Why I keep coming back...

I am about to return to the Dominican Republic for the 5th year in a row for my winter vacation. I thought I'd share a few of the photos I've taken over the last 4 years that are a large part of the reason I want to keep coming back. The weather of course is another... I live in a COLD part of Canada!

Our first trip was in 2009 and my then newish boyfriend and I were looking for a place neither of us had been to before, was Spanish speaking, big enough to drive around in and explore and was affordable. We stumbled upon a fantastic 2 week all-inclusive deal to the Luperon Beach Resort out of Toronto for only $537 CAD each and needless to say, grabbed it! It was a great base for us as we got a car in Puerto Plata the day after we arrived and over the next two weeks, we ended up seeing quite a bit of the western part of the north coast and Santiago, and in doing so, fell in love with the country!

Our second trip was to Punta Cana because we had a nonstop flight there from our small city and managed to hit a seat sale for $99 each way! I had 3 weeks that year and we rented our first condo together - my boyfriends usual way of traveling. It was an awkward location near the old La Marqueta (sp?) Supermercado, but we had a great time and on that trip went to Santo Domingo, through the mountains to Miches and back along the coast and got to know Higuey quite well.

Since then we have continued to return to Punta Cana and found better locations to stay at. Last year and this year I have a month and I can't wait to get there February 1! My boyfriend stayed almost 2 months last year and this year will be staying 2 1/2 months. He arrived last week and says the weather, water, Presidente and Brugal are all just fine and waiting for me to arrive! We plan to drive up to Cabarete/Sousa area for a week to 10 days to try that for a change, then head to Jarabacoa for a couple more days and then back to Punta Cana for my last two weeks. Anyone got a recommendation for an apartment or condo in or near Cabarete? Please PM me if you do!

These first few were taken in and around the Luperon area.


I ate some of that... was excellent!



It amazes me how even the humblest homes are spotless.




This then 12 year old, fixed our flat tire at his dads business. Dad was out when we pulled up but arrived before his son was done and inspected the work and gave it a thumbs up. We paid the boy double what he asked for for good fast work and the dad told him to keep it as he had earned it! We were really happy about that. We had 3 flats that trip and two of them were fixed there.



Cows on the road: a new experience for me. I'm used to moose, deer and bear. LOL



A gorgeous property between Luperon and La Isabella and below the 'road' to get there.

Roadside in Otra Banda. I did NOT eat this. LOL.


On the way to Miches between Higuay and El Siebo. You can sure see where the property line is on this hill!



At the height of land on the way to Miches.





At the central area at the water in Miches. These sculptures are magnificent!



The road east of Miches on the way back to Punta Cana. This is the norm, not the exception.





Crossing Rio Maimon in 2010. One of the locals directed us to the shallowest part of the ford. We were driving a teeny tiny little car and I have to admit at first to being pretty apprehensive about making it. But it was very shallow and we managed just fine. They have since finished the new bridge you can see in the background.

Rooftop and courtyard/Breakfast room at the Hotel Atarazana in the Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo. What an excellent small hotel and I hope to return if not this trip, on my next.





Playa Macao before the Surf School and before it got busy like it is now.


Playa Macao - I ate that lobster!

On our way to Las Terrenas last year.



Taken last year on Kim Beddells boat. We had a pod of 9 humpbacks beside us for a very long time! A female and her 8 escorts who were vying to be her mate. It was outstanding!

Rice Fields west of Uvero Alto.



Back up to Miches through the mountains in heavy fog. It lifted just enough to get this shot of waterfall that occurred because of all the rain last year.



Construction staging site for the new highway that will go up the east coast from Bavaro to Miches/Sabana de la Mar.



After the fog lifted.



The coast east of Miches. It's fantastically beautiful.



East of the previous photo.. mouth of the river. Local men would swim out so far I couldn't see them even with the telephoto camera and dive for lobster. They stayed out for an hour or more at a time by themselves. When the fisherman returned we bought what they had and treated our young friends to a lobster feed. They are from right near there and had never had it because it was always sold for money and was to valuable to eat themselves.



Our young friend is a mechanic at the place we rent our car from and his wife is a law student at the university in Higuey. We stopped at this roadside stand and bought them a feed of cooked pork and some fresh, some of which we took home and cooked and some of which we gave to them for their next meal. It think they cooked it as soon as they got home as that much meat is not something they have very often at all.

The pork was very fresh and tasty and I'd stop and buy from this man again. Excellent meat.

pollogringo said:

Vibrant color!

Click to expand...

Thank You! I really like that one too.

And Bronzeallspice, I will!

I'm just a little anxious about heading up to Cabarete without booking a condo first. My boyfriend likes to 'wing it' when he travels and I'm an advance planner, so it's hard for me to do that. I'm just going to insist we book at least one night somewhere so we have a day to find a place to stay that suits us. We have a place in Punta Cana till the 6th but plan to head up north on the 4th or 5th. I'll go anywhere on a day trip, but I like to know where I'm sleeping at night.

I really liked how the bricks and stones were used to pave parts of the Botanical Gardens in Santo Domingo. I took a lot of photos of this area and someday hope to adapt it to my home.



The gardens are very lovely and really worth the effort to go and see.





I'm not the only one who escapes to the beach!

From the monument in Santiago.



Also in Santiago. Not on the usual list for tourists.



Thanksgiving dinner ... just sayin...



Luperon Harbour from the east side, up on the hill.



This guy or his cousin woke me up every morning without fail in Luperon. I love this photo.

And:



The 'Bug Boys'. We've stayed at the same place the last two years in Bavaro and my boyfriend is there right now... the first year we were there a pickup truck came around every night about 6 pm and sprayed out the back of the truck, usually with a guy sitting right next the machine. Last year the truck was gone and these two boys pulled the fogger around on that little cart. I really hate to think what their health will be like in a few years.

bob saunders said:

Excellent photos taken by people that obviously love the island and its people.

Click to expand...

Thank you Bob! We do and plan to keep returning.

While I don't think we will buy in the D.R., we will continue to rent and hopefully spend our winters here once we both retire. By not buying, we are able to change the community as we like and there is just too much of the country we haven't spent any time in yet to make that kind of a permanent decision. One of the reasons we wish to spend some time checking out the Cabarete/Sousa area this time is to see if we'd rather fly into POP or AZS and rent somewhere along the north coast next year.

We also plan to spend a few nights in Jarabacoa this trip as well. Once I know a little better just what days we wish to head your way, I wondered if you would mind if I PM you for accommodation suggestions? I've found a few places online, but websites can be misleading at times...And since our dates are not set, it's hard to book in advance. My boyfriends Spanish is very good, mine not so much (But I'm learning!), so we have no barriers that way.

bronzeallspice said:

Please post some more pictures from your upcoming trip.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that and I will, especially as we want to go places we haven't been before! I'm really excited about all the new things to see and people to meet.

I started packing today and one of the first things I did was check the cameras and put them in my carry on bag. I may ask to borrow my daughter's waterproof camera when I see her tomorrow. That could open up a whole new world of photo ops!

Thanks for viewing them siegs. I had a lot of pleasure taking them.