Spontaneity is alive and well.......

For planners, such as we, vacation planning usually begins months before departure.  Lots of research, calculations and deliberations take place, as well as documentation.  That's just 'how we roll'......but wait, there's more.....

Five days before Rob/your dad was to leave on his annual mission trip to Port au Prince, Haiti with his bible study buddies we were watching a favorite movie, Mama Mia.  The temperature here in Tulsa that evening was in the 20's and during a particularly inviting 'beach scene' in the movie, he said, "I wonder what it would cost to change my ticket, leaving out of Port au Prince, to get me to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic and you could meet me there."

At first, I didn't know whether or not to take him seriously.  Then, as he left the movie during one of his favorite scenes to begin looking up flights and eventually calling American Airlines, I thought better of my initial inclination to introduce rational reason/frugality into our discussion.  He was serious!  And who was I to get in the way of his exercise in 'spontaneity'?

So, within 10 hours we had flights changed/booked, a week at Gran Bahia Principe in Punta Cana, DR secured and were in the process of getting shots at Public Health and beginning a malaria preventative.

Early on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 18 I flew out of Tulsa for Miami.  He'd arrived in Miami the day before & said good-bye to his bible study buddies at the conclusion of their week in Port au Prince.

We connected in the Miami Airport & began our 'spontaneous' adventure together to Punta Cana.





The process of arrival & processing was 'a breeze'...similar to the one we were
experiencing when we stepped off the plane in Punta Cana.  The humidity in the air was
a welcome change from the dryness of the Oklahoma winter and we soon remarked that our skin had never felt healthier.  From the musicians serenading us in the airport to the ease with which we picked up our bags and met our Island Sun transport to the resort, this experience was off to a great start.  The look of the water, sky, and sand, no matter what time of day, is a memory we'll forever hold.

We freshened up, unpacked & settled in to our third floor suite before enjoying an early dinner at the Geranimous Buffett (where we overwhelmed-in a good way- by the selection and the possibilities, but mindful that 'moderation in all things' would have to rule).  Then we stepped out onto the beautiful beach for awhile before spending the rest of the evening poolside enjoying our first 'coco loco' (a coconut/rum drink) and the music of a roaming 'Dominican Kenny G'.



Monday morning was primarily spent navigating the 'learning curve' of an all-inclusive resort, since this was our first experience (what to do-where and when, booking two excursions, dinner reservations, and establishing internet access).  The rest of the day and evening we 'camped out' at a perfect spot on the beach, made some excursions into the water, and we really never stopped marveling at the amazing colors of the water and the sky.




Tuesday morning we met our Bavaro Runners guide, Rene, & driver, Renaldo & 18 other passengers for an all day excursion into the culture in an all-terrain 'extended jeep' type vehicle.  Not long after we left the city we were at our first stop: horseback riding.  The last time we were horseback riding was 25 years ago with Laura, Allyson, and Brian on Padre Island......but found it was kind of like riding a bike......just get on and 'giddyap' & there you go!  I'd have taken more pictures but was concerned about dropping my phone and that Fabio (my ride) wouldn't recognize it for the delicate piece of technology that it is.

Rene and Renaldo, ever concerned that we stay hydrated during the day were quick to pull out the 'Dominican Champagne', as they called it (equal parts Sprite and Rum....even at 10 am?) after every activity!  There was a hilarious group (4 couples) from Connecticut with us and we're pretty sure they availed themselves of  'seconds' at every opportunity, as they kept things pretty 'lively';)




Our next stop was an 'old school' sugar cane processing area where two oxen turned heavy wooden wheels as a young man fed long pieces of cane in between the wheels, causing cane to be crushed & the liquid extracted.  Got a sweet taste of the cane, too!






After that we stopped to watch cigars being assembled in the traditional fashion.  Rene gave us the obligatory caution with a humorous twist: "Smoking is not good for you," he said, "Remember, those who don't smoke die healthier!"




Our next stop was a traditional Dominican home.  We saw both an indoor & outdoor kitchen, an amazing, aromatic herb garden and got to sample the results of both coffee & cacao (cocoa) beans having been roasted.  YUM!




There were bananas (not yet ready for the picking) growing in the backyard and nearby we passed a school.





Wednesday morning we went on a short shopping outing, but were able to spend the rest of this glorious day at the beach & walking the many interesting paths at the Gran Bahia.  The resort measures 1 mile from the beach area (Playa de Arena Gorda in the upper right hand portion of the picture) to the 'traffic circle' type entrance (in the lower left hand portion of the picture).  It's about 1/3 mile wide.  Although there's ready shuttle transport anywhere you want to go, one thing we loved was the variety and beauty of places to walk, all within the resort perimeter. Gotta get those FitBit steps, right?




Thursday was another wonderful beach & pool day.  Did the obligatory 'swim up' bar experience in the pool, cause that's just too much fun, right?



 



Thursday night we enjoyed great music out by the pool & good conversation with a couple from Boston.  We've thought about them, during these past few days, leaving this paradise and returning home to a blizzard!



 



Friday morning, we met our SolTour bus and guide at 6:30 am for an all day excursion to the capital city, Santo Domingo, the oldest European-established city in the western hemisphere.  We had a two hour comfy bus ride with a stop, halfway, at a typical tourist market.



 



Our first stop, once we'd arrived in Santo Domingo was Los Tres Ojos Caverns, a series of deep, beautiful porous limestone caverns fed by an underground river.



 



Our gregarious guide, Daniel Munoz, was lively & energetic for most of the 13 hour day.  But most of his 'energy' (and explanation of sites, humor, etc.) was delivered in Spanish, only translating 10-15% of his narrative.  We felt sorry for a couple in front of us on the bus who were Dutch speakers.  We caught on to maybe 10% of his Spanish, but unfortunately that didn't include his thorough explanation of the workings of the lower bridge in the picture, above.  It is a 'drawbridge' of sorts, but rather than raising to accommodate passing barges, its two sections 'swivel' and it stays low to the water.  At least we THINK that's what happens.



 



Our first extended stop in Colonial Santo Domingo was the home of Diego Columbus, Christopher's son, & his family.  Our group was divided into language groups so we had an English-speaking guide for our tour of this structure, built in 1510.



 



(Left) Diego's shaving bowl mounted on wall (notice the cut-out for his neck). (Center) a bedroom with its original mahogany furniture.  Mahogany is the national wood of the Dominican Republic. (Right) Rob/your dad by one of the many barely six-foot doorways through which we passed.



 




(Left) Elaborate music room (center) Diego's 'lock-box' with nine locks in the lid (Right) A portion of the kitchen area.




(Left) Me & my traveling buddy on the veranda of the home, overlooking the Ozama River in the Colonial section of the city. (Right) partial courtyard view of the Columbus home.




Across from the Columbus home we at lunch at an outdoor café.  The 7 course meal consisted of a series of 'sampler plates' so that we had a bite or two of almost 17 different traditional dishes, most of which we very good.  And, as I remember, dinner that night was not even necessary!  The colonial district streets all appeared to be one-way and only one lane wide.




After lunch we walked to and toured the National Pantheon, originally a Jesuit Church, built between 1714-1746.  Since that time it has served as a tobacco warehouse and theater.  In 1956, Dictator Rafael Trujillo ordered that it be reclaimed as a national pantheon where he envisioned being interred (as a national hero).  Ironically, it now serves as a place of honor and interment for the country's most honored heroes.......Trujillo is not among them......but his assassins are.







Another walk through narrow streets brought us to the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor, built in 1512.  It is the oldest cathedral in the Americas.  We wore headsets during our walk-through, which delivered a great narrative for the tour. 

We were more happy to 'take a load off' at the end of this day as we boarded the bus for our two hour trip back to Punta Cana, as the sun was setting.

That evening, after a bite to eat at our favorite of all the snack buffets (Las Olas), we made one last visit to the beach after dark, to put our toes in the silky sand for a final time.

Saturday morning, after our last breakfast there, we reluctantly finished our packing & headed to the airport around noon, taking with us more than a suitcase full of wonderful memories.....and before the plane ever left the tarmac, we were contemplating 'next time.'

One memory, which we will hold dear, didn't even happen until processing through customs/immigration at the Miami Airport.  After a prolonged wait in an apparently uncharacteristically long line (500+ people) for the immigration kiosks, I got away from the kiosk WITHOUT a very important slip of paper, without which I could proceed no further.  As Rob re-entered this huge crowd to attempt to find it, I waited near an exit, not breathing 'easy' at this point, as time to 'make' our next flight was slipping away.

Out of the crowd stepped a man, walking toward me holding (YEP, YOU GUESSED IT!) a slip of paper.  THE slip of paper, which the kiosk had 'spit out' after Rob and I had left it.  He simply said, "I think this is yours."  I didn't know what to say......I remember repeating, "Thank you!!" over and over again and "Bless you!" as I hurried toward where Rob was still searching.  This is one we're not gonna try to figure out.....definitely a miracle!