to skip breakfast? It goes against the rules of common sense, the laws of science and good old-fashioned aesthetics. If you are one of those who have resisted the pleasures of breakfast so far, it is likely that a visit to any of Puerto Plata's hotels will cure you of this curious habit.

Breakfast is a simple, but sensory pleasure. Sip a strong Dominican coffee, taken sweet or bitter, and then feast your eyes on the elaborate, dazzling displays of fruit.

Try a new fruit every day as you work your way through your options. Some will be familiar -bananas, tangerines, pineapples and melons, for instance-. More exotic are the passion fruit, star fruit (carambola), mango and papaya (lechoza). Others like zapote, granadillo, guanabana, caimito and limon dulce are typically Dominican and virtually unknown outside of the tropics.

Get acquainted with the fruits of the land before you embark on your day's expeditions of the area. The tropical fare on offer at breakfast is just a small part of the spread, but it gives you a chance to partake of nature -prepare yourself for a day of natural sensory wonders!