Possibly my 40th trip (lost count some time ago). It may have been the best so far (next to the first of course.
I landed in PUJ and the Avis guy was waiting with the car. After all of the standard paper work, pointing out and recording all of the scratches/dents and taking photos of all I was on my way to Higuey to meet Winston. As always I am a bit more nervous when driving alone but all went well except when I tried calling Winie the call would not go through and I thought that my Claro phone may have need more minute but it turns out I was dialing with a ?1? and as it was not need the calls failed. I found Winie and we had lunch and caught up for a while.
The drive to El Seibo was fine and it was getting dark as we arrived we did see a Christmas tree made from Presidente Grande bottles I have a picture if I can figure out how to post it I will.
After a short nap and a couple very cold ones we were of to check on the Asopao (the girls had been at it all day and it looked awesome) a few more beers and a tour of town and back to the sidewalk for dinner and? well you know a few more Presidentes.
There is a military installation across the street and they have a bar where both the Military guys and the prisoners dance to the ear splitting sounds of Merengue/bachata/Salsa music. We did not stay long as I could barely withstand the volume but interesting for sure.
Sunday again was a day for relaxing we went to the river with the kids and a couple friends where some wine and more beer was consumed. We built a fire and cook some chicken and pork chops all was very relaxing away from the excitement of town.
Back to Winie?s for a nap and getting ready to go out a visit some more friends where some more wine was consumed over many stories and warm conversation.
Monday morning up at 6am to head for Santo Domingo (Winie works in the Capital and keeps room there during the week) to drop Winie and head to the North Coast. With all the talk about the new highway I had to see it and I can say it is fine with nothing really in way of problems/dangers that I saw if you maintain a safe speed and alertness. I did see a few drivers going too fast and one truck off the road but all in all I would do it again in a heartbeat. Tolls as have been mentioned before total about $10 each way. I am a fan of Naturism or Nudism if you prefer and there is a wonderful resort between Rio San Juan and Cabrera so I had another 60kms or so to go from the end of the highway and I am please to say that the roads were in quite good shape except for a few spots. After making it through Nagua all was good to even it did start to rain a bit. I arrived at Cliente Caribe at about 1pm; it is an all inclusive resort with the option to be nude in all areas of the resort. They were not busy at all so I was offered a free upgrade to and ocean view villa, that was great. I was there for three nights and although it rained almost the entire time I had a very good time (I have stayed here before and highly recommend it if you are so inclined (PM for more info if you wish). Of course Thursday morning it dawned beautifully sunny just in time for me to depart to meet Winston in Boca Chica to head back to El Seibo for Christmas. We had a wonderful lunch at some sort of a cafeteria place just east of Boca Chica I had fish with some fried rice Chinese style very busy spot with excellent washrooms.
Now headed back to El Seibo and another nap. The big Christmas dinner is on the 24th and we had roast pork that Winie bought already cooked at Price Smart with potatoes carrots wine and beer. The pork was a good as any I have ever had, it was seasoned with oregano. With plans to head to Bavero in the morning I suggested an early night but we did end up going out to visit a again and even after returning home we received some visitors of our own so although not super late not early for sure.
I was hoping to get on the road by like 10 am to enjoy a longer day at the beach. As tings go we had to wait a bit on one of Winie's sons and a friend to arrive fro San Pedro and jus when I thought we were all ready to go a ?must have a short visit? came up because this person was hoping to join us but was unable so she needed to see me in order to wish Feliz Navidad as I would not be back in town this visit. Another offer of wine (refused and I received a very long face when I did) we visited and finally headed for Bavero. Winie had made some type of arrangement foe a ?luxury 2 bedroom suite on the beach with a pool? than never did come to fruition and we were shown a couple of rooms that were worth like 10 ? 15 bucks and they wanted $60 and although Winie was will I was not.
After some consultation with someone he knows who lives in Bavero we were directed to a wonderful place who?s name escapes me now (I will add the info later because I want everyone to know it as the place is that awesome maybe you may already be aware?)
For the single rate of $1200 RD and double $1500 we got two rooms both equipped with full refrigerator, stove, microwave, coffee maker, blender (yes blender) A/c ,ceiling fan, double bed TV sofa bed and balcony. They have a pool and internet.
We prepared a meal of pasta and tomato sauce we gorge ourselves again on the leftover pork we had empanadas and some more wine and beer. Then we headed out to the beach where I also did some much need trinket shopping as I may have noted in previous posts I am not new to the pressure sales at tourist shops but holy FCUK these Haitian vendors are insanely high pressure and if someone does not educate them there may soon be not customers will to put up with them even with a Dominicana present they just would not take no for an answer enough said. We walked on the beach and had a very nice time before rerunning to the room.
Winie?s friend Jesus (mentioned earlier) suggested we meet him at a Spanish bar he likes so we met him there, very nice and quiet place in a big mall. We stayed a while then dropped our car at the hotel and hopped in with Jesus and headed to the Hard Rock Caf? (when in Bavero ?) we were well entertained my a rock band from Mexico and enjoyed a special they had on drinks when you could have unlimited number of drinks from a special menu for $500 RD each and keep a souvenir glass at the end was lots of fun and the kids got a kick out of it as well. E headed back to the hotel and I went to bed right away. In the morning my main focus was to check on my flight as I was supposed to head home around 1:00 pm. To my pleasure I had a message that the flight was delayed till 3pm so we headed out for breakfast and the beach. We had a couple of hours at the beach swimming and walking Winie?s youngest son love to let the surf roll him around and we enjoyed watching him have so much fun on a Christmas day. Time ran out quickly and we headed back as everyone had some where to be, Ruth was headed home to San Pedro for an urgent hair appointment and Winie did not want to be on public transport after dark I still needed to return the rental and get to the airport. Now there was another update f another delay till 5pm but because every one had some where to go I just went ahead and returned the car and Avis dropped me at the airport. Check in was a breeze because of course all the other passengers had been there since like 10 am so my bags were accepted as soon as I found the correct counter. Took a couple tries but I got connected in the airport and found yet another message saying the flight was cancelled. Well, you can imagine how hard it was to find someone who had a clue. Eventually and in a very typical Dominican way (read lots of time and very little communication) we rounded up the last dozen or so stragglers and we were busses to the Barcel? Bavero Casino Hotel, not a bad place and I give credit to West Jet for making that decision but due to the lack of any actual representation from West Jet many people were very frustrated. We were offered access to the bar while the hotel waited on payment to be confirmed but eventually I got dinner and a reasonable sleep. Back on the bus at 6am (no coffee available in hotel) and the normal check in process including the normal two hour wait to board. Some food and coffee in the airport and headed back to Canada (Ottawa) without any further incident (except having to scrape ? of ice from the car) Anyway I?m back at work and the only person that I have seen was a very random Dominican guy who walked into the office looking for help with his car (I run a towing firm). So here I sit thinking of the next time I can visit DR again.
Gerry
I landed in PUJ and the Avis guy was waiting with the car. After all of the standard paper work, pointing out and recording all of the scratches/dents and taking photos of all I was on my way to Higuey to meet Winston. As always I am a bit more nervous when driving alone but all went well except when I tried calling Winie the call would not go through and I thought that my Claro phone may have need more minute but it turns out I was dialing with a ?1? and as it was not need the calls failed. I found Winie and we had lunch and caught up for a while.
The drive to El Seibo was fine and it was getting dark as we arrived we did see a Christmas tree made from Presidente Grande bottles I have a picture if I can figure out how to post it I will.
After a short nap and a couple very cold ones we were of to check on the Asopao (the girls had been at it all day and it looked awesome) a few more beers and a tour of town and back to the sidewalk for dinner and? well you know a few more Presidentes.
There is a military installation across the street and they have a bar where both the Military guys and the prisoners dance to the ear splitting sounds of Merengue/bachata/Salsa music. We did not stay long as I could barely withstand the volume but interesting for sure.
Sunday again was a day for relaxing we went to the river with the kids and a couple friends where some wine and more beer was consumed. We built a fire and cook some chicken and pork chops all was very relaxing away from the excitement of town.
Back to Winie?s for a nap and getting ready to go out a visit some more friends where some more wine was consumed over many stories and warm conversation.
Monday morning up at 6am to head for Santo Domingo (Winie works in the Capital and keeps room there during the week) to drop Winie and head to the North Coast. With all the talk about the new highway I had to see it and I can say it is fine with nothing really in way of problems/dangers that I saw if you maintain a safe speed and alertness. I did see a few drivers going too fast and one truck off the road but all in all I would do it again in a heartbeat. Tolls as have been mentioned before total about $10 each way. I am a fan of Naturism or Nudism if you prefer and there is a wonderful resort between Rio San Juan and Cabrera so I had another 60kms or so to go from the end of the highway and I am please to say that the roads were in quite good shape except for a few spots. After making it through Nagua all was good to even it did start to rain a bit. I arrived at Cliente Caribe at about 1pm; it is an all inclusive resort with the option to be nude in all areas of the resort. They were not busy at all so I was offered a free upgrade to and ocean view villa, that was great. I was there for three nights and although it rained almost the entire time I had a very good time (I have stayed here before and highly recommend it if you are so inclined (PM for more info if you wish). Of course Thursday morning it dawned beautifully sunny just in time for me to depart to meet Winston in Boca Chica to head back to El Seibo for Christmas. We had a wonderful lunch at some sort of a cafeteria place just east of Boca Chica I had fish with some fried rice Chinese style very busy spot with excellent washrooms.
Now headed back to El Seibo and another nap. The big Christmas dinner is on the 24th and we had roast pork that Winie bought already cooked at Price Smart with potatoes carrots wine and beer. The pork was a good as any I have ever had, it was seasoned with oregano. With plans to head to Bavero in the morning I suggested an early night but we did end up going out to visit a again and even after returning home we received some visitors of our own so although not super late not early for sure.
I was hoping to get on the road by like 10 am to enjoy a longer day at the beach. As tings go we had to wait a bit on one of Winie's sons and a friend to arrive fro San Pedro and jus when I thought we were all ready to go a ?must have a short visit? came up because this person was hoping to join us but was unable so she needed to see me in order to wish Feliz Navidad as I would not be back in town this visit. Another offer of wine (refused and I received a very long face when I did) we visited and finally headed for Bavero. Winie had made some type of arrangement foe a ?luxury 2 bedroom suite on the beach with a pool? than never did come to fruition and we were shown a couple of rooms that were worth like 10 ? 15 bucks and they wanted $60 and although Winie was will I was not.
After some consultation with someone he knows who lives in Bavero we were directed to a wonderful place who?s name escapes me now (I will add the info later because I want everyone to know it as the place is that awesome maybe you may already be aware?)
For the single rate of $1200 RD and double $1500 we got two rooms both equipped with full refrigerator, stove, microwave, coffee maker, blender (yes blender) A/c ,ceiling fan, double bed TV sofa bed and balcony. They have a pool and internet.
We prepared a meal of pasta and tomato sauce we gorge ourselves again on the leftover pork we had empanadas and some more wine and beer. Then we headed out to the beach where I also did some much need trinket shopping as I may have noted in previous posts I am not new to the pressure sales at tourist shops but holy FCUK these Haitian vendors are insanely high pressure and if someone does not educate them there may soon be not customers will to put up with them even with a Dominicana present they just would not take no for an answer enough said. We walked on the beach and had a very nice time before rerunning to the room.
Winie?s friend Jesus (mentioned earlier) suggested we meet him at a Spanish bar he likes so we met him there, very nice and quiet place in a big mall. We stayed a while then dropped our car at the hotel and hopped in with Jesus and headed to the Hard Rock Caf? (when in Bavero ?) we were well entertained my a rock band from Mexico and enjoyed a special they had on drinks when you could have unlimited number of drinks from a special menu for $500 RD each and keep a souvenir glass at the end was lots of fun and the kids got a kick out of it as well. E headed back to the hotel and I went to bed right away. In the morning my main focus was to check on my flight as I was supposed to head home around 1:00 pm. To my pleasure I had a message that the flight was delayed till 3pm so we headed out for breakfast and the beach. We had a couple of hours at the beach swimming and walking Winie?s youngest son love to let the surf roll him around and we enjoyed watching him have so much fun on a Christmas day. Time ran out quickly and we headed back as everyone had some where to be, Ruth was headed home to San Pedro for an urgent hair appointment and Winie did not want to be on public transport after dark I still needed to return the rental and get to the airport. Now there was another update f another delay till 5pm but because every one had some where to go I just went ahead and returned the car and Avis dropped me at the airport. Check in was a breeze because of course all the other passengers had been there since like 10 am so my bags were accepted as soon as I found the correct counter. Took a couple tries but I got connected in the airport and found yet another message saying the flight was cancelled. Well, you can imagine how hard it was to find someone who had a clue. Eventually and in a very typical Dominican way (read lots of time and very little communication) we rounded up the last dozen or so stragglers and we were busses to the Barcel? Bavero Casino Hotel, not a bad place and I give credit to West Jet for making that decision but due to the lack of any actual representation from West Jet many people were very frustrated. We were offered access to the bar while the hotel waited on payment to be confirmed but eventually I got dinner and a reasonable sleep. Back on the bus at 6am (no coffee available in hotel) and the normal check in process including the normal two hour wait to board. Some food and coffee in the airport and headed back to Canada (Ottawa) without any further incident (except having to scrape ? of ice from the car) Anyway I?m back at work and the only person that I have seen was a very random Dominican guy who walked into the office looking for help with his car (I run a towing firm). So here I sit thinking of the next time I can visit DR again.
Gerry