Back from Paradise: Report
Never, after having returned from any other vacation, have I fallen into a black funk like this! I've been back two days, and it's all I can do to keep from rushing back to the airport and booking a one-way ticket to Dominican Republic (though I understand you can't buy a one-way ticket .. is that true?)
Cris and I spent two weeks at Riu Bachata on the north coast, 5 Km west of Puerto Plata. The resort is gorgeous, the staff are wonderful (especially Rapheal and Laydy), the food is plentiful, varied and excellent, the animation team is superb (especially Spaghetty!), the beach is to-die-for, and we had a 3rd floor room with a view of the pool, the mountains and the ocean! It was paradise!
But the best part was getting out of the resort and into the countryside. Already my heart aches to go home to DR!
The people are so friendly... the sweet smiles on the faces of the most beautiful children on earth as they giggle at my attempts to speak to them in their own language. The curious, open stares of people on the roadside that evaporate into huge smiles as you wave to them and shout, "Ola!". The shy permission given when you ask a young girl if you may take her picture, and the white-toothed smile that splashes across her face when you show her her picture on the back of your digital camera. Glimpses of narrow passages between rough concrete block homes where children and dogs played between the legs of a woman sweeping the hard parked earth. Small pyramids of rubbish piled neatly along the roadside. Motorcycles spewing blue smoke, competing with trucks, SUV's, tour buses, pickup trucks laden with fruit and donkeys laden with everything else, for space on a highway that has no lines, but has as many driving lanes as and when necessary. Roadside vendors offering everything from colouful carved birds to alcohol to strings of oranges. Fields of sugarcane and tobacco. Palm trees, white birds and blue sky everywhere. Children of all ages, wearing blue shirts and khaki pants going seemingly in every direction at all times of the day. People walking here and there, standing around here and there, some waiting to cross the highway, others standing idle, chatting amidst six, seven or ten motorcycles leaning idle on their kickstands. And everyone impecably dressed... clean, neat and
right-on fashion!
We met Michael at the pool. He was letting guests take a free scuba dive in the Riu Bachata pool, hoping to (and often successfully) signing them up for scuba lessons. He's also a realtor and property manager in the Puerto Plata area. What a nice guy! Open, honest and very knowledgeable of the area. Anyone looking to purchase real estate or rent on the north coast should contact Michael Muller (809)854-2353.
We also met Hillbilly! We had arranged to bus down to Santiago to meet with Hillbilly, but this didn't work out. We were fortunate enough to hook up with him on the day we left DR. We had a short visit at Riu Bachata, and I came away wishing very much that we had gotten together earlier. He's the kind of guy you could sit down and chat with for a short time, and come away feeling like you've known him your whole life.
I liked him very much.
We went to Sosua, did the glass-bottom boat trip. I scuba dived at Sosua later on - fantastic! The beach is great, the water superb!
We went to Paradise Island ... the fish, coral reef, boat ride, grass huts - what a fantastic trip ... everything from the long bus trip out, to the fantastic snorkeling there .. it was great!
A Tarantula walked up my arm. A Boa Constrictor wrapped itself around my neck. I ate Mangos fresh off the tree. I walked in a cactus forest. I met children who looked at me with eyes full of wonder (I've not seen this look in a child's eyes since my own children were in diapers). I swam in water that was clean, clear and didn't smell of oil. I met people who were genuinely happy to see me - not for what I might do for them, but simply because I was there.
I have fallen in love with a country that I feel fell in love with me. I will go back ... again and again and again. And one day, Dominican Republic will be my home.
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