It’s been a while since I was able to hop online and share a post with everyone—all for a good reason. DH and I took a six-day trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Although we’ve traveled a fair amount in the U.S., this was our first trip to the Dominican and our first outside of the country. It was definitely a learning experience, especially as relates to custom lines. The trip down wasn’t bad but coming back we did a lot of waiting….in customs, on the connector flight, at the airport, at the shuttle bus stop. Fortunately, I have a lot of great memories to override the aggravation.
The resort was spectacular, upscale and Zen-like with acres of tropical gardens interwoven with walking paths. We had a fabulous room in the adults-only section of the resort which also featured a private pool, private beach, and private restaurant for the guests in that area (with access to all other areas of the resort).
Our days were spent lounging poolside on Bali beds, then taking dips in the ocean and pools. Each night we hit one of the different restaurants. We never did manage to take in any of the shows that were offered at the on-site theater, but there was always a singer or musicians at the restaurants or beach. One evening, we returned to our room to find rose petals strewn all over the bed, and a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver ice-bucket. They took very good care of us. 🙂
Here are a few of the views from the walking paths:
Below are pics of each pool we hung at, the main one, and the adults-only. Each had a swim-up pool bar plus a walk-up side. The adults-only bar also connected to the beach, where we spent some time.
The second picture is shot at night of the adults-only pool. It had several built-in water spouts with animal heads that reminded me of something from a lost city in a jungle setting. There were also built-in lounge sections to soak up sun while in the water. Yes, I was highly spoiled.
The ocean temps were great, and we made friends with one of the locals who worked at the resort. One of the first things I did when we got home was to go out and buy a Spanish language course. I love learning new things (I’m a sponge) and thought learning to speak Spanish would be fun. If I conquer it, Italian, the language of my maternal grandparents, will be next.
I also really loved all of the soothing lights on the beach at night. Look at this seating arrangement, where the table and chairs are actually lighted from within. Those odd shaped white things are chairs. We sat in them, and although they’re gorgeous to look at, I can’t say they were particularly comfortable.
Finally, these are a few of the Bali beds by the pool (ours is in the middle). We’d drop our stuff there in the morning and then go back and forth between that wonderful relaxing spot, both pools, and the beach. One day a shower came up. It only lasted five minutes, but we were sheltered in the Bali bed. It was great for reading and whiling away the afternoons.
On the downside, I did get sick at the end of the trip with stomach stuff (and I was so careful not to drink the water). I think five nights of different cuisines caught up with me as I generally eat bland food. Here’s a shot of me the day we checked out. As you can see, I was pretty washed out by then. Fifteen hours of travel later (most of that due to airport delays) we pulled into our driveway at 2 A.M. last Sunday morning.
I’m sure DH and I will go back to the Dominican again, but it will probably be several years. We’ve already booked a short local weekend for July of 2016, and I’d like to do Florida next October. It’s going to take me a while to put the memory of a 2-hour customs line behind me.
Missed you guys while I was gone, and am looking forward to getting back into writing mode again. I’ve got to get busy on my WIP and some other stuff I have in the works. It’s hard to believe the year is almost over. I definitely need to get my act together now that vacation is behind me!
From the Pen of Mae Clair 
Welcome back!(Waving frantically!)
I missed you and your posts!
Nice photos. What a pity there were problems. After a couple of weeks, back to the daily routine and work, you’ll probably remember only the nice landscapes and the good time.
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Hi, Carmen! *waves back enthusiastically* You’re right….I’m already forgetting about the customs lines and getting sick. All the memories are good ones which I’ll cherish. I miss the Dominican, but it’s great to be back! 🙂
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It looks and sounds wonderful.
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It was fabulous! It gave us another dose of summer before the start of winter.
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Sounds and looks like a great week of fun and relaxation. I think I could really get some writing done there (well, after swimming, lounging, walking on the beach, more swimming, more lounging…) Glad you had a good time! 🙂
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I took a notebook but didn’t do any writing (although I did imagine a few story ideas). I think with another week, I would have moved into the creative stage. Then again, Mr. E. bowed out and went on that pub crawl with your muse, LOL!
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🙂
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What a lovely place you stayed in and such delightful pictures. I am glad you enjoyed your time there and it is good to see you back again.
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Thanks, Daisy! It was an ideal time to go because the weather was beautiful and the resort wasn’t crowded. It’s been a little hard adjusting to our colder northern temps, and my part of the U.S. is presently experiencing milder weather than normal!
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I’m glad you’re back, but I’m especially glad you had so much fun! Thanks for sharing those lovely pictures.
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Thanks, Lauralynn. I wish I’d taken more pictures, especially of the beach at night, everything was so beautifully lit. It felt magical!
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Welcome back! Looks like a great trip. I thought PC was great when I was there, too. But we had two little ones with us, so I think we probably did different things. I wouldn’t mind going back, just the two of us. Your resort looks really relaxing, which was a far different atmosphere from the activities-based one we stayed at.
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The resort was definitely relaxing. They had non-waterized motor sports like snorkeling, catamarans and parasailing. I really wanted to go parasailing but it would have eaten up a good chunk of the day. I really hope to get back to PC again some day!
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Mae, what exquisite pictures. I love those Bali beds, how cozy. So sorry you got sick at the end and hope you are better now. If you come to Florida next year, I hope I get to see you. I am in Central Florida.
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Ooh, I forgot you lived in Florida, Flossie. You get to enjoy those warmer temps all year long (although I know it does drop some during the winter months).
The Bali beds were one of my favorite parts of the trip. Not sure I’ll ever be able to go to a resort again unless they have them, LOL!
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Great pictures! So sorry you weren’t well at the end, but thanks for sharing your vacation time with us!
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Hi, Stanalei. Despite being sick at the end, the vacation was fabulous and one I’ll remember fondly. Thanks for visiting checking out my travel log! 🙂
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Sounds like you had a great time. The place looks spectacular. Of course you’ll master, Spanish! (I won’t show off here despite the temptation) I should try mastering Italian myself since my best friend is Italian, but I never seem to get the time. Lol. Maybe one day. Glad you’re back, Mae! 🙂
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So you know, Spanish? I haven’t had a chance to delve into the software I bought yet, but I’m almost to the point that I can set aside some time. You’ve got me even more psyched up to learn it now, LOL. And how cool that your best friend is Italian. I used to hear my grandfather speak it all the time, but I never learned a word. Even my mom (his daughter) didn’t know a single word. One of my co-workers speaks it fluently. I think it would be wonderful to be bi-lingual!
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Yes I learned it from living with a Mexican family for five years or so. I got fluent enough to land me a job in Spanish collections when I got made redundant from my managing career due to the 9/11 attacks. Being bilingual certainly has it’s advantages. It got me by until I got my management job back. 🙂
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I definitely think there is benefit to being bilingual. And wow, you learned Spanish first-hand. Way to go!
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It wasn’t easy, but yeah, suppose I did. lol
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I have just added “vacation somewhere that has a Bali bed” to my to-do list. It looks like a gorgeous place. Thank you for sharing your pictures! Great to have you back!
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Hi, Jessi! Wonderful to have you pop in and say hello. Thanks for checking out the pics. And if you do a vacay with a Bali bed involved, I want to see pictures. They definitely top the list of things I will remember about the trip! 🙂
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It sounds like a wonderful vacation, sans the sickies and lines. A totally different experience is a great way to recharge the batteries and imagination.
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Hi, Christy! It’s so great to have you pop in and say hello. 🙂 The trip was definitely a wonderful way to unwind and relax. My muse is already tinkering with story ideas in an island setting. Maybe if I go back again I can flesh those ideas out some more, LOL!
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Those Bali beds are awesome. And so are the pools. I’m so glad you shared your photos. Ill or not, that’s a great pic of you! What made you decide on Punta Cana? I’ve never heard of it before. Nice to have you home!
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Hi, Sue! A friend of ours told us about a trip they had taken several years previously to PC. At the time we were considering Florida, but the idea of an “all inclusive” resort (all food, drinks, and lodging included in one price) really appealed to us. Also, we had never been outside the U.S. before and wanted to try something different. And the pools were fabulous. The first one was a “river pool” that wound around acres of ground, so that shot up above is just a snippet of it.
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Wow, it sounds like a wonderful vacation — except for the getting sick part of course. I wouldn’t mind having one of those beds around full-time. Talk about a writer’s dream spot. Oh, and that statute behind you in the pic. I’m sure that has an interesting myth involved. Tell us more!
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Donna, there were statues like that all over the resort, and among the garden paths. It felt like discovering a lost city in a jungle setting. I never did find out exactly what they were supposed to represent, but I learned some island folklore about how certain birds predict the weather. It was definitely a writer’s dream spot. Oh, to live there full time. Flip-flop weather, indeed! 🙂
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Sounds like you had a great time. Your photos are wonderful. They pull into the scene. I can see myself in one of the Bali beds with some sort of fruit filled drink and a notepad.
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The Bali beds were phenomenal, Alicia. And the beach concierge brought us drinks directly to the bed (or a lounge on the beach) whenever we wanted. Talk about being pampered and spoiled. I really should have done some writing among all that relaxing, LOL!
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Welcome back and glad to hear you had a great time. I have never been to the Dominican, but from your pics I know I would love it, if I could get up from the Bali bed. LOL Ever since 911, plane travel has changed. I am not fond of flying, so I have to prepare myself every time and go with the flow.
sherry @ fundinmental
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Thanks for the welcome back, Sherry! The Dominican was great and I hope to visit again in a few years. I do agree with you about plane travel. It’s so different than it was before 9/11. I was actually saying that to my husband when we were in the airport….”remember the days of?” Fortunately, other than the long customs line when we return to the U.S., the rest wasn’t as awful as I expected it to be, LOL!
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