Baseball in the Dominican Republic. Tigres de Licey vs Estrellas for those who might know. For those who don't, baseball is huge in the DR and this league is just starting now. Soon--and even in this game--players from the Major Leagues are slowly migrating back to play and the quality of ball steadily increases from now till the end of November. While this game was well attended, by the end of the month it will be packed. And not only Dominicans play in this league, I noticed that several of the pitchers were Americans.It also had most of the trappings of an MLB game, pizza and beer vendors, a mascot in a large furry costume, cheerleaders gyrating to regeton--OK, that last part seemed like a distinctly local flourish.

When I said I was going somewhere warmer, I definitely did not mean the commuter flight I was just on where it was like sitting in a meat locker for an hour and a half. Somehow temperature control in airplane cabins seems to be kind of a thing. Makes sense I guess; a thin metal shell thousands of metres up in the atmosphere. But now, really I am going somewhere warm. Leaving New York and heading for the Caribbean. 

Worst check in time ever: 37 minutes 24 seconds.  This due to some parts and tools I am carrying which made for an extra careful security check, plus my gate number was incorrect which resulted in some wandering and staring at flight info screens. I am headed somewhere warm though so no complaints.