We're Back!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a quick hello to let you know that the 'rents are back from their trip and we're doing just fine.  Every time they go away I always end up with a rash on my belly.  It's better now that hu-mom is  home and giving me attention!

Hu-mom was very sad after what she saw in the Dominican Republic.  There were stray dogs and cats everywhere.  She won't go into details. It is a very poor country.  Schooling is not even mandatory for it's children.  So you can imagine there is little hope for animals. 

On the bright and happy side of their trip, this is a little of what they saw:

Their first stop was Grand Turk. This is hu-dad driving a dune buggy.  Hu-mom said she couldn't take pictures because she was hanging on for dear life.  They were with a group of 7 dune buggies and hu-dad was driving like an old man and couldn't keep up!  Ha  ha ha. 

At one point, while off roading, a male cow (with big horns) started running towards the dune buggy, and at the last minute veered off into the scrub brush on the side of the trail.  Scared the you know what out of the 'rents!  He knew what he was doing.  A lot of big animals are protected on Grand Turk and allowed to roam without harm!  Cows being one of them. Of the dogs they saw, they looked fed and healthy. 

Very windy day at the light house (not in the picture). 

Aruba is a beautiful country and hot!   They visited an ostrich/emu farm.  The female is gray, the male is black.  His legs turn bright red when he's ready to mate. They male below had pink legs. 

Ostrich pair

Hu-mom feeding the ostriches.  You don't feed them facing them because they like to grab on to what ever sticks out....   Their necks are very strong.  But they are not smart. (Tiny head, tiny brain.) 

These are ostrich and emu babies between the ages of 1 week and 3 weeks. Hu-mom can't remember which is which. 

Near the Natural Bridge in Aruba, waves are pounding the coast line.  There is no beach in this area, just cliffs. The cliffs are at least 30 feet high, so you can see how high the water was being forced up. It's really dry, no trees, shrubs this close to the water. 

While at La Romana in the Dominican Republic, hu-mom and hu-dad visited the Taino Indian Cave. They also have some iguana in captivity.  These were separated-young and old.  Old like to snack on the babies...so each were in very large, natural enclosures. 

Feeding time for the adults.  They raced (loose term for iguana) to the bowls full of fruit. The grayer they appear, the older they are.  This was a beautiful spot out in the country.  The caves were amazing.  This is one thing the Dominican government spent money on. The Dominican people they met were so nice and friendly to the tourists and very aware of the shape of their country and wished for a more modern sitting government. 

Last stop was Curacao which is a beautiful and small island country.  

Wild flamingos in a pond that used to be used for desalination of salt water to fresh water. Usually there were hundreds,  on this day, not so many. 

Unknown lizard type, big and beautiful! 

Just a pretty scene of an inlet near the ship. 

Upon their return, hu-mom and hu-dad reminded Mack and me of how lucky we are to be doggies in the United States.  Loved and cared for, never having to provide our own food and shelter. 

We'll be visiting blogs but with the new Blogger thingy, hu-mom has to figure out a few things.  So we might be slow in getting around for a few days.

Have a great week!

Love, Minnie : )