Hola D.R.!

Close your eyes. Imagine that idyllic picture-perfect beach with the white sand, the overhanging palm trees, the turquoise water...the one in the vacation ads...that’s the Dominican Republic. At least that’s the beach we have in front of us at the moment. Amy’s internet-accommodation sleuthing skills have paid off once again, and we are now sitting pretty in the middle of paradise. Una mas cerveza por favor!


It was a bit of a haul from Santiago Chile, connecting flight in Bogota Colombia, then touch-down in Santo Domingo – DR’s capital city – followed by a 2.5-hr shuttle ride to our rental house near the town of Las Terrenas on DR’s Samaná Penninsula. All in all about 17 hrs of travelling. Our first frosty Presidente – DR’s #1 cerveza  – followed by our first night swim in the deliciously warm waters of the Caribbean was...well...AMAZING! Yep, feels like we’ve come full circle from our initial touch-down in Cartagena on Colombia’s Caribbean coast last August – and that initial WHAM of hot steamy tropical air upon stepping off the plane – to our return to the sand and palm trees of the Caribbean here in the DR. As the cabin doors opened and we filled our lungs for the first time, we looked at each other and smiled. We’re back.


Although, the journey back was not without its epics. Arriving at the Santiago airport at 4:30 am for a 7:30 flight, we were asking ourselves what we were going to do for 3 hours. However, after all was said and done, we had to run for the gate. It all started upon stepping up to the Avianca – Colombia’s Air Canada – check-in counter and Arturo, a nice man afterall, but who seemingly had the air-transport rule booked shoved up his %@^%$#. First hurdle was our bikes, which, nicely packed into bike boxes, were going to cost us $300 U.S., as casually informed by Arturo. Not so, we said. Check your website (which we had done previously), bikes go free on international Avianca flights. Well, no less than 1 hour of deliberation between us, Arturo, an adjacent colleague, and perhaps every Avianca manager on his speed-dial list, finally got the bikes through for no-charge. OK, phew, let’s go, right? Wrong.

Arturo then casually begins our seat assignments and notices we have a one-way ticket. Oh, I cannot check you in unless you have a return flight reservation, he says calmly and staring into my eyes without expression. At this point, missing our flight had become a serious possibility. After a minute or so of “what?”, “excuse me”, “can you please repeat that?”, “are you serious?”, “uhhh, er, huh?”, “WHAT EXACTLY DOES THIS MEAN ARTURO!!!???”. It means you have to go to that counter over there and buy a return ticket, then come back here and show me the receipt before I can check you in. OMFG! At this point, I had one nerve left, and Arturo was twisting it with a pair of pliers. Option 1: do as Arturo says, or Option 2: there was no option 2 (well, other than applying for Chilean residency). Digging out my AMEX card, I run to the ticket counter. I need 2 one-way tickets out of DR any time in the next month, I say to the guy. After a very tense 5 or 10 minutes (the “going to miss our flight” thing) the guy calmly states “you have 2 seats from DR to Lima Peru (Lima!??...whatever) on June 15”. And, here is your receipt for $2800. OMFG!! CAN WE PLEASE LEAVE THIS FFING COUNTRY NOW?! We did. (I’m still working on cancelling the reservation and getting a refund. Fingers crossed). Ahh, you aren’t really travelling unless you’re dealing with airline check-in epics J


So DR! What a beautiful place. At least the part we have seen. It really is that image of Caribbean perfection that snaps into your mind when someone says “tropical vacation”. We’re renting a 2-bedroom house/villa, surrounded by palm trees and steps from the sand, for a month. It’s the vacation within our vacation (we need to relax!). Las Terranes is a formerly small fishing village on the north coast of the Samaná Penninsula, that is now home to a couple thousand French and Italian expats. It’s that interesting mix of Dominican locals and expats that gives the place its charm. A small Dominican town, on the most beautiful Caribbean coastline you could ask for, complete with French bakeries, mojito bars, and kite surfing shops.


Daily routines thus far include early-morning swims, coffees on the beach, breakfast in the sun, mid-morning swims, lunch in the shade, mid-afternoon swims, cocktails, pre-dinner swim, sunset drinkie-poos, candlelight dinner amongst the palms, post-dinner drinkie-poos followed by moonlight swims. So far, life in the DR ain’t too shab! J

So we’re digging in for the month. Visitors, taking different shifts and including our mothers, sisters, and our good friend Robyn from Nelson (who is here now) are part of the plan. Amy’s big objective is to stay in one place for a while and enjoy the exclusive use of our own kitchen. It’s a nice break from the hostel circuit of S.A. and sharing kitchens, bathrooms, and every other living space with 20 other people, particularly where the average age is early 20s (were we like that?). But really, the main objectives for the month include beach time, snorkelling, and blender drinks. Oh, and, I will hopefully learn to kite surf (apparently Las Terranes is one of the best places in the world for it), and Amy will find our retirement home lost in the endless real estate listings. Gotta keep the dream alive! More on life in the DR soon. Chau babe.



A very happy camper