Just got back to reality after a 6 day trip to the DR....What an experience!!! I went with two friends and met two down there and it was one big party!!!!.
1st day) We started drinking at the bar in Miami at around 11am and did not stop. It was easy getting everything checked in and off we went on AA. The flight only took about an hour and a half and I was surprised how nice the airport was in Puarta Plata. We got our Visas to enter ($10) and went through to get our bags. At that point we were in disarray since all the porters started grabing our bags and trying to take us to a taxi or bus just to get a tip. We could not find our van immediately and when we did, three people took our belongings to the van. Then they asked for a tip. Each got at least 5 dollars to carry one bag. We didnt know what to do and when we finally got onto the van we were all distraught with what would come next....When we arrived at the Azzuro resort, it was only three of us at the time, we finally got over our panick attack!!! Check in was simple and the rooms were very nice. We went straight out to the bar and then down to the beach....Amazing scene....Palm trees lined the beach and all the little bars side by side was just incredible. We walked down to the end of the Bay and looked back at the mountain tops, which I had never seen together in one location. We ate at the bar in front of Tiana's and had a burger that tasted like goat...Durwood and I ate it anyway. Veda had the fries. We went back and kept drinking, had dinner, drank some more and then I think, called it a night.....
2nd day)Each morning we were out the door at 7 or 7:30am not to miss a thing. On this day we ate breakfast and tried to plan on what were going to do. We started with drinks pretty early and then made our way to the beach. My friend Durwood is a Wind surfer so you know why we picked the area. His girlfriend Veda and I sat in the lounge chairs with drinks while Durwood went about Windsurfing. The winds were OK that day and it was sunny so i think all was good. I did get a little distraught by one of the workers. I dont really know what he was saying but some people think since I was there alone that he was thinking I was Gay or something. Being from the south I thought nothing of it and was not approuched again on the trip by this guy. I dont know, miscommunication, maybe?? Strange experience anyway. Of course then I was heckled by my friends the rest of the trip. After the evening came, my other friends Rach and Miche came into town. They were staying at the Natura Cab. They came down and met us for drinks but were already a little toasted so they left for dinner back at their place. Durwood, Veda and myself had dinner at Jose O Shays, which was pretty good. We went back, had more drinks and Durwood and Veda went to their room to call it a night. I stayed up and watched the show, kind of cheezy but different and had good music. The dancers were pretty good also so all in all, not too bad. The band was pretty good also. Gives you something to do in the evening, while drinking.
3rd day) Got up early, went to breakfast, had a few drinks and by early afternoon went up to Natura to see the girls. We sat in the sun, had drinks, talked over old time. One of them was an x girlfriend from a while back and the other was her friend which I knew when we had lived together. It was fun. We also walked to the Coco Bar, (tell you more later, day 5) We drank alot, got ready for dinner, which was hilarious and I am unable to elaborate, and went to dinner. We were the only ones there and the Chef, a Chillean, made up a awsome dinner. I had a Thai tuna with rice, and Rach had eggplant and Tuna with a fantastic sauce. Miche had pork and rice with a great sauce. Basically they just let him decide what to make and everyone enjoyed the dinner. Then we relaxed in the hammock and passed out.
4th day)Got up and walked to get a taxi at Breezes since no one at Cabana is in the office until 8 or 9. Went back to Azzuro, had breakfast and started drinking. Presidente is very good and pretty much all I drank. My friend Durwood, Veda and I went to Sosua bay resort and did some shopping, ate lunch, drank untill early afternoon. That afternoon we went to the Casino at Breezes where there was no one. We were basically the only ones playing. We stayed for about 2 or 3 hours and then left. We did OK and did not lose money so that was good. Also most mornings we also walked the beaches and then the shops and started buying things. Shirts, hats, necklaces, paintings, etc. Shopping is very good there. I like the places wherre you can negotiate the prices. Some stores would not. The ones with tile floors and AC. I guess rent is hire. That night, the girls came down and we all went out to the bars and stayed out until 2 or 3 am. The Lax bar was the best. Also, Babu bar was pretty good. They show a video of extreme sports on the big screen. When you sit out on the beach at any of these bars there are musicians that come around and play and there was one song, mi hermosa something by Raulin that should be suggested every time. I bought two Bachata CDs and both have this song on it. Its great!!! Anyway, 3am rolled around and everyone went home.
5th day) Got up early and had breakfast. The breakfast is pretty good, I did not eat alot but a lot of choices. The Sosua Bay Resort has better food and better chefs. It is low season so maybe when the occupancy picks up, they transfer the chefs. Luch and dinner are ok also, but you get spoiled when the Chillean chef cooks for you. This is the day that Durwood and Veda went to check out the real estate all morning. I sat around and tried to take some pictures. In the afternoon I went up to Rach and Miche place in Natura and hung out on the beach. I took my video camera and we decided to track down to the Coco bar. This bar is in the middle of nowhere and there is this little old man that sits out there and drinks all day. When some one is walking on the desolate beach, they can get a cold Presidente there. I think it was like 60 pesos. we filmed the whole event which was hilarous and we made Miche dance with the guy. he had the hots for Miche and was making all kinds of jestures like rubbing his chest and other things. After the dance, his son came out and he was not having fun anymore. I think his wife saw him dancing and acting up and sent him to keep the peace. It was funny!!!! We then went back had a few drinks and got ready for dinner. Everyone was so drunk at this point it was hard to focus. this was another hilarious event that is just unexplainable. We then went to the dinner that Miche's boyfriend had special for her. So the owner of Natura, a beautiful lady from Chile, Rach, Miche and I had dinner. We had the best slad I ever ate with walnuts and some dressing that was awsome, Something with fish(they told me and now I forgot, Saveche I think, olives and bread.The main course was linguine with scallops and a great sauce. Wine and beer and other drinks. It was just an amazing evening. It was sad to say goodbye to the girls, especially Rach....
6th day)Got up, ate breakfast, drank a little because we had to leave for the airport at 1pm. took pictures, shopped a lot. It was raining all morning. We had our van pick us up and off we went to the airport. When we got there, there were three guys wating to grab our bags. I said uno and that was it. The guy we picked was great. I think it was number 4. they wear numbers on their shirts for identification. He got us checked in very quickly. A good tip for no stress, $20.....We then sat at the airport for a few hours, had drinks and then left the island dreaming of the next return.......
This was a great trip. The island is beautiful, the people are kind and helpful, we got exchange rates on the strip at 45/1 and 46/1 and 46.5/1.Do not exhcnage at the Miami airport. They gave me 37.5/1 and stated that the other exchange rates that I had seen where bogus. That is not a true statement. Exchange your money on the strip. Not vendors in the street with money in hand, but the little booths. Walk up and down and ask for more. One day it was 45 we asked for 46, we got it. Every peso counts when shopping. thanks
1st day) We started drinking at the bar in Miami at around 11am and did not stop. It was easy getting everything checked in and off we went on AA. The flight only took about an hour and a half and I was surprised how nice the airport was in Puarta Plata. We got our Visas to enter ($10) and went through to get our bags. At that point we were in disarray since all the porters started grabing our bags and trying to take us to a taxi or bus just to get a tip. We could not find our van immediately and when we did, three people took our belongings to the van. Then they asked for a tip. Each got at least 5 dollars to carry one bag. We didnt know what to do and when we finally got onto the van we were all distraught with what would come next....When we arrived at the Azzuro resort, it was only three of us at the time, we finally got over our panick attack!!! Check in was simple and the rooms were very nice. We went straight out to the bar and then down to the beach....Amazing scene....Palm trees lined the beach and all the little bars side by side was just incredible. We walked down to the end of the Bay and looked back at the mountain tops, which I had never seen together in one location. We ate at the bar in front of Tiana's and had a burger that tasted like goat...Durwood and I ate it anyway. Veda had the fries. We went back and kept drinking, had dinner, drank some more and then I think, called it a night.....
2nd day)Each morning we were out the door at 7 or 7:30am not to miss a thing. On this day we ate breakfast and tried to plan on what were going to do. We started with drinks pretty early and then made our way to the beach. My friend Durwood is a Wind surfer so you know why we picked the area. His girlfriend Veda and I sat in the lounge chairs with drinks while Durwood went about Windsurfing. The winds were OK that day and it was sunny so i think all was good. I did get a little distraught by one of the workers. I dont really know what he was saying but some people think since I was there alone that he was thinking I was Gay or something. Being from the south I thought nothing of it and was not approuched again on the trip by this guy. I dont know, miscommunication, maybe?? Strange experience anyway. Of course then I was heckled by my friends the rest of the trip. After the evening came, my other friends Rach and Miche came into town. They were staying at the Natura Cab. They came down and met us for drinks but were already a little toasted so they left for dinner back at their place. Durwood, Veda and myself had dinner at Jose O Shays, which was pretty good. We went back, had more drinks and Durwood and Veda went to their room to call it a night. I stayed up and watched the show, kind of cheezy but different and had good music. The dancers were pretty good also so all in all, not too bad. The band was pretty good also. Gives you something to do in the evening, while drinking.
3rd day) Got up early, went to breakfast, had a few drinks and by early afternoon went up to Natura to see the girls. We sat in the sun, had drinks, talked over old time. One of them was an x girlfriend from a while back and the other was her friend which I knew when we had lived together. It was fun. We also walked to the Coco Bar, (tell you more later, day 5) We drank alot, got ready for dinner, which was hilarious and I am unable to elaborate, and went to dinner. We were the only ones there and the Chef, a Chillean, made up a awsome dinner. I had a Thai tuna with rice, and Rach had eggplant and Tuna with a fantastic sauce. Miche had pork and rice with a great sauce. Basically they just let him decide what to make and everyone enjoyed the dinner. Then we relaxed in the hammock and passed out.
4th day)Got up and walked to get a taxi at Breezes since no one at Cabana is in the office until 8 or 9. Went back to Azzuro, had breakfast and started drinking. Presidente is very good and pretty much all I drank. My friend Durwood, Veda and I went to Sosua bay resort and did some shopping, ate lunch, drank untill early afternoon. That afternoon we went to the Casino at Breezes where there was no one. We were basically the only ones playing. We stayed for about 2 or 3 hours and then left. We did OK and did not lose money so that was good. Also most mornings we also walked the beaches and then the shops and started buying things. Shirts, hats, necklaces, paintings, etc. Shopping is very good there. I like the places wherre you can negotiate the prices. Some stores would not. The ones with tile floors and AC. I guess rent is hire. That night, the girls came down and we all went out to the bars and stayed out until 2 or 3 am. The Lax bar was the best. Also, Babu bar was pretty good. They show a video of extreme sports on the big screen. When you sit out on the beach at any of these bars there are musicians that come around and play and there was one song, mi hermosa something by Raulin that should be suggested every time. I bought two Bachata CDs and both have this song on it. Its great!!! Anyway, 3am rolled around and everyone went home.
5th day) Got up early and had breakfast. The breakfast is pretty good, I did not eat alot but a lot of choices. The Sosua Bay Resort has better food and better chefs. It is low season so maybe when the occupancy picks up, they transfer the chefs. Luch and dinner are ok also, but you get spoiled when the Chillean chef cooks for you. This is the day that Durwood and Veda went to check out the real estate all morning. I sat around and tried to take some pictures. In the afternoon I went up to Rach and Miche place in Natura and hung out on the beach. I took my video camera and we decided to track down to the Coco bar. This bar is in the middle of nowhere and there is this little old man that sits out there and drinks all day. When some one is walking on the desolate beach, they can get a cold Presidente there. I think it was like 60 pesos. we filmed the whole event which was hilarous and we made Miche dance with the guy. he had the hots for Miche and was making all kinds of jestures like rubbing his chest and other things. After the dance, his son came out and he was not having fun anymore. I think his wife saw him dancing and acting up and sent him to keep the peace. It was funny!!!! We then went back had a few drinks and got ready for dinner. Everyone was so drunk at this point it was hard to focus. this was another hilarious event that is just unexplainable. We then went to the dinner that Miche's boyfriend had special for her. So the owner of Natura, a beautiful lady from Chile, Rach, Miche and I had dinner. We had the best slad I ever ate with walnuts and some dressing that was awsome, Something with fish(they told me and now I forgot, Saveche I think, olives and bread.The main course was linguine with scallops and a great sauce. Wine and beer and other drinks. It was just an amazing evening. It was sad to say goodbye to the girls, especially Rach....
6th day)Got up, ate breakfast, drank a little because we had to leave for the airport at 1pm. took pictures, shopped a lot. It was raining all morning. We had our van pick us up and off we went to the airport. When we got there, there were three guys wating to grab our bags. I said uno and that was it. The guy we picked was great. I think it was number 4. they wear numbers on their shirts for identification. He got us checked in very quickly. A good tip for no stress, $20.....We then sat at the airport for a few hours, had drinks and then left the island dreaming of the next return.......
This was a great trip. The island is beautiful, the people are kind and helpful, we got exchange rates on the strip at 45/1 and 46/1 and 46.5/1.Do not exhcnage at the Miami airport. They gave me 37.5/1 and stated that the other exchange rates that I had seen where bogus. That is not a true statement. Exchange your money on the strip. Not vendors in the street with money in hand, but the little booths. Walk up and down and ask for more. One day it was 45 we asked for 46, we got it. Every peso counts when shopping. thanks
