chasing light and loud mornings in puerto plata

i just checked my phone and it says 23°c, feels like stepping into a warm towel fresh from the dryer, if you're into that kind of thing. the air hangs thick with salt and the distant hum of moto taxis, and i’m wandering through the *mercado where stalls bleed colors like spilled paint. someone told me that the little café on the corner serves coffee so strong it could wake a sleeping iguana, and i had to try it-bitter, sweet, and weirdly comforting.

i snapped a few shots of the playa at sunrise, the light hitting the water like broken glass, and later chased down a stray perro that kept photobombing my frames. if you get bored, the buzzing streets of santiago are just a short drive away, perfect for a quick fix of street art and empanadas.

Overheard at the hostel bar: someone whispered that the seafood shack near the pier serves the best fried fish, but watch out for the cats that think they’re critics. i also glanced at a yelp page for puerto plata and saw a rave about the sunset cruise-worth the splurge if you like champagne and questionable life choices. for more tips, check out this tripadvisor link: puerto plata activities and a local board: sosua forum.

now i’m back at my hostel, laptop humming, trying to edit the shots while the fan rattles like a tired drummer. tomorrow i’ll chase the montaña* trails, hoping the weather holds-if it doesn’t, well, i’ve got a spare sweater and a stubborn optimism.

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