, but she did not. We had a great time camping and she did such a great job and was a hit with my friends as well as the fellow campers in the area. After this experience I dogsat Cochie several more times at my apartment at River Road from 2011-2012 (which was pet friendly).  

Cochie always had a bit of a wild side which brought out her anxious side (especially around kids and little girls). Not sure if it was fear, jealousy, insecurity, protection, or flat-out dislike but she had several instances of biting some of the kids at our family gatherings. It was in the summer of 2014, when I had just bought my new condo, that Philip and Shawnna asked me if I would become Cochie's new owner. Since I didn't have any children, and was quite fond of dogs and Cochie, I gladly took on the new responsibility. Being a dog-owner was something I had been thinking of for some time, and it was even better that it was a dog that I was already quite familiar with (and who was already trained). 

Those first couple years when Cochie joined me at my condo was a very new and exciting time in my life. I had a new job with Dow Agro, a new house, and now a new companion to take care of. I was a much better pet owner at that time. I took her on frequent runs at Eagle Creek Park and would often buy her toys and snacks. I took her to social gatherings with my college friends. I got her a nice bed for downstairs in the living room, and upstairs in my bedroom. She loved my wooded backyard and whenever I built a fire indoors. I even took her to the vet frequently to get her shots and give her medicine. I remember there were problems of course early on, especially with my blinds. She would tear them down while I was at work which was quite frustrating. I later changed the blinds and put some furniture next to the windows so she couldn't jump up there and knock them down when strangers were outside. 

In 2017 Cochie got a new roommate when I got a new cat from Philip and Shawnna, Mugsy. This was the first cat I ever had and wasn't sure what to expect since we never had one as kids. I tried to give them equal attention, and believe they got along fine for the most part. During the day Cochie now had someone to hang out with while I was at work. Sometimes it seemed like Mugsy would bully Cochie, but I think it was all just good playful fun. Life went on pretty uneventful with these two for some time. At some point I changed the food routine to giving her half a can of wet food mixed with dry food (use to just be always dry food). I also remember at some point when I was dog-sitting Lady, the two of them went on a morning adventure. I was almost an hour late for work as I drove all around the neighborhood trying to find them. I remember my neighbor Jennifer helped me finally locate them. 

I won't lie I began to grow quite frustrated with Cochie's anxious behavior especially at big family gatherings. She continued to nibble at the kids if they got too close, which made them feel afraid and made me feel guilty when any of them were bitten. It got extremely difficult to take her to the vet, even after putting her on anxiety meds, she just wouldn't let these doctors near her to give those shots. I remember in the summer of 2020 while working on Philip's barn, she bit the babysitter pretty badly in the calf. Cochie always had such a motherly instinct and was protecting the chicken, but still made the poor girl bleed. I was afraid I might get a fine or even worse, but luckily the girls' parents did not press any charges. 

In the summer of 2021 I had some good quality time with Cochie when I took her camping to Brown County State Park. I pitched a tent, did some reading, made a campfire, cooked some steak, and went hiking. I planned a good 3 mile hike with Cochie, but it was so extremely hot that afternoon we hardly made it half-mile before Cochie had enough. I remember walking around with her and some young girl asked to pet her, and she did such a good job at not reacting. I told myself I wanted to camp more frequently but just never got it since then. I remember she got a little sick after returning, maybe from the steak I gave her or something else. She always had such a good appetite and would eat about anything in the leftover department. She loved cheese, meat, and bones. 

I think it was a couple years ago she gave me quite a scare when she ran off. I remember I had gotten home from work, and must have had quite a bad day, and there was poop on the floor, and naturally I yelled at her. I sent her outside and then after some time noticed she had gone missing. I spent the entire evening looking for her, walking and driving around the neighborhood. I even put up online ads that she had gone missing. I think later that night I did find her nearby hiding by a tree. She had run off for a little bit, but had returned. I was so happy she was back and made sure not to get too angry at her again. Sometimes I think Cochie didn't really like me as much as my parents, but I know she was always grateful for me. I was certainly always grateful for her companionship. Even on the rare days where she was gone, it felt so different and empty in the house. 

Perhaps the biggest change for Cochie (aside from moving in with me in 2014) was moving into my new house in Zionsville a year ago. I settled on a house with a fenced-in backyard mostly so Cochie would have space to run and explore the outdoors. I had grown tired of the regulations at my condo, especially when a neighbor filed a complain because Cochie was in her yard. Now in my new house Cochie had plenty of space to roam and explore freely. Naturally it took her a few days to get use to the routine, but soon she established her new habits of where to sleep, rest, and eat. She made friends with the next door dog and would love to sit out by the fence and watch for him. 

I like to think she got at least 7 or 8 good months here at my new place until her condition began to worsen. Her reaction time and energy had certainly taken a dip the past year. She had also begun to lose her hearing, and I would have to clap to get her attention when outside. The coughing, breathing, and bloody-nose runs probably began in the early summer and continued to grow worse. Even then however I didn't think it would be near the end for Cochie, and still thought she had a couple more years in her. She was always such a tough dog, a true survivor. But I think the bite and the sedation really expedited her worsening condition. The average lifespan for dogs is 10-13, and I'm glad to know she made it to 14. She lived a pretty long life and I don't think she was really ever in true pain. I sometimes wish I could have done more to make her happier, but I cared for her, and fed her, and gave her shelter for nearly 10 years and I think that benefited both her and myself. She was a good dog, her life was a part of my life, and she will never be forgotten.  

Book Review: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, The Alchemyst

During my Harry Potter phase I decided I wanted to read an easy book pertaining to magical fantasy. After much research I stumbled upon this 6-part series written by Michael Scott. The first book in the series, The Alchemyst was written and published in 2007. I really wasn't sure what to expect but can surprisingly say I really enjoyed it. The book was very easy to read a true page turner, easy to follow and comprehend. But what I must enjoyed about the story was the historical and mythological references. During my reading I would quite often set the book down to look up a topic discussed in the book. I love a good story, but I love it even more when I can learn some real history or culture within it. 

The Plot

The story is set in present day San Francisco where two 15 year old twins, Joshua and Sophie Newman are both at work for the day. Joshua works at a book store, while Sophie works across the street at a coffee shop. They suddenly witness a mysterious man enter the bookstore and begin to attack it's owner in search of an ancient book. We later discover this mysterious man is the English alchemist John Dee, who served for Queen Elizabeth during the 1500s. We also discover that the owner of the bookstore is the immortal Nicholas Flamel, a French alchemist who lived during the 1300s. And his wife, Perenelle Flamel owns the coffee shop. A magic battle ensues in which John and his monstrous golem thugs capture Perenelle and walk off with the ancient Book of Abramelin the Mage. However John Dee is unaware that Joshua has ripped out that back two pages which are essential parts of the codex. 

Nicholas Flamel reveals all the details of his existence to the twins and warns them they are in danger, once John Dee discovers the pages are missing. They visit an old friend of Flamel, who happens to be an Irish mythological warrior, Scathach, who takes the form of a younger woman. Scathach explains that she is an elder, a second generation from the age of gods. They also believe the twins have powerful magic within them and are key to an ancient prophecy. Their meeting is cut short however when they are attacked by Dee's ally, the Morrigan, who also is an Irish mythological warrior. The Morrigan is like a witch of birds and sends all the birds in San Francisco to attack the group. With Josh at the wheel they just barely escape across the Golden Gate bridge and find refuge at the shadow realm of the Yggdrasil tree. Here dwells the three-faced Greek goddess Hekate.

Nicholas Flamel requests that this goddess of magic, awaken the powers within Josh and Sophie. Hekate is reluctant at first since the awakening is a very dangerous process that can kill a human. However when she discovers that Dee and the Morrigan have a recruited a very powerful ally, the Egyptian goddess Bastet, she decides to awaken the twins' powers. Hekate is only able to awaken Sophie, as she must then run to defend the attack on her home tree of Yggdrasil. Dee, the Morrigan, and Bastet have brought an army of cat-people and bird-people to lay siege to the massive tree world. As the fighting ensues, the tree is set to fire, which only further enrages Hekate. Dee then pulls out the ancient ice-sword of Excalibur and freezes the tree as well as Hekate. Flamel, Scathach, and the twins are able to escape the shadow realm before it is destroyed.

Having just been awaken, Sophie is in a very fragile state, overwhelmed by the heightened sensations she is feeling. The group journeys to the valley of Ojai, to seek the Witch of Endor who can help calm Sophie's awakening process. The Witch of Endor does this by transferring all her powers and knowledge to Sophie. Their meeting is once again cut short however when John Dee arrives with a new army of the living dead. Dee is almost able to convince Josh to join his cause who but has a sudden change of heart thanks to his sister. The Witch of Endor show the group to a magical portal, connected by ley lines, that will send them to Paris. The book ends quite abruptly at this point, a blatant cliffhanger to begin the 2nd book.

The Historical Figures

• 
  Nicholas Flamel (1330-1418): He was a French scribe and owned several book shops in the city of Paris. He and his wife Perenelle later became infatuated with the practice of alchemy. Nicholas wrote several books pertaining to hieroglyphics and philosophy. His true legend occurred after his death, where his body was found missing. It was later believed that he had discovered the philosopher's stone to turn metal into gold, as well as the elixir of life. Various accounts believed he had decoded the ancient Jewish Book of Abramelin the Mage.  
• Perenelle Flamel (1320-1397): She came from wealthy families in Paris and married Nicholas Flamel with an equal curiosity in books and alchemy. She and Nicholas were devout Catholics and contributed much of their wealth to churches. 
  
• John  Dee (1527-1609): He was a very influential advisor to Queen Elizabeth and considered a master of astronomy and alchemy. As a political advisor he advised the Queen when to be crowned and encouraged the colonization of the New World to establish a British Empire. He studied antiquities and had one of the largest libraries in England. His true passion was the study of Hermetic philosophy which branched into the supernatural practices of alchemy, divination, and even magic. He spent much of his life practicing occultism, spiritualism, and searching for the means of magic. 

The Mythological Figures

• 
  Scathach: In Irish mythology she is a Scottish warrior woman from the Isle of Skye known as the shadow or the warrior maid. In the Irish epic, The Tain, she trains the hero Cu Chulainn in martial arts and combat. She dwells in a fortress of shadows known as Dun Scaith and her greatest rival is her sister, Aife.
  
• The Morrigan: In Irish Mythology she is known as the phantom queen of war and fate, often associated with crows. In the stories of the Ulster Cycle she encounters the hero Cu Chulainn various times. She is often depicted as a trio of sisters; Eriu, Banba, and Fodla who are all associated as land goddesses. Due to her more enigmatic nature pertaining to war and fear she is often considered a darker figure. She is even associated with the banshees and ghosts of Irish folktales.
• Hekate: In Greek Mythology she is a three-faced/three-bodied goddess of crossroads, the night, the moon, and all practice pertaining to magic. With her knowledge of herbs, she provides protection against witchcraft, necromancy, and ghosts. She also serves as a goddess of doorways, entries, thresholds, gates, portals, boundaries, and the transition from life to death. 
• 
  Yggrdasil: In Norse Mythology it is the most sacred tree that serves as the root and source of all life and worlds in the universe. It is described in the Poetic Edda as being the tree at the center of the cosmos that reaches to the heavens. At the core of the tree many of the gods assemble as well as many other significant Norse figures such as the three Norns who shape human destiny.
• Bastet: In Egyptian Mythology she is a goddess depicted with the body of a woman and the head of a cat. She represents a fierce warrior and guardian, that of a lioness. Yet she also has a gentler feminine side as a goddess of fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth.    
  
• The Witch of Endor: She first appeared in the Old Testament of the Hebrew Bible as the witch who consulted the Jewish king Saul, and summoned the spirit of the prophet Samuel. The spirit of Samuel predicts that Saul's Israeli army will be crushed by the Philistines which happens the next day. Realizing that he has been defeated Saul commits suicide, which serves as a punishment for seeking counsel from a witch instead of God. From this biblical narrative the Witch of Endor has appeared in various other folktales, songs, plays, and operas. 

Book Review

I love how the author was able to merge different mythologies into one fantasy story. Furthermore they were all figures I knew little about. I know nothing of Irish mythology and became quite interested in the characters of Scathach and the Morrigan portrayed in this book. I also learned quite a bit of the historical figures in the book such as John Dee, who lived a very intriguing life. And of course Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle, who had managed to live for over 700 years. In their accounts are numerous references to historical events such as the Golden Age of Elizabeth or the London Fire of 1666. Even the codex, the Book of Abramelin the Mage is a real book believed to have been written in 1458 and published and translated in the 1700s. 

The story is a fairly easy one to follow pertaining to the American teenagers of Joshua and Sophie Newman. While they think of themselves as average everyday teenagers and siblings, it is quite far from the truth. The story becomes a coming-of-age story as they must not only adapt to this new magical world, but must also face serious adult situations. Both Josh and Sophie are faced with numerous life-and-death encounters, and it is there bond with each other that keeps them going. I am quite interested to see how these characters grow as they dive deeper into this intriguing magical world created by Michael Scott.   

Historical Study: Ancient History of the Middle East

I have recently purchased the video game, Assassin's Creed Mirage which I know to be set in Baghdad during the Golden Age of Islam (800s AD). As per usual I have thus planned to fully immerse myself into the game's historical culture to better appreciate it. I know very little about the history and culture of the Middle East, and find this as a great opportunity to enhance my academic understanding. Aside from studying Arab history this phase will also includes a better understanding of the practice and history of Islam, one of the most popular religions in the world. After all the core driving force of all Arab culture and history is it's devout religion of Islam. 

I have planned this phase for quite some time when I discovered the setting of the newest Assassin's Creed video game (my favorite franchise for historical submersion). Shockingly this will be my first real deep dive into Arabian culture. As a lifelong Westernized Christian it's quite sad that the connotation towards Islam, Arab, or Middle East is usually a negative one. This is no doubt accredited to their long lasting wars against the western world and Christianity such as during the Crusades. Even more recently their acts of terrorism against the western world, particularly the recent ongoing crisis of Israel-Palestine. However aside from the more violent and extreme elements, the Arab culture has made many contributions to society worth understanding. 

Since the video game is set during the Golden Age of Islam, (which spans from the 8th century to the 13th century) I'd actually like to focus on the age before this. I'll surely later have a full study on the Golden Age of Islam with a review of the game. In this post I want to focus on the early settlements and empires of the Middle East. During the age of the Egyptian Pharaohs, this barren desert land became a refuge for two emerging civilizations; the Israelites and the Arabs (descendants of the Ishmaelites). In the bible the Israelites were the descendants of Abraham's son Isaac who would go on to establish Judaism. While the Ishmaelites were the descendants of Abraham's son Ishmael, who would much later establish Islam. 

Sumer and the Assyrian Empire

According to the Bible, Ishmael was the first son of Abraham and the servant Hagar. Abraham's wife Sarah could not bear him children, so she permitted her slave to give birth to their first son. However Sarah later grew jealous of Hagar and Ishmael and they thus fled to present day Saudi Arabia, in the land that would later become the Mecca. While this is most likely legend then history, it establishes the foundation of the Arab people. Their first known civilization in the region of Mesopotamia (present day Iraq and Iran) was the Sumer which lasted from 5500 BC to 1800 BC. Their central urban capital was the city of Uruk, that became the most populated city in the world in 3100 BC. 

The Sumer civilization was eventually swallowed up by the Akkadian Empire in 2300 BC under the leadership of Sargon the Great. For nearly 200 years the Akkadian Empire controlled the entire Mesopotamian region as well as the Anatolia (modern day Turkey) and Levant (modern day Israel, Lebanon, and Syria). This early civilization later collapsed due to drought and famines and perhaps the influence of the rising Egyptian Kingdoms. By around 2000 BC the Assyrian Empire was established to become to new dominant power in the Mesopotamian region. South of this was the equally powerful Kingdom of Babylonia and it's booming city of Babylon founded in 1894 BC (modern day Baghdad).

The Kingdoms of Judah and Israel

Between 1200-1150, many of the Middle Eastern Empires such as the Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, and Hittite Empires began to lose their influence over the region, due to what is understood as the Late Bronze Age Collapse. This gave way to new migrants settling into the region of Levant particularly the Philistines and the Israelites. The Philistines migrated from the Aegean Seas while the Israelites had arrived on an exodus from Egypt. According to the Bible, the Israelites were slaves freed by Moses who traveled for 40 years to arrive to the Promise Land in Canaan. This group of people were the early founders of the religion, Judaism. 

The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah were established in 1047 BC, after years of war with the Philistines. According to Biblical sources, the Kingdom of Judah and Kingdom of Israel were united under the leadership of King Saul. Under the guidance of the prophet Samuel who ushered in a new governing structure away from a council of judges to a monarchy. His son David later became king and founded the city of Jerusalem, which today remains one of the holiest cities in the world. While little is known of David as a historical figure, he is considered one of the most important figures in the Jewish faith (alongside Abraham and Isaac). A good majority of the bible pertains to the stories and psalms of David.

David's son Solomon oversaw the Kingdom of Judah at it's penultimate period from 970-930 BC. While the historicity of David and Saul can be disputed, Solomon is properly recorded. It was under Solomon's reign that the first temple was constructed and according to legend housed the Ark of the Covenant. While the majority of the Old Testament pertains to the establishment of the united kingdom of Israel, the history of it is quite disputed (especially in regards to a union with the Kingdom of Judah and Israel). According to historical data, the Kingdom of Israel was sacked by the Neo-Assyrian Empire in 720 BC and the Kingdom of Judah was sacked by the neo-Bablyonian empire in 586 BC. 

Neo Assyrian and Neo Babylonian Empire

By around 900 BC the Assyrian Empire had entered it's 4th stage known as the neo-Assyrian period which would become it's most powerful. It had become the largest and most powerful world empire of it's time (stretching from Mesopotamia, Levant, and into Egypt). Their conquest of Egypt in 671 BC marked a turning point in world history, where Egypt was no longer the dominant power. Perhaps their greatest adversary in the Middle East was the Babylonian Empire. In 689 BC the Assyrians laid siege to the city of Babylon and captured it for their own, nearly destroying the iconic city. However by 626 BC the region of Assyria had become far too stretched and an alliance of the Medes and the Babylonians were able to capture their capital city of Assur.

After nearly 100 years of Assyrian occupation, the neo-Babylonian Empire once again returned to the forefront of Middle Eastern influence. It was during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (from 605-562 BC) that the city of Babylon underwent a cultural renaissance. Inspired by the Egyptian monuments, Nebuchadnezzar built a new city of wonder with great architectural structures such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Ishtar Gate, and monuments and ziggurat towers dedicated to their deity Marduk. During the 580s Nebuchadnezzar began a new military campaign thru the Levant region which included the conquest of the Kingdom of Judah and the destruction of the Solomon Temple. The Jews were taken captive in Babylon for nearly 50 years. That was until the neo-Babylonian Empire was conquered by Cyrus the Great in 539 BC who allowed the Jews to return to Judah. 

Achaemenid Empire (Persian Empire)

In 550 BC, Cyrus the Great lead a revolt within the Median Empire in present day Iran which established the new Achaemenid Empire (also known as the Persian Empire). Cyrus essentially inherited the Median Empire with a new focus of expansionism. His first major military campaign was against the Lydian Kingdom in 546 BC (modern day Turkey). Once he had conquered this land he later conquered the kingdoms of Central Asia such as the Bactria. His greatest victory came at the Battle o Opis, where he defeated the Neo-Babylonian Empire and conquered the city of Babylon. This brought upon a new power shift in the Middle East where the Persian Empire was the new dominant force. Cyrus became a hero to the captive Jews, when he set them free. Each of their conquered states were set up as vassals that sent tribute to their capital city of Persepolis. 

Following Cyrus' death in 530 BC, he was succeeded by his son Cambyses II who continued his father's military campaigns. This included successful conquests of Levant, Cyprus, and the mighty Egypt at the Battle of Pelusium. Following the conquest of Egypt, many neighboring kingdoms paid tribute to the Persian Empire without even a fight. Cambyses continued his campaigns further into Africa, but there was speculation he had begun to go mad at this point, and was later killed in battle near Ethiopia. After some disputes of the throne, it was later inherited by Darius the Great in 522 BC who brought the Empire's territorial reach to it's great extent. This included successful campaigns into the Balkan regions against the Macedonians and the Thracians of modern day Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece. 

While the Persian Empire was most famous for their military conquests, they also established a highly efficient governing structure. With their centralized administration in Persepolis they oversaw the collection of tributes from vassal states and built new roads to improve trade. They were also very multicultural and did not persecute their conquered states yet practiced a policy of tolerance. Darius the Great introduced a new system of coin currency as well as measuring scales. Many of his conquests  were engraved in the Behistun Inscription on Mount Behistun, which is used today as a codex to the old Persian language and culture. Their religion of Zoroastrianism, based on their prophet Zoraster, became commonplace for all their people. 

The Ionian Revolt of 499 BC ushered in a new threat to the mighty Persian Empire where the Greek city-states began uprising against their occupiers. While the Persian Empire was able to crush this early revolt it began a new military conflict known as the Greco-Persian Wars. Most famous from the movie depictions of King Leonidas' 300 Spartans or the video game Assassins Creed Odyssey. I have written various times about the Greek-Persian conflicts usually from the Greek perspective, but in this case it's now from the Persian perspective. King Darius began to see Greece as a new threat with these ongoing uprisings and planned a new campaign to invade the entire region. However in 490 BC the Greeks achieved one of their first major victories over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. King Darius died shortly after and left the invasion to his son Xerxes.

Xerxes led the invasion of Greece in 480 BC with one of the largest armies the world had ever seen. He easily rolled thru Macedonia and Thessaly but was confronted by a stubborn force of Spartan warriors led by King Leonidas at Thermopylae. Nonetheless the Persians were still able to defeat the Greeks at Thermopylae and sacked the city of Athens. However shortly after their navy was defeated by the Greeks at Battle of Salamis and their army was decisively beaten at the Battle of Plataea. This led to Xerxes retreat and the end of the Greek invasion. It also marked one of the first major defeats for the Persian Empire in over 70 years.  

From this point on the Persian Empire withdrew their military campaigns to focus on their infrastructure. This included new building projects as well as new alliances with the enemies of Greece, who they now saw as their greatest threat. The Persians first sided with the Spartans in the Peloponnesian Civil War of 431-401 BC, and then later sided with Athens during the Corinthian Civil War from 395-387 BC. Under the reign of Artaxerxes III the Persian's lead a 2nd conquest of Egypt and sustained great wealth from this campaign. Artaxerxes was able to squash various rebellions and threats to his empire throughout his lifetime. However a new power had arisen in the region of Macedonia led by Philip II.

While King Philip had planned to invade the Persian Empire, he was assassinated in 336 BC before he could put his plans in motion. However his son, Alexander the Great would later take on his father's goal with great ambition. Darius III had arisen to the throne as a distant family member and a successful general. However he was no match for the Macedonian's new age tactics and his armies were defeated by Alexander first at the Battle of Granicus (334 BC), then at the Battle of Issus (333 BC), and decisively at the battle of Gaugamela (331 BC). With this victory Darius fled into the deserts where he was later killed by his own men. Alexander marched into the cities of Persepolis and Babylon which thus brought an end to the Persian Empire. 

Seleucid Empire, Parthian Empire, and Sasanian Empire

From this point on the Middle Eastern territory of Mesopotamia became controlled by European influence for some time. This period known as the Hellenistic Age, brought new westernized culture and ideas into the Middle East. A new cultural exchange and fusion occurred in the Middle East beginning with the Macedonian's occupation. Alexander the Great was very tolerant and welcoming of the Persian culture, and even took one as his wife to inspire a new age of peace between the west and the east. The Macedonian conquest was rather short-lived as Alexander died in 323 BC, at the young age of 33. The region of Mesopotamia was then transferred to a new Greek dynasty to establish the Seleucid Empire.

Still under Hellenistic influence, Seleucus Nicator, who served as a general under Alexander, became the new ruler of the Seleucid Empire in 312 BC. His territory stretched from the Black Sea, beyond the Mesopotamia into far eastern lands of present day Afghanistan and Pakistan, bordering the Indian Mauryan Empire. The city of Antioch became the new capital of the Empire, located on the southern coast of Turkey, it served as a booming Hellenistic gateway between Europe and Asia. The main adversaries of the Seleucid Empire were the Ptolemaic Egyptian Kingdom and the Indian Mauryan Kingdom. The Empire lasted until 63 BC where it was overthrown by the mighty Roman Republic. 

While the Seleucid Empire was swallowed up by the Roman Empire, the Parthian Empire briefly rose to prominence in 124 BC under the reign of Mithridates II. Also known as Mithridates the Great he was eager to reestablish Persian customs throughout the land of Mesopotamia. The Parthians frequently fought with the Seleucid Empire as well as the Roman Republic. After the Seleucid Empire fell, the Parthians were the last stranding stronghold in the Middle East that fought against Rome from 54 BC until their eventual collapse in 217 AD. The Parthians were not defeated by the Romans yet rather overthrown internally by Ardashir who then established the Sasanian Empire in 226 AD.

The Sasanian Empire was the last ancient civilization of the Middle East before the age of Muhammad and the caliphs. Based in modern day Iraq and Iran the empire reestablished the former glory of the Persian Empire and withstood for over 400 years. They were able to repel countless attacks from the Roman and later Byzantine Empire to their west. Similar to the Parthian Empire, the Sasanian Empire sought to restore Iranian traditions and return to their ancient religious practice of Zoroastrianism. The empire underwent several golden eras of renaissance with influential art, architecture, literature, and philosophy that promoted the Arab ideals. Bahram V was one of the most popular of the Sasanian kings, celebrated in Iranian literature. Much of this culture was later adopted by their conquerors the Rashidun Caliphate in 651 AD.     

Historical Study of the Dominican Republic

I know very little history of the Caribbean Islands, other than it's exploration by the European Conquistadors. Of course I enjoyed the movie series of Pirates of the Caribbean, yet this is a fictional account of captain Jack Sparrow's adventures around the islands. It was only a few years ago I made me first academic dive on this region after playing the video game Assassins' Creed 4: Black Flag. The game was set in the early 1700s during the Golden Age of Piracy. The map consisted of Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas with port cities of Nassau, Kingston, and Havana. I was very inspired by the historical context and made several posts regarding The Golden Age of Piracy and the Age of Exploration. However both these posts were probably more so from a European perspective driving the change, rather than the local indigenous perspective. 

This recent fascination is of course brought on from my trip to the Dominican Republic. I can honestly say I was never really drawn to Dominican (or even Caribbean culture) and hardly had it on my bucket list other than maybe a tropical getaway. It was my mom's idea to visit this Latin country fluent in Spanish. After a week at the Punta Cana resort and a visit to Santo Domingo I left the island so inspired by it's history. I came to the understanding that the Dominican Republic was the headquarters of the age of exploration. Santo Domingo became the staging ground for European trade, civilization, and further exploration into Central and South America. 

Before I move my focus entirely on the Dominican Republic, I'd like to briefly touch upon the full map of the Caribbean Islands. There's about 6 main islands and the rest are much smaller reefs part of the Lesser Antilles. This main islands include Cuba, Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and Hispaniola (which consists of Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Other smaller islands consist of Antigua, Cayman Islands, Aruba, and Barbados to name a few. Each of these islands were settled by one of the European nations during the Age of Exploration. Jamaica and Bahamas were settled by the English dominion, Haiti was settled by the French, and the Spanish settled Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Over time these indigenous people were assimilated to speak the language, practice the Christian religion, and take on the customs of the Europeans. But who were they before the conquest?

The Taino

Similar to the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas the Caribbean Islands were also inhabited by an indigenous people. They were known as the Taino, an off branch of the Arawak people that had migrated from the Amazons of northern South America. These people spread across the main islands of the Caribbean all with different branches and leadership. Their chiefs were known as caciques and their word was law over the society. Below them were the nobles (known as nitainos) and the common folk (known as naborias). Like most indigenous tribes they also had their spiritual healers known as Bohiques. 

The Taino tribes lived in settlements throughout the islands known as yucayeques. The largest of these tribes were based in Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Some of their larger buildings were known as bohios and could house10 to 15 families in them. Most the men and women were naked until marriage at which point they would wear aprons and jewelry. Their most popular sport was batey, juggling a ball in the air with players, in a round court made of stones. While they were mostly a peaceful people they often wore war paint on their face and their weapon of choice was the war club known as macanas. Some of the most famous words to come from the Taino are hammock, canoe, barbecue, savanna, and hurricane. 

The ancient religion of the Taino was worshiping their deities known as the Zemi. This was practiced thru sculptural objects often made of wood depicting monstrous/ other-worldly creatures. The spirit of the Zemi dwelled in these sculptures and served as powerful totems. Their creator god was known as Yucahu who governs the land and food while his wife Attabeira governs the waters, river, and sea. Some of the sub deities pertain to the weather, much necessary for growing crops in those days such as the rain god known as Boinayel. Even famous Taino caciques and warriors took on the role of spiritiual Zemi's after their death. The Zemi relics were often housed in shrines and very important part of the bohiques spiritual healing practices. 

Arrival of Christopher Columbus

On his first voyage in 1492 Christopher Columbus first arrived to San Salvador, Bahamas, then journeyed along the eastern coast of Cuba, and to the northern coast of Hispanoila before returning to Europe. During his visits to the mainland he encountered the local tribes of Taino, Lucayan, and Arawek people. He quickly noticed they possessed primitive weapons and would be easy to conquer, and thus took some as prisoners to help guide him along the islands. On Christmas Day in western Hispaniola (present day Haiti) Columbus established the settlement of La Navidad and left 39 of his men with the locals. The fort was later destroyed by the local Taino. Columbus continued exploring the coastline of eastern Hispaniola then returned to Europe. 

On Columbus' second voyage in 1493 he first explored the islands of the Lesser Antilles, then discovered Puerto Rico, explored the western coast of Cuba, and completely encircled the Hispaniola island. He founded the city of La Isabela, named after Queen Isabelle of Spain, located on the northeastern coast of Hispaniola, which became the new European stronghold replacing La Navidad. However this city underwent disease and hunger and quickly collapsed a couple years later. The settlement of Santo Domingo was later established in 1496 in the southeastern coast, by Christopher's brother Bartholomew Columbus. This replaced La Isabela as the new central hub for European settlement in the New World. To this day it stands as the oldest European settlements in the Americas.

European Settlement

Following Columbus' discovery of the New World more and more European explorers began arriving to conquer the land full of wealth. Santo Domingo became the main governing colony of the Spanish Empire. The primitive Tainos were easily subdued into slavery mining for gold for the Europeans. During the 1500-1530s they were quickly eliminated due to disease, harsh labor, and mass executions by the conquistadors. The local native slaves were later replaced by African slaves to work the fields of sugar cane. Many of these African slaves escaped outside the city to live freely in the rural mountain ranges of Hispaniola. They became known as cimarrons, "wild animals". Throughout the 1520-1540s Santo Domingo became assaulted by numerous slave uprisings and pirate attacks. By 1560 Santo Domingo had lost it's central trading hub to the rising influence of Havana in Cuba.

Soon after Mexico, Central America, and South America became more sought after by the European explorers seeking to cash in on the undiscovered wealth. The island of Hispaniola quickly became one of anarchy, piracy, and poverty. In 1586 the city of Santo Domingo was captured by the British pirate Sir Francis Drake of England who collected a ransom from Spain. Even more damaging to the Spanish colony was increasing trade with their enemy the Dutch. By the 1600s the Spanish Empire put stricter regulations on Santo Domingo to root out the contraband and piracy that was occurring throughout the island. This inquest referred to as the Devastations of Osorios led to much death and ruin throughout the southeastern region of Hispaniola. 

By 1629 French pirates began settling in present day Haiti, particularly the island of Tortuga. Ten years later the French made the island it's colony and began settling further into the western region of Hispaniola. By 1697 at the end of the Nine Years War, Spain handed over the western region of the island to French control in the Treaty of Ryswick. This thus became a new colony of France, present day Haiti, separate from the Spanish colony of Hispaniola. Spain continued to defend numerous assaults on their capital of Santo Domingo from Oliver Cromwell in 1655 and many pirate raids throughout the early 1700s. The conflict over territory in the Caribbean between Spain and England reached a boiling point at the War of Jenkins Ear from 1739-1748. This naval conflict took place in many Caribbean locations and islands, however no major change come of it.

During the 1800s at the onset of Napoleon's mighty French Empire, the Haitian general Toussaint Louverture began the Haitian Revolution. Napoleon sent a fleet to not only quell the Haitian island but also conquer Santo Domingo. The Haitian rebel army under the leadership of Toussaint were able to acheive their independence in 1804 which drove the French army to the eastern region of Hispaniola. They remained there holding influence over Santo Domingo until 1809 when they were driven out by the Spanish armies. This brought upon the final age of Spanish colonization in Santo Domingo known as their foolish dominion. The government quickly lost it's influence to the local inhabitants that were now a mix of Taino, former black slaves, and Spanish settlers. It was only a matter of time until Santo Domingo followed the example of the other ongoing revolutions of the United States, Mexico, and  Simon Bolivar in South America. 

War of Independence

The fervor of independence was spreading all throughout the Americas during the late 1700s early 1800s (and even France). This included the Caribbean islands where Haiti became the first to be recognized as an independent nation free from France in 1804. The Spanish colony of Santo Domingo began it's movement for independence shortly after this. Under the leadership of Jose Nunez de Caceres their first independence was achieved with the establishment of the Republic of Spanish Haiti in 1821. Knowing that Spain and Haiti still posed a threat however they attempted to align themselves with the newly established Gran Colombia. However it was too little too late, and the Republic of Spanish Haiti was short-lived for no more than year and conquered by Haiti in 1822. This lead to a brutal 20 year period of persecution and forced assimilation into Haitian policy and customs. 

In 1838 a new independence movement arose from the underground led by Juan Pablo Duarte known as La Trinitaria. Backed by wealthy ranchers, they coordinated their declaration of independence at the same time that Haiti was going thru a contentious presidential election in 1844. The land of Santo Domingo was now known as the Dominican Republic. The Haitian president responded shortly by sending an army of 40,000 to restore authority, however they were repelled by the Dominican militia. Several more attempts were made by the Haitian government to restore it's territory but all attempts were defended by the newly established Dominican Republic. 

The First Republic lasted from 1844 until 1861 when it was once again occupied by Spanish Imperial forces. This lead to the National War of Restoration in 1863 which essentially became a guerilla war against the Spanish army. The occupancy quickly became unpopular throughout Spain, due to their withering funds and the rising concerns of yellow fever in the region. By 1865 they completely withdrew their forces and the Dominican Republic was restored. This time it lasted until 1916 during WWI when the United States occupied the island in fears that Germany would take it. In 1924 the US withdrew their occupancy and authority was restored to the Dominican Republic for a third time.

From 1931 to 1961 President Rafael Trujillo established a strong political and economic system. Although he had a similar authoritarian personality as Francis Franco or even Hitler, he chose to welcome Spanish refugees and Jews fleeing Europe. He even sided with the Allies when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. Although he was able to boost the Dominican economy and infrastructure he made many political enemies including with the United States and was eventually assassinated. Following his death there was a period of instability and a civil war that broke out in 1965. By 1966 the Civil war came to an end and order was once again restored in the nation. A fourth republic was established with the election of Joaquin Balaguer in 1966 which still exists today. 

Punta Cana Trip 2023

This past week I spent an incredibly relaxing week with family at an all inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This was the first time I've ever had such an experience where all drinks and foods were included with the hotel. The plan was brought on about a year ago, by my mom, who had heard great things about this location. Normally our vacations consist of a lot of sightseeing, but this would be quite a different one. It would be a much needed vacation of purely rest and relaxation. Plus I had never been to the Caribbean islands. I made our bookings several months ago at the Majestic Colonial Resort which included the flight, hotel, food, and drinks. Going on the trip would be my parents, Ofelia, Gabriel, Andres, and myself. This was an adventurous and relaxing experience that I will now detail, while it is still all fresh in my mind. 

Thursday-Friday

After I finished work on Thursday, I drove home to pickup Cochie and Mugsy then drove straight to Fort Wayne. I dropped Cochie and Mugsy off at my parents house, where Gily and Natalia would be watching them for the week. We then left that evening to Chicago, where my dad had arranged a hotel/shuttle/parking for the week near the O'hare Airport. The hotel was a very shady one at a Red Roof Inn, and we didn't feel all that safe. Gabriel also met us that evening at the hotel while Andres stayed with friends and planned to meet us the next day. We woke up early at around 5am, and caught the shuttle to the airport. Our shuttle driver was a very energetic and organized person and got us to the airport on time. 

We hit a bit of a problem checking into our flight due to the DR's requirement of E-tickets. My mom had warned me of this, but I had never heard of it and was caught a bit off guard. At the check-in desk I had to fill out everyone's passport info on my phone to send to the DR. From that point on we got our boarding passes and everything went smoothly. Andres eventually met us and we boarded the plane and took off by 8:30am. The flight wasn't too bad and I watched Wedding Singer and No Hard Feelings. We arrived in Punta Cana by around 2:30pm. I had arranged a taxi pickup thru Expedia and they were awaiting us. The guy was very friendly, named Domingo, and gave us some quick tips about the DR. Which included not drinking the water. The drive from the airport to the resort took about 30 minutes. 

We were welcomed to the Majestic Colonial Resort like kings and queens. Our bags were collected and we were escorted to the VIP lounge (which I had arranged thru my Expedia membership). There was fresh tasty espresso coffee and snacks waiting for us. After we completed the check-in process we were introduced to our butler, David who gave us a quick tour of the resort and showed us to our rooms. We spent a little extra to get ocean view rooms, however quickly noticed one of the rooms had a poor view due to a towel shack. We requested to swap out this room the next day. Once we were finished checking into our rooms we did not waste time to get some food. This was probably around 4pm and we went to the beach buffet. The spread had a lot of unique Dominican food, seafood, meats, and salad. I had a beer, known as Presidente, and a passion fruit Margarita. The servers were very friendly.

After we ate, we rested a bit more in the hotel, then got our bathing suits on and went to the beach. We ordered some pina coladas at the beach bar. The water was very warm, refreshing, and of course quite salty. However there was one major disappointment with the ocean, and that was the very rocky surface. I had expected super soft sand but the ground was covered in very unbalancing rocks. Sometimes it was easy to scrape your feet on these rocks as the waves pushed you around. I also often found myself falling into deeper rock holes in the ground. After a little bit of adjustment however I got use to avoiding the ground, or touching it very lightly. Another annoyance was the many vendors along the beach. We still however made an effort to spend some time at the beach everyday. I preferred it much more than the pool.

That evening we showered up, dressed up, and got some drinks at the plaza bar. There was some live music there, a rather chubby guy who couldn't quite hit the high notes. I ordered my first cocktail, a rather strong concoction of blue-syrupy rum. I wasn't quite up on my mixed drinks so just asked the bartender to make me something special, and he made me something quite strong. I finished it nonetheless with a decent buzz. For dinner we ate at the Masuri Japanese Grill. This included a sushi bar as well as a hibachi grill. We were all quite filled-up after the sushi bar, but then came the stir-fried rice, chicken, steak, shrimp, and salmon. I enjoyed the food very much, and we were all beyond full after that dinner. 

For dessert we walked over to the Supreme Buffet and I remember being shocked at how much food was still sitting there to be thrown away. As full as I was I still had a loaded donut. After this we briefly caught some live entertainment at the Theatre, which was a classic rock show. Andres and I played some ping pong, then Gabriel and I played some pool. We stayed at the theatre for maybe an hour or so, then called it a night by around 10ish. I was quite wiped out and fell fast asleep. 

Saturday

I knew I had to do some running on this vacation as I am still training for the Monumental Half Marathon. So I got up, had some tasty espresso coffee, then searched for the gym. It was quite rainy that morning and took me a little bit to find the gym, since it was not connected to the main lobby. Once there I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. This was one of those treadmills that annoyingly shuts down after about 20 minutes (which interrupts my flow). After I finished my run I went back to my room, quite sweaty, skipped breakfast, and took a shower. Unfortunately there was no breakfast spot close to our room, since the main lobby was a good 5-minute walk. It continued to rain all morning, so we hung out at our room outside the patio. Gabriel took a bath outside and popped open a bottle of champagne. 

For lunch we went to the Beach Buffet, and I was very hungry having skipped breakfast. The waitress was very friendly with us and kept the drinks coming. I ordered a very tasty Miami Vice which was a mixture of a Pina Colada and Strawberry Daquiri. We then relaxed at the beach for most the afternoon. My mom and I bought some trinkets from one of the vendors. That evening we went to the 5 o'clock church service at the chapel. It was quite an interactive mass, as the pastor recruited me to do the reading and my mom to translate his service. I had not done a reading since high school, but think I did quite well, including the responsorial psalm as well. After mass we all took a photo with the priest and the small congregation. 

For dinner we went to the Taino Restaurant, near the lobby, which specialized in Caribbean and Mexican food. We had the option to either order from the menu or go to the buffet, which we all decided the latter. After this we went to the plaza bar for a little bit, where the same chubby guy was singing. Gabriel danced with one of the local girls. That evening we went back to the theatre to catch the Disco Show. This was a much better performance than the night before, with a full backup band and some great vocalists performing the most popular disco hits of the 70s-80s. We stayed for the entire show and think all of us really enjoyed it, especially Gabriel. 

Sunday

That morning I got up and went back to the gym first thing to get my run over with. I once again did a 4-miler on the treadmill, then scouted out the nearby Legends Sports Bar. It appeared the sports bar did not open until evening, which would have been disappointing for the big Lions game. I later found out from David however that the bar would be open by afternoon. After a shower, I was luckily able to catch my parents finishing breakfast at the Supreme Buffett. I had some very tasty donuts, pastries, and tropical juices there.  

After breakfast we ventured to the lobby to make arrangements for an excursion to Santo Domingo and reservations to the French restaurant. This was quite a time consuming process however as we waited maybe 10 minutes to finally get service and even longer to work things out. We made our plans to leave Monday morning with a driver and tour guide to get a full tour of the biggest city in DR. The drive itself was going to be about 3 hours, but we all agreed we needed some sort of adventure. After we worked things out we spent another 10 minutes with a different person making reservations for the French Restaurant. We didn't understand why it took so long, other then poor organization. After we left the guest services, another person tried to flag us down to re-arrange our plans but we told him we just didn't want to waste the time. 

For lunch I was able to get dad to join me to watch the Lions game. We ventured to the Legends Sports Bar, but right away I was quite disappointment with the setup. This included three big theatre style screens, one of which was not even working. We asked the host if he could get the Lions game on, but he seemed to pre-occupied with other issues. I highly doubt he even had access to the game. We ordered a round of drinks there, then left after about 10 minutes. I think I also came to the realization that even if we had the game on TV, watching a football game was not something to be done at a tropical location. So my dad and I rejoined the group at the lunch buffet. Our waitress was especially friendly to me and kept the Presidente beers rolling. 

After this we hung out at the beach for most the afternoon. I ordered a very tasty strawberry daiquiri and got some reading done in my book, the Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel. That evening we went to El Rodeo for dinner which was at the beach plaza. I ordered a beer and the lobster. I honestly was not all that impressed with the food there, but still ate so much as I finished mine and helped Ofelia finish her steak. That evening dad and I took a late night swim in the pool, which I thought was lit up so nicely at night. We managed to get from our end of the hotel all the way to the plaza and got to watch some of the entertainment from the pool. However one of the managers warned us that the pool was very heavy with chlorine in the evenings, although he did not tell us to get out. After this late night swim, dad and I walked over to the beach where they were having a dance party. We stayed for maybe 15 minutes hoping to meet up with Gabriel, but then returned to the hotel for the night.

Monday

That morning we got room service at around 7am, arranged by our butler David. The food was quite cold but still this made our morning easier before we set off to Santo Domingo. We met our taxi driver, Roberto, at the front of the lobby he was very kind and showed us to his van. The trip was a good 3 hours, but still very interesting to observe the DR countryside. It really reminded me of Venezuela or Costa Rica. My mom and Ofelia talked in Spanish with the guy the whole way, while I got some reading done in my book. We stopped at a rest area half way to get some coffee and go to the bathroom. 

Once there our first stop was at the famous national park known as Los Tres Ojos (which means the three eyes). This is a reference to three (actually four) underground lakes that dwell in caves. We met our tour guide there, who was loaded with information. The trip to get to the lakes consisted of many stairs thru beautiful caves. Each of the lakes had a crystal blue color to them with superstitious ties pertaining to luck, wealth, and love. The guide informed us that many Hollywood movies were filmed in these caves such as Jurassic Park III, Anaconda, and Pirates of the Caribbean (where Jack Sparrow and Barbosa have their final confrontation). After this we went to a giant mausoleum dedicated to Christopher Columbus known as Columbus Lighthouse (erected in 1992). It is believe that some of Columbus' bones are kept at the central tomb of the giant building. The site was also host to Pope John Paul II's visit in 1992, commemorated by his pope mobile outside the building. While the building I thought was a rather impressive site, it was unfortunately poorly managed and already showing signs of wear.    

After this we got lunch downtown near the Cuidad Colonial (the Old European Town of Santo Domingo). We ate at a tasty buffet, where our driver Roberto was able to get us a discount. After this we explored the beautiful colonial city that was established by the conquistadors of the 1500s. Our tour guide showed us the many churches, palaces, and homes of the famous conquistadors such as Columbus, Cortez, and Pizzaro. I was quite inspired by the trip and learned that Santo Domingo was at one point the main city of the New World in the early 1500s. It was named after Saint Dominique, and considered the gateway to the Caribbean where many other conquistadors staged their operations from.  

As we continued to walk thru old town, our guide also showed us the famous street where a scene in Godfather 2 was filmed. This is when Michael Corleone witnesses a suicide bomber take out some local soldiers. While the movie takes place in Cuba, much of it was filmed in the DR due to political reasons. We dropped in on several souvenir shops, who were all friendly and treated us to their local Mamajuana drinks. After a couple hours in the city, Ofelia and dad started getting quite tired so we decided to call it a day. I did a little bit more reading on the way home, but also fell asleep for a little bit. We paid our driver in pesos and got back to the hotel around 5pm. 

For dinner we went to the Supreme Buffet, then dad and I walked around for a bit exploring the resort. We ventured off to the neighboring resorts which included the Elegance and Mirage for adult/club members. We found the Elegance to be quite empty and without any restaurants at all (I believe the Mirage does have some however). After this we got back to the hotel early and rested up for a bit as I planned to go to the disco that night at 11pm. Gabriel however decided to bail so I just went with Andres. I really wasn't sure what to expect, but had a couple pre-game drinks to loosen up. Surprisingly it was actually a fun night, and right from the get-go we got pulled to the dance floor by some older attractive blond ladies. There were many pretty girls on the dance floor, however no more than about 20 or so. We stayed until about 12:30 when we felt the dancefloor was thinning out.

Tuesday

That morning I intended to go for a run but didn't sleep too well and felt a little hungover. So instead I joined mom and dad for breakfast at the Supreme Buffet. After this we spent the entire morning at the beach. I got some good reading, relaxing, and swim in. Mom and Andres got their hair done in braids that morning. I mustered up some energy to play volleyball with Gabriel. It was very hot and sunny that day, and while it was fun, it was also very exhausting. For lunch we once again went to the Supreme Buffet, then back to the hotel to rest a bit. Gabriel continued to get drunk at the pool bar. 

That evening we walked around for a bit by the beach then had some drinks near the lobby bar. For dinner we went back to the Taino Caribbean Restaurant and this time decided to get the Mexican food. I was getting quite burnt out on the Caribbean seafood, so decided to order a hamburger with fries (dad did the same). Our waitress brought us some bonus drinks which included a tasty sangria and group shots of mamajuana. After this we went to the souvenir shops on Caribbean street where I bought some trinkets. We then went to the Circus show for a little bit, but mom was getting sleepy so we called it an early night.

Wednesday

That morning I slept much better and started my dad off with another 4 mile run at the gym. Luckily I was able to ask Andres to bring me some donuts from the buffet, since I knew I would be too sweaty to enter. After a shower we briefly went to the beach but then back to the room to get some things ready for our journey home. At 11 o'clock Gabriel and I had a massage booked at the spa. This was my first ever massage and while it was not included in the all-inclusive package, I decided to treat myself. Before the massage there was a spa bathing process, which included the sauna, some cold and vibrating showers, a Turkish bath, a dip in the pool. The Spa pool was incredible with it's cold tub, hot tub, and jet fountains all of which we got to enjoy with some mimosas. 

After the bath we met our masseuses, disrobed, and sat on our bed. I shared a room with Gabriel, so decided to keep my swim shorts on. At first we laid face down and it took me a little bit too get comfortable, especially due to my runny nose. I eventually let go though, and really enjoyed the thorough deep tissue massage that pretty much covered every part of our body. It went by very quick. My only complaint was I had wished it was a more personal experience to perhaps root out some soreness from running. We tipped our masseuses then joined everyone for our last lunch at the Beach Buffett. Mom made a complaint after witnesses one of the employees get berated by their manager. 

After lunch we spent some good time lounging and swimming at the beach. I went on a long walk with Andres to see some of the other resorts. After this I took a very long swim in the ocean, knowing it would be my last one there. That evening we dressed up nicely since we had reservations at the French restaurant and pants were required. Before dinner we went to the lobby bar, and listened to some live piano. One of the songs the guy played was Never Enough from the Greatest Showman. I decided to order white wine for a change. We took some more photos by the lobby bar and sat outside for a little bit before dinner. 

The French restaurant was called Le Gourmet, and I found it to be hands down the best quality at the resort. For appetizer I ordered a unique asparagus/egg soup which I found to be quite tasty and some mushroom ravioli. Gabriel and Andres ordered the Mango soup which they also enjoyed. For dinner mom, dad, and myself ordered the NY steak prime rib, while Gabriel and Andres ordered some lamb chops, and Ofelia ordered some fish. Everyone enjoyed their food except Ofelia. It was a very enjoyable evening and we had some engaging conversation about woke culture and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The dessert was a bit sub-par, but everything else was quite good. I left the restaurant feeling quite tipsy from all the wine I had drank.

After dinner we got to the theatre early to get good seats for the Michael Jackson show. Gabriel and I played several more games of pool. Before the show started Andres was recruited to come up on stage and compete in a Michael Jackson dance off. He actually did pretty well, but finished second. The show was incredible with the lead performer who danced and looked just like MJ and had some incredible acrobatic back-up dancers. The songs performed were Jam, Smooth Criminal, Bad, Beat it, Thriller, and Heal the World. It was hands down the best show of the week and the perfect ending to the perfect trip. 

Thursday

We scheduled taxi pickup to the airport at around 12pm so had a little bit of time to kill in the hotel before we left. I slept in a little extra and joined everyone for breakfast around 8:30am (even though I thought we should have breakfast much later). Mom and dad were up early however as they got up to watch the sunrise. After breakfast we walked around the hotel one last time and took lots of pictures. We then got back to our rooms, packed up, met the bell boy, and checked out of the hotel. Our taxi driver was once again very talkative and spoke in Spanish with mom and Ofelia the whole trip. This time checking in was much easier since I filled out the E-tickets correctly and we got our boarding passes.

We got some pizza for lunch at the airport, then boarded and left by around 3pm. I watched a couple movies on the flight, Chevalier and Waterboy. We landed by around 7:30pm and parted ways with Andres and Gabriel. We then caught our shuttle back to the hotel, and then began our late night drive from Chicago to Fort Wayne. We had dinner at Taco Bell in Valparaiso, and arrived to Fort Wayne by around 1am. The next morning I headed back home to Zionsville. It was a very relaxing trip and the week just flew by. I also think it was a great value considering how much we drank and ate each day. I would certainly want to do this resort experience again sometime.