under the intensely blue skyin it Las Americas International Airport (AILA)in the Dominican Republic, a flock of steel birds descends breaking the clouds, loaded not only with suitcases with giftsbut of postponed dreams, promises of return and a love that does not fit in the luggage thousands of Creoles who arrive to spend the Christmas Eve at home.
When getting off the plane, no one wants to waste time on Immigration checks nor in the luggage straps. Hundreds of suitcases closed and identified turn in the conveyor beltfull of gifts, clothes and commissionsbut the most valuable thing does not go in those objects: it goes in the bright look of someone who has been waiting for months or years for this moment to see face to face with your loved ones.
They walk quickly so as not to waste any moment, since when crossing the automatic exit doors the world changes. There they are hundreds of peoplea sea of expectant faces who scrutinize every departing passenger. There is balloons what do they say “Welcome”, handmade posters with trembling letters of childrenand flowers who fight not to wither in the wait.
Passengers arrive at AILA loaded with gifts and dreams, searching for their loved ones in the bustling airport
It is a moving experience: the muffled cry of a mother who recognizes his sonthe jump of a child into the arms of a fatherhe lovers kiss that were only seen video callthe tears of happiness of people who know they will be together for a few days.
At that moment, the airport stops being a building concrete and becomes a temple of reunions. Furthermore, the foreign travelerinfected by the euphoriasmiles when seeing such a display of humanityand even greets the stranger by raising his hand, knowing that, even if it is visitorwill be treated as family.
Conversations
“Mommy, mommy, mommy, I’m here….” “I forgot to tell you to bring me one pound of roast pork“Waooo, Pussybut this is changed” “My daughter, no crythat I came for take you with me“. “May God grant that frank do not come with the usual story that the suitcase was lost“. “Suit whiskeys to drink until this passes year”.
It doesn’t matter if they come to rest at a resort or to dirt yard from the house of the grandmother. The only thing that matters is that the loneliness has stayed in another continent. They have reached the land where they are missedwhere they are loved with ferocityand where the Christmas It is not a date on the calendar, but a state of soul that is shared loudly, with music and with him open heart.
Flights
In the digital information display are announced flights that arrive: New York, Newark, Saint John, Fort Lauderdale, Bogota, Saint Joseph, Madrid, Miami, Boston, Georgetown, Providenciales, Turtledoveamong other destinations.
