Well - two weeks is just too short.

[FireGuy]

My wife and I returned Friday from two weeks at the Marien Coral by Hilton. For anyone considering this resort it is a good value for your money and is run very well. I would recommend it without reservation.

A few highlights.
Friday April 15 we met some of the posters from another board as well as Sarah and Robert from the DREAM Project and Grace (who co-ordinates for charities for the Diosces of Puerto Plata). A good time was had by all.

Tuesday April 19 we traveled to Santiago and spent the better part of the day with Hillbilly of DR1 fame. He is a gracious host and he and Mrs. Hillbilly certainly have their hands full with the traffic in and out of the "hovel". They are a couple to remember.

Thursday April 21; in the morning Grace escorted me to visit a local Puerto Plata school in barrio Gregorio Luperon near the port area of Puerto Plata. In a single phrase the need is self-evident. In the afternoon we visited the Mustard Seed Community in the campo between La Union (POP Airport) and Montellano. We spent time with the children and visited the construction site where the new Mustard Seed Community house is slowly taking shape. Interestingly, Ocean World has donated a number of workmen to assist in the work of building the new home and they were hard at work constructing concrete block walls when we were there. Hillbilly (previously mentioned DR1 icon) has offered his time and that of some of his sons, to install some electrical components which have been budgeted in the new home. If the need at the Puerto Plata school is self-evident; the need at Mustard seed is screaming for attention. More to follow with the Fiesta Committee of another board before any more is said publicly.

Saturday April 23 my wife and I met Mark and Colleen at the Checkpoint Sandwich Bar in Sosua. They are a well intentioned Western Canadian couple who are determined to survive in the DR and help the Fiesta Committee's charitable activities along the way (more to follow to the Fiesta Committee). We also visited Barb & Linden Anderson at the Britannia Pub where we left our annual donation in support of the Sosua Kid's Association. Later we attended a get-together at Rocky's and met a number of DR1 posters for some social interaction.

Tuesday April 26 I visited the DREAM Project office in Cabarete and was escorted by Sarah to two private and two public schools in the Cabarete area which are partially supported by the DREAM Project. The DREAM Project certainly has it's act together in the Cabarete area.

Thursday April 28 I was joined by Martin Espinal of Isaira Tours and I was able to introduce my friend Martin to my friend Stefan Miester, the General Manager of Ocean World. We discussed a few items of mutual interest and were offered a brief tour of this amazing evolving facility as few are permitted (including many behind the scenes areas). I must repeat that every time I view what has been accomplished in Cofresi by the Miester family I am absolutely in awe; knowing some of the obstacles which had to be overcome in order to accomplish their goals. On the way back to my hotel Martin gave me a tour of Casa Nazaret; a private orphanage for abandoned disabled children (not unlike the Mustard Seed Community) which co-incidentally houses eleven residents - the same number as Mustard Seed. Detailed commentary to the Fiesta Committee to follow.

In between these activities I did manage to enjoy all that the DR has to offer AND get a decent tan.

I will be pleased to answer questions on any associated DR topic in which I may be able to help.

Gregg

[MaineGirl]

Wow! What a trip! I wish I'd had more time to speak with you and your wife. Sounds like you are involved in some amazing projects.

[mondongo]

Gregg, do you think that the Coral Marien would be a good choice for a family with 2 small children making their first trip abroad?

thanks in advance

[FireGuy]

Originally Posted by mondongo

Gregg, do you think that the Coral Marien would be a good choice for a family with 2 small children making their first trip abroad?

thanks in advance

Hi mondongo,

CM would be an excellent choice for a newbie. As you know Dominicans love children and the staff at CM is excellent in this respect. As CM is run by Hilton it is a bit more "Americanized" both in how it is run and in it's clientelle (mostly Canadians and Americans the two weeks we were there) and this would minimize the "culture shock". Also since it is relatively small (under 300 rooms) it would tend not to overwhelm a newbie.

Hope this helps.

Gregg

[FireGuy]

Originally Posted by MaineGirl

Wow! What a trip! I wish I'd had more time to speak with you and your wife. Sounds like you are involved in some amazing projects.

Thanks Amity, it was great meeting you and your father - next time, be on time (LOL).

If you want to see a bit more about what we do just have a look at:

http://fiesta.webcentre.ca/

Gregg

[FireGuy]

Originally Posted by FireGuy

Thursday April 28 I was joined by Martin Espinal of Isaira Tours and I was able to introduce my friend Martin to my friend Stefan Miester, the General Manager of Ocean World. We discussed a few items of mutual interest and were offered a brief tour of this amazing evolving facility as few are permitted (including many behind the scenes areas). I must repeat that every time I view what has been accomplished in Cofresi by the Miester family I am absolutely in awe; knowing some of the obstacles which had to be overcome in order to accomplish their goals. On the way back to my hotel Martin gave me a tour of Casa Nazaret; a private orphanage for abandoned disabled children (not unlike the Mustard Seed Community) which co-incidentally houses eleven residents - the same number as Mustard Seed. Detailed commentary to the Fiesta Committee to follow.

My apologies to the Meister family on my mispelling of their name; by the time I noticed my error the time limit for editing my own posting had passed and I could not change it.

I will not make that mistake again.

Gregg

[mondongo]

Thanks for the info, Gregg.

[Chris]

We missed you and Amity this year. We were a weekend away from all the happenings. (Read Scott's blog) But, next year again. I hope you are refreshed and ready for the year to come... One year soon I'm sure we'll welcome you to the DR...

[apdomini100max]

Originally Posted by FireGuy

My wife and I returned Friday from two weeks at the Marien Coral by Hilton. For anyone considering this resort it is a good value for your money and is run very well. I would recommend it without reservation.

A few highlights.
Friday April 15 we met some of the posters from another board as well as Sarah and Robert from the DREAM Project and Grace (who co-ordinates for charities for the Diosces of Puerto Plata). A good time was had by all.

Tuesday April 19 we traveled to Santiago and spent the better part of the day with Hillbilly of DR1 fame. He is a gracious host and he and Mrs. Hillbilly certainly have their hands full with the traffic in and out of the "hovel". They are a couple to remember.

Thursday April 21; in the morning Grace escorted me to visit a local Puerto Plata school in barrio Gregorio Luperon near the port area of Puerto Plata. In a single phrase the need is self-evident. In the afternoon we visited the Mustard Seed Community in the campo between La Union (POP Airport) and Montellano. We spent time with the children and visited the construction site where the new Mustard Seed Community house is slowly taking shape. Interestingly, Ocean World has donated a number of workmen to assist in the work of building the new home and they were hard at work constructing concrete block walls when we were there. Hillbilly (previously mentioned DR1 icon) has offered his time and that of some of his sons, to install some electrical components which have been budgeted in the new home. If the need at the Puerto Plata school is self-evident; the need at Mustard seed is screaming for attention. More to follow with the Fiesta Committee of another board before any more is said publicly.

Saturday April 23 my wife and I met Mark and Colleen at the Checkpoint Sandwich Bar in Sosua. They are a well intentioned Western Canadian couple who are determined to survive in the DR and help the Fiesta Committee's charitable activities along the way (more to follow to the Fiesta Committee). We also visited Barb & Linden Anderson at the Britannia Pub where we left our annual donation in support of the Sosua Kid's Association. Later we attended a get-together at Rocky's and met a number of DR1 posters for some social interaction.

Tuesday April 26 I visited the DREAM Project office in Cabarete and was escorted by Sarah to two private and two public schools in the Cabarete area which are partially supported by the DREAM Project. The DREAM Project certainly has it's act together in the Cabarete area.

Thursday April 28 I was joined by Martin Espinal of Isaira Tours and I was able to introduce my friend Martin to my friend Stefan Miester, the General Manager of Ocean World. We discussed a few items of mutual interest and were offered a brief tour of this amazing evolving facility as few are permitted (including many behind the scenes areas). I must repeat that every time I view what has been accomplished in Cofresi by the Miester family I am absolutely in awe; knowing some of the obstacles which had to be overcome in order to accomplish their goals. On the way back to my hotel Martin gave me a tour of Casa Nazaret; a private orphanage for abandoned disabled children (not unlike the Mustard Seed Community) which co-incidentally houses eleven residents - the same number as Mustard Seed. Detailed commentary to the Fiesta Committee to follow.

In between these activities I did manage to enjoy all that the DR has to offer AND get a decent tan.

I will be pleased to answer questions on any associated DR topic in which I may be able to help.

Gregg

WOW Gregg you had a great time!! I would appreciated it if you tell me how much was the hotel.

[Hillbilly]

I was so happy to see you again. We wuld love to be able to do more things, but our lives are so full during the school year. Sometimes I have to seal for Peter to pay Paul, timewise.

With another poster, I have been helping out our oldest orphanage here in Santiago-500 kids all told. Took mankind over there to give out a whole bunch of baseball gear and we were mobbed by the kids. The up side is that we now know what they need for the short term and I think we'll get it.

The down side was that as we were there, three little kids learned that their mother had died, at 28!, of a massive heart attack. This seems to be so unfair.
With Bill Gates' money, maybe we could make a dent..

Gregg, when you head back this way make plans to spend a night, okay?


HB