We had a day to chill after the wedding. We spent it packing, opening presents, and eating leftover reception food + cake. We left at the crack of dawn Monday for week-long honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. We stayed at the Lifestyle Hacienda resort on Confresi Beach near Puerto Plata. It was my first time to experience many things: a tropical island, a third world country, and an all-inclusive resort. Each was pretty shocking.
Tropical Island
I have spent the last ten years of my life (since I moved out of California) being cold. Even in the summer, because in CA they don’t have the concept of air conditioning. So, I was looking forward to just baking!! & frolicking around in sundresses and sandals, all day every day. Well, I learned that one quickly gets tired of the heat. I learned that what I miss is a Mediterranean climate, not a tropical climate. Italy: welcome to the top of my list of places to see next.
Third World Country
Vacationing in such a place feels strange. We drove by shacks to get to the resort where we were treated like royalty. I felt like I should have been building houses instead of being pampered. Tourism is the backbone of their economy; any one who wants to make any sort of money there works at a hotel. With tips they earn more than doctors, teachers, or any other profession. It made me feel guilty because I know the only difference between me and them is where I happened to be born.
All-Inclusive Resort
… was sweet! No chance we saved money with the all-inclusive fee over buying everything a la carte (not an option here) BUT it was nice to be able to wander around and eat/drink whatever we wanted at the bars, theme restaurants or buffet, without having to worry about it. It’s super relaxing and felt like we were at an extended party. Of the three, this is the one I would definitely do again. However, that probably won’t be anytime soon because it seems out of reach apart from he timeshare system. We got there through a present from Josh’s cowoker Adam, who is an RCI member. It was a neat feeling to be at a place we’d have never otherwise seen. You meet a great deal many retirees at these locations :).
We first arrived in a downpour. (This happens almost every afternoon). We decided to wait it out at the bar, where we introduced ourselves as honeymooners to our RCI representative. Shortly after we got to our room, the phone ringed. “Um, we can’t deliver wine to your room if you have the ‘do not disturb’ sign on your door.” We took down the sign, and in addition to the Chardonnay, they made us a romantic towel sculpture on our bed, surrounded by fresh flowers. There were flowers tucked into all the towels in the bathroom, too. There were flowers everywhere. I guess they grow real well there, or something :).
I wish I had taken more pictures of the room because it was amazing and enormous. It had it’s own sitting area with two chairs, a couch and coffee table, a large desk, tv, dresser, bed around the corner next to a beautiful balcony with wicker chairs, and a bathroom with blue and white tiles that would have been big enough to have its own bed. It also had a mini fridge that was always kept stocked.
On Tuesday we endured the timeshare presentation where they tried to sell us VIP access. This is literally unavoidable. They have “agents” that follow you around until you attend. The agents get a commission if you go. It isn’t based on whether you sign up. So we went, told the salesman we were poor newlyweds, and got some Mamajuana for our time. This is the signature drink of the Dominican Republic. Rum, honey, red wine and special herbs. It is supposed to give the men “vital powers” if you understand what I mean ;).
Then we booked day trips!
The first: a city tour of Puerto Plata. Here, we learned about other signature Dominican Republic products. Like Brugal Rum, cigars, and jewelry. They specialize in yellow amber and pale blue larimar, often combined in the same piece. The larimar is the coolest because it was recently discovered and is only found there. It is an opaque stone that looks kind of like marble. I got some stud earrings made from it. We also saw a fort, a catholic church and some boats. We were supposed to go on a cable car up a mountain to get a view of the entire city, but the tour guide decided it was too cloudy (that afternoon rain!) so he rescheduled us for Saturday. I became familiar with the insistence of street vendors on this tour. Which is mostly annoying but a touch sad, such as the team of little boys that surrounded our van, pounding on the windows trying to sell us flowers when we stopped for a photo op. Awww…
In the evening we went to a party at the resort, which had raffles and Caribbean dancing. The best part is the lady who made Josh dance with her, repeatedly!! I did not get such treatment and enjoyed observing quite a bit. Look at this photo, she knows what she’s doing!
The second trip: Outback Safari. This was the most memorable thing we did. This is where I learned what I said above about why everyone goes into the tourism business. We traveled the countryside to see how the residents live. We traveled it on an open-top range vehicle. I did not dress well for this occasion and was pretty miserable with my hair and skirt flying all over in the wind… that is, until I realized my magic hat would stay on & hold my hair down. Me <3 that hat now.
Anyways, our tour guide was a hoot. Such a funny, knowledgeable guy who taught us so many things and seemed to be having a blast the entire time. Josh said he wished he could kidnap him and bring him to America, because he'd be on a fast track to success with that personality! He took us to a country house, then a plantation where they grow pineapples, bananas, oranges, and make the best coffee and hot chocolate I have ever tasted. In both things, I like milk; these didn’t have it nor did they need it. They were smoooth on their own with not a trace of bitterness. The chocolate is served mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Next we visited a country school that is supported by funds from the safari tour. On the truck he served us Cuba Libre: coke with rum or the superior++ version, Santo Libre: sprite with rum. Then we stopped for lunch at a place where we got to hold a baby crocodile, see crabs and lizards & go on a boat trip where we saw other people holding spiders and snakes. Are you tired yet? Better not be ’cause next we headed to the beach! A remote one where portions of the group learned to boogie board. Josh and I contented ourselves with sitting on a log, feet in the sand.
Somewhere around this time we started noticing the symptoms of a mild case of food poisoning. Digestive troubles and weird weakness and light-headededness came upon me which didn’t leave until we got back home. It put a bit of a damper on things, but didn’t stop us entirely!
Third trip: Ocean World adventure park, walking distance from the resort. Full of tropical birds that perch on you and sea creatures that put on cool shows. Oh, and tigers. My favorite were the love birds. They revived my teenage dream to have an aviary someday. I talked Josh’s ear off about that afterwards, once we’d walked back to the resort and sat at the pool bar.
We took it easy our last day there. We didn’t go on the rescheduled cable car tour. Instead we watched MST3K’s version of Twilight (the only way to watch it!) & slept in, which is what you’re supposed to do on vacation, but all the day trips had kept us from. We chatted at the bar with a guy from Cornwall, England, who was beet red. (Kate was not surprised). He’d never been to London. He’d only been to Spain and this resort. His dream is to take his lady to Texas, because she loves country music. We told him about the Alamo (which he’d never heard of). Then, I went to the spa and got a milk bath + massage. Ahhh nice.
This concludes the series. We now return to normal life, but married! Which makes everything that much better :)
