Santo Domingo to Playa Palenque - Page 2

Hillbilly · #11 06-29-2006, 07:44 PM

ditto

hb

BPL888 · #12 06-30-2006, 05:44 PM

The next morning, Sunday, we boarded a guagua to go back to Playa Nayajo. A friend of ours is building a house in the hills overlooking Playa Nayajo and we were meeting family there to inspect the progress and to take some photos to bring back to the States. The whole family met us at the worksite and we spent several hours as sidewalk (?) superintendants. They were pouring the cement for the second floor and I gained a lot of respect for what hard work that is. There were 15-20 laborers working on this because once you start the pour it is very time sensitive and needs to be completed. I was given a tour of the construction and escorted up to the second floor where the cement was being applied. The cement was mixed in a gas powered mixer on the ground an then sent up to the second floor via a power derek type device. Once on the second floor it was dumped into a hopper that was used to fill individual wheelbarrows. The workers on the second floor then muscled the cement to the correct spot and screeted (sp) it till smooth. I'm glad it wasn't me pushing around wheelbarrows full of cement in the sun that day. They worked very quickly and very hard, and it was very hot. When we had seen enough we all headed down to Playa Nayajo for some lunch and a swimming. Playa Nayajo is much more crowded than Playa Palenque and the music added to the atmosphere. The family I was with carefully selected fish from the restaurant which was then cooked and brought to us with rice, papa frites and salsa. We also bought some chicken for the kids that did not like fish. The whole shebang along with some corn and several rounds of grandes and refrescos came to around 900 RD for 4 adults and 2 kids. After lunch we bought a couple of small floats for the kids from a wandering vendor and jumped in the water. I think I had more fun than the kids ! Oh to be young again !! The fun was interupted a few times. Once a 10 year old kid cracked his head on the rocks that make up the breakwater. He seemed dazed so we helped him to the shore and tried to find his parents if they were there. This was not easy as the beach was very crowded and chaotic, he was dazed and I was trying with broken spanish. Eventually someone he knew appeared and escorted him to what looked like a first aid station, a little bloody but otherwise OK. A short time later I was hailed loudly from the beach by one of our party to " GET OUT OF THE WATER NOW!!!". This was repeated several times loudly and I notice lots of people were quickly exiting the water. I collected the kids and headed to the shore. What could it be? Sharks?? Barracuda?? Giant Squid?? I was not waiting to find out, I just hustled to shore. When I asked what was going on I was told " no se ". It was a typical mob reaction. When some people suddenly bolted out of the water everyone else, especially watchful parents, followed suit and rushed to get everyone out of the water. On further investigation it turned out to be a fight in one of the dancehalls along the beach, though not close to us. The excitement ended with several of the combatents being marched up the road by the local authorities, I think the NP. With the excitement over we returned to the water with the kids. After an hour more of splashing around it was time to board the next bus back to Playa Palenque. 20 RD and 25 minutes later we were back at the Hotel Playa Palenque for a quiet evening around the pool. To be continued.........

Dragonfly32837 · #13 07-01-2006, 10:49 PM

cool report...

BPL888 · #14 07-06-2006, 05:11 PM

The next morning we had breakfast poolside and then I saw my friend off on a guagua as she had to go to work. I was going to stay in Playa Palenque for one more night and then meet her in the capital. This was one more night than I had planned and I found the hotel and the whole area so peaceful and pleasant that one more night would do me no harm. I spent a quiet morning walking the beach. There were only a half dozen people on the beach. The pier was deserted so I sat out on it and read a book. Around noon I returned to the hotel for a nap (Oh Vacations! ). I then returned mid afternoon to the Golden Beach Restaurant for a plate of shrimp (delicious) and a grande Presidente(ice cold) and an afternoon of watching the waves and meditating on the mysteries. The power was out so there was no music and that was OK with me, though the waitress seemed dissappointed. Besides the waitress and a few of her friends I was the only one there. At one point I noticed some movement on the beach all around me. Thinking that the sun, the beer, the meditation or all three were getting to me I rubbed my eyes and looked closer. I then discovered that I was surrounded by a lot of (50-60) crabs. They seemed to watch me and with the slightest movement they would dissapear back into thier holes in the sand. They had very big eyes (Fiddler crabs?) and if I remained still long enough they would reemerge from thier burrows and just look at me. If I am not mistaken I do believe they were trying to figure out how to eat me. Being several Presidentes into the process I found this game of hide and seek amusing. I spent an hour or so watching them watching me and wondering if they would approach me. They did not. They were very fast and with my slightest move the beach would go from 50-60 crabs to 0 crabs within one second. As the day wore on some dark clouds appeared and the beach turned cloudy and windy. The few swimmers on the beach came up to the shelter of the restaurant just as the rain started. The rain and wind was intense and I practiced my spanish weather words with the new arrivals. The storm left as quickly as it came and the visitors scattered leaving me the only patron at the bar. The day was growing late and the waitress was preparing to close down. She told me I was welcome to stay as late as I wanted as there was a watchman on duty so I ordered one last beer and spent a half an hour chatting and sharing my beer with the watchman. They all seemed curious as to how I found myself all the way out in Playa Palenque on a Monday afternoon in the slow season. Just lucky I guess ! I also think I provided them some entertainment and relief to the boredom that day. With darkness approaching I made my way back to the hotel for a swim and some dinner. Peter and Maria were entertaining some guests so I enjoyed some more conversation. The guests were a mix of Germans and Swiss with Dominican and Hatien wives. It made for a very interesting mix of language and accents. I also tried giving english lessons to the girls working the bar. They seemed amused. The European men seemed stunned that I knew next to nothing about the World Cup. It really has not caught on in the US. The chicken cordon bleau for dinner was excellent (280 RD ?). As the day ended I needed to mentaly prepare for the assault on my senses that was comming tomorrow with my return to the capital. To be continued...

BPL888 · #15 07-17-2006, 07:12 PM

The next day ( Tuesday) I readied myself for my return to the capital. When I inquired as to the checkout time at the Hotel Playa Palenque I was told "anytime is OK". I asked if 3:00-4:00 was alright and they said that was fine as they were not busy. After breakfast I preordered my lunch, a ham and cheese sandwich 80RD, and settled my bill. The total bill for three nights lodging, all meals, drinks and phone calls came to 7900 RD including the 26% of assorted taxes and service charges. A word of caution to anyone visiting out here, they request payment in cash. It seems the telephone service can be sporadic and that makes it difficult to process/confirm credit cards and travelers checks. I know that the 10% sevice fee should go to the workers but I wasn't sure so I made sure I put a tip in the hand of the maid, cook and barstaff. The service had been outstanding and I told them so. I took one last walk down the almost deserted beach and then returned to spend the rest of my day there sitting by the pool swimming, reading and napping. After lunch I said my goodbyes and boarded a guagua at the gate of the hotel and headed back to the capital( 50 RD and 1:20). They told me that all busses leaving from there would go to the Parque Independencia in the capital, 2 blocks from my hotel. The bus was uncrowded and it slowed down several times to keep time and distance between it and the bus ahead of it.This was OK with me as I got a chance to sightsee. We went through a town called Sabana Grande Palenque. It was a good size town with several nightclub/discos and a couple of hotels with pools (not cabanas). I have no idea how to get info about these hotels but I may try as this town seemed interesting, clean and possibly worth an overnight visit on my next trip out this way. There were advertisments on the telephone poles for several large bands that were to be playing in town soon. I think this town is a weekend magnet for all the aggriculteral area around it. The rest of the trip to the capital was uneventfull and as advertised I was dropped one block from the Aparthotel Condo-Parque near the Conde. Sorry so short, I have to go but will finnish the report as soon as I am able. To be continued.......

Dragonfly32837 · #16 07-18-2006, 11:22 AM

My grandparents from my father's side are from Sabana Grande de Palenque. My grandparents moved to Haina but my grandfather's brothers, sister, and families live there still. We always visit them whenever we go to Palenque beach. Did you happen to see the name Aquino listed on most of the small businesses there? That is our last name and those businesses belong to my family. You are correct about the place being a hot spot for neighboring towns that do not have clubs or discos. Sabana Grande de Palenque is still a small town in itself.

Mirador · #17 07-18-2006, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonfly32837

My grandparents from my father's side are from Sabana Grande de Palenque. My grandparents moved to Haina but my grandfather's brothers, sister, and families live there still. We always visit them whenever we go to Palenque beach. Did you happen to see the name Aquino listed on most of the small businesses there? That is our last name and those businesses belong to my family. You are correct about the place being a hot spot for neighboring towns that do not have clubs or discos. Sabana Grande de Palenque is still a small town in itself.

Just wanted to mention that the town of Sabana Grande de Palenque has an interesting geological feature worth visiting. It is located in the contiguous small village of Juan Barón. It is a small lagoon that goes by the name of Laguna (de) Los Reyes, hidden between rolling hills north of the village. The place receives migrating ducks and geese from the Northern Hemisphere every season. Unfortunately, the retired baseball player Timo Perez built, a few years ago, a mansion overlooking the lagoon, and has turned the only access from the town into a municipal garbage dump, in order to discourage visitors to what he considers his own private lagoon. Last time I visited the place, I was confronted by a shotgun armed private guard.

BPL888 · #18 07-18-2006, 12:38 PM

No Dragonfly I did not notice the name but my visit was very short, consisting of 4 trips through the town in a moving bus. I saw the band that would be playing in the town advertised on the poles from Najayo all the way to Playa Palenque. The hotels looked small but included pools with kids swimming in them. I sat next to some people who boarded in the town and they were very friendly and pleasant and we talked mostly about the beach. The nightclub/discos seemed to be pretty big and I am sure they would hopping on the weekend. I hope to spend a day or two there the next time I'm in the area.

Mirador · #19 07-18-2006, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPL888

.....I took one last walk down the almost deserted beach and then returned to.... To be continued.......

If you keep on walking down the deserted beach, you will find the mouth of the Nizao river, where the river merges with the sea, a truly magical place. And a couple of hundred yards fUrther west, there's a beach favorite of surfers...

BPL888 · #20 07-18-2006, 02:09 PM

After my return to the capital I met my friend around 7 PM and we decided to have dinner at Vesuvios on the Malecon. It was raining in the capital and though it eliminated some of the heat it made it unbelievably muggy. The meal at Vesuvios was excellent though quite expensive. I had the ravioli stuffed with cheese and proccuitto for 350 RD. She had the mixed seafood special for 700 RD. The service was excellent and they had a very nice desert cart. We split a huge piece of chocolate cake that was very rich and very good. We stayed for a few cocktails after dinner and did not feel rushed at all even though the restaurant was very busy. Though it was very good I think there must be other restaurants equally as good in the Zona Colonial closer to our hotel. We returned to the Hotel Condo-Parque and spent a little time enjoying a drink and chatting with the interestingly mixed group of customers at Walter's bar(The Venus Bar). It was a nice way to spend my last night in the DR. My friend needed to get up early to go to work so at 6:30 in the AM we tried to judge the breaks in the rain and I walked her up to the bus stop at the park. The air was heavy with humidity and the sadness of another great vacation comming to an end. After seeing her off on the bus with assorted last minute gifts I trudged over to Parco's Restaurant for a cup of tea and a bite to eat and to while away some time before I had to go to the airport . Paco's is an open air cafe/restaurant at the end of the Conde that is open 24 hours a day. While mulling over my ham and eggs and watching the early morning crowd dodge the raindrops I noticed a dispute brewing at the far side of the lunch counter. Two men, one of them a cabbie were getting into an ever louder exchange of opinions. One thing led to another until punches started to fly. After several exchanges of fists one of the guys grabbed a grande beer bottle from a nearby table and smashed it over the cabbie's head. He then started threatening to use the jagged end of the remainder of the bottle. There were more heated words but by then the staff at Paco's had tried to intervene to calm things down. They supplied a towel to the cabbie who's head was bleeding profusely. The combatents were seperated and a lot of loud pleading of cases ensued. After 10 or 15 minutes of this the cabbie got in his cab and left. 10 minuts later a cop showed up on a motorcycle (small Harley?). Several other cops materialized and all were wearing bullet proof vests. The remaining combatent gave a statement to the cop as did the employees of Paco's. With my limited spanish and the rapid speaking I understood none of it. A brand new SUV police vehicle pulled up and the combatent was invited to get in and was then driven away. All of this went on while most of the customers in Paco's continued to work on thier breakfast as if this was an everyday occurance in these parts. I had been told by a friend that Paco's was not a very good place to hang around but I did not expect this sort of trouble at 7 AM. The excitement over, I finnished my breakfast and waited for the rain to slow down so I could return to the hotel. A few more hours of packing and watching TV and the rain and I said my goodbyes to Walter and his staff and headed to the airport. The taxi, arranged by Walter was 700 RD and the driver was friendly and chatty. Several times on the way to the airport he crossed himself without explaination. I can only guess that that spot on the road was the site of a past tragedy. The trip through check in and immigration was relativly quick and painless, but I constantly got the feeling that I was being sized up. After reading of other peoples airport problems on DR1 I know why. The end of another great Dominican Republic vacation and time to start planning the next one. THE END