Who doesn’t want to spend a week in the Caribbean during a Canadian winter? Raise your hands! I can’t see them! So I did spend a week there. In the Dominican Republic, again.
When I like an area, I like to go back there to discover more things and report on more things as well.
However, this time around, fatigue from a lot of things had taken over too much time to start moving around in quickly. So I mostly stayed put, enjoyed the sun and the weather for as much as I could, trying to recharge those internal batteries. When I booked the trip, I had a vague idea what the resort would look like.
Early morning on the beach
Yes, I did go to an all-inclusive again this time. I was not in a state to start planning things in a language I barely speak. Having only a week to relax should be only relaxing and no stress of finding out if anything went wrong and how to fix it in time for the next issue. So, all-inclusive it was.
Hotel Senator, Dominican Republic
And yet… the first room had some weird smell… Something between a crypt and tea tree oil, mixed in with cleaning fluid and mould. So off to the reception to get another room, as I didn’t see myself breathing this seemingly toxic mixture for a week. A new room was quickly found and occupied.
After the rain
Then came the time to relax. January in the DR is still pretty prone to rain, but no storms, hurricanes or other unpleasantness. And when the rain does hit, the water is warm, no need to get inside unless you don’t want the camera to get wet. Five minutes later, the rain is done, everything and everyone is steaming off the water, and life continues.
Watching nuts
That is a bit different in Canada, where snowstorms can continue for days on end, keeping you inside, contemplating your life choices. Frankly, I prefer to spend my afternoon under a palm tree, just waiting for those nuts to come down. When you see images like these, one always wonders if those trees have not been planted.
Morning view over the hills
But no, they are natural here, growing everywhere. The above shot is from a very early morning, looking out over the hills behind the resort. As far as I understand, this is “crown land”; the DR is a republic, so I don’t know what that is called there. Palm trees everywhere.
Resort beach
Closer to the beach, the palm trees may have been planted for the enjoyment of the tourists, I don’t know. I did enjoy them very much, even if my state of mind was not immediately set to “calm down, you bugger!”. It is clear that the place is meticulously maintained every single day.
Palm trees and mangrove
Not a piece of paper flying around, at least not for long. Interestingly enough, even the tourists here pick up trash they see coming their way. There are always kids who just lose stuff and adults to pick it up and bin it.
The gift
After the short bursts of rain are over, there is always the possibility of another gift from the heavens. You just have to be ready for it and make sure you keep it forever.
Next time, I think a trip of 2-3 weeks will be in order to explore a little more than just a resort. I was just too tired to start running around from day one. I was ready for that on day 6, just before the flight home…
Until next time…