Missing in Paradise
Well, a brief history of our trip to the Dominican so far.
Saturday, arrive Toronto airport, gave Scott the key to our house and car. Got our tickets from the Nolitours desk, no problem. Checked our luggage immediately. Went to Swiss Chalet to have a beer and food. Had to wait until 3:30 for boarding.
Upon boarding, posed the question of an upgrade to business class, since we're on our "togetherness break". We took our assigned seats, and were immediately invited to business class. Luxury, especially the leg room. But also the champagne and orange juice, the gin on the rocks, a better than average dinner, red wine, and scotch.
Arrive Dominican Republic, get through immigration, finally get our luggage (first on the plane, last off), and get bused through Punta Cana to our resort. Patrick and I are not generally resort people, but since this was quite last minute, we weren't picky. Met Anibal, a porter and security guard at the resort, who showed us to our room, and chatted up Patrick in Spanish (Anibal has relatives in Ontario). We got settled, and proceeded to the bar and ordered two cerveza. Followed by two rums on the rocks. And then a walk on the beach and a dipping of the toes, just to make sure it was real. Went to bed at a reasonable hour, only to hear the disco on the beach coming directly into our room. We did sleep, sliding doors closed. The end of Day One.
Day One.
We are both awake around 7:00 a.m., which is unusual for both of us. Breakfast buffet, bad coffee and off to the pool. It is Sunday, and we're both surprized construction is continuing on a new spa, even on the Sabbath. Lazy morning around the pool, waiting to book three excursions and dinners. Finally we get to speak to Martin, a French Canadian with delightful accent and Bambi lashes. We book our horseback riding for Monday afternoon through Caramel.
More pool time. Lunch buffet. To the beach (of course I missed a spot on my chest putting on sunblock - a little glowing patch below my neck) for the afternoon. Dinner buffet. More drinking that night. Bed and more disco.
Day Two
Since we are only here for a week, and we're interested in more than just sitting around on the beach, we booked a horseback trip. Knowing the economic situation, I figured the horses wouldn't be overfed bohemoths, but gaunt, slow-moving pack horses. Patrick and I spent the morning at a different pool (there are three on the property, not including the ocean), and then headed to the lobby after lunch to get picked up by the shuttle. We were barely three minutes away, went the driver hit one of the gates with the bus, causing an arguement, we turned around, talked to someone else, turned around again, and continued to pick up other people from different resorts. We only made one stop, and continued on our rather highspeed drive to the four-wheel drive and horse location. Patrick and I were the only people taking the horses, our fellow Canadians were taking the 4W offroad crazy trip. We felt that we saw a great amount of local life here on the island, as well as beautiful countryside and plantations. My little horse was decidedly the leader, despite my attempts to get her beside Patrick. And my butt is still sore from trying to post in a western saddle, which I've learned is just not done, since it hurts so much. We arrived at a beautiful beach, obviously not owned by a hotel, but a local beach. Being surrounded by Dominicans, not English or white people. Slow ride home. Slow bus home. Another cocktail. Long nap for me. Dinner at 10 p.m.
Day Three
Today Patrick and I slept a little later, had a leisurely breakfast, went to get some good coffee at the El Capitan bar, then headed to the beach, where we spent the whole day. Having some rum, doing a little email, and then a short nap. More by the end of the week.
MichaelXO
Saturday, arrive Toronto airport, gave Scott the key to our house and car. Got our tickets from the Nolitours desk, no problem. Checked our luggage immediately. Went to Swiss Chalet to have a beer and food. Had to wait until 3:30 for boarding.
Upon boarding, posed the question of an upgrade to business class, since we're on our "togetherness break". We took our assigned seats, and were immediately invited to business class. Luxury, especially the leg room. But also the champagne and orange juice, the gin on the rocks, a better than average dinner, red wine, and scotch.
Arrive Dominican Republic, get through immigration, finally get our luggage (first on the plane, last off), and get bused through Punta Cana to our resort. Patrick and I are not generally resort people, but since this was quite last minute, we weren't picky. Met Anibal, a porter and security guard at the resort, who showed us to our room, and chatted up Patrick in Spanish (Anibal has relatives in Ontario). We got settled, and proceeded to the bar and ordered two cerveza. Followed by two rums on the rocks. And then a walk on the beach and a dipping of the toes, just to make sure it was real. Went to bed at a reasonable hour, only to hear the disco on the beach coming directly into our room. We did sleep, sliding doors closed. The end of Day One.
Day One.
We are both awake around 7:00 a.m., which is unusual for both of us. Breakfast buffet, bad coffee and off to the pool. It is Sunday, and we're both surprized construction is continuing on a new spa, even on the Sabbath. Lazy morning around the pool, waiting to book three excursions and dinners. Finally we get to speak to Martin, a French Canadian with delightful accent and Bambi lashes. We book our horseback riding for Monday afternoon through Caramel.
More pool time. Lunch buffet. To the beach (of course I missed a spot on my chest putting on sunblock - a little glowing patch below my neck) for the afternoon. Dinner buffet. More drinking that night. Bed and more disco.
Day Two
Since we are only here for a week, and we're interested in more than just sitting around on the beach, we booked a horseback trip. Knowing the economic situation, I figured the horses wouldn't be overfed bohemoths, but gaunt, slow-moving pack horses. Patrick and I spent the morning at a different pool (there are three on the property, not including the ocean), and then headed to the lobby after lunch to get picked up by the shuttle. We were barely three minutes away, went the driver hit one of the gates with the bus, causing an arguement, we turned around, talked to someone else, turned around again, and continued to pick up other people from different resorts. We only made one stop, and continued on our rather highspeed drive to the four-wheel drive and horse location. Patrick and I were the only people taking the horses, our fellow Canadians were taking the 4W offroad crazy trip. We felt that we saw a great amount of local life here on the island, as well as beautiful countryside and plantations. My little horse was decidedly the leader, despite my attempts to get her beside Patrick. And my butt is still sore from trying to post in a western saddle, which I've learned is just not done, since it hurts so much. We arrived at a beautiful beach, obviously not owned by a hotel, but a local beach. Being surrounded by Dominicans, not English or white people. Slow ride home. Slow bus home. Another cocktail. Long nap for me. Dinner at 10 p.m.
Day Three
Today Patrick and I slept a little later, had a leisurely breakfast, went to get some good coffee at the El Capitan bar, then headed to the beach, where we spent the whole day. Having some rum, doing a little email, and then a short nap. More by the end of the week.
MichaelXO
posted by Michael at 5:53 p.m.
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