Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Puerto Plata trip
Great vacation! Started out on Monday morning. Laura & I went and picked up Julie. Came back home, rearranged some luggage and packing and were on the road by 11 a.m. Two important stops before we left town, first at the community centre to vote, and then the obligatory stop at Tim Horton's. No problems on the 401, we got off just before the traffic started backing up with an accident. Pulled into the Park N Fly and unloaded the baggage. Had just walked up to the pickup shelter, and before we had a chance to push the call button, the shuttle arrived. Quick trip over to terminal 3 and we were ready to "hurry up and wait". Walked up to the Sunquest counter and got our tickets (no line-up). Over to the SkyService check-in, and right up to the wicket, again no waiting!!! Through the security check, no problems except Julie got beeped by her watch & bracelets. Walked over to our gate, and then looked at each other, "Now what? That was too easy!" Kids did some of their homework while we were waiting to board. Plane left on time, and flight had tail wind. Off the plane, filled out the form, through customs & immigration, down the hall and our luggage was ready! Found the Sunquest rep and right on the bus. 40 minute trip and we were on resort. Arrived at 10 p.m. Rooms were of course ready at that hour, so we headed right in. Laura was bunked in with Julie, and Jonathan with us. Had to ask for an extra bed for Jonathan, so we took advantage of the wait time to unpack. Kids went for a walk with Julie, and by 11 p.m. Jim & I were sitting at the bar enjoying the warm breeze and the rum. Julie & the kids found us there at around 11:30.
Up early the next morning, and after a quick breakfast, we headed to the beach. Warm, sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Julie & I did the stretching class in the morning, felt good after travelling. Had lunch and then moved over to the pool area. Pool water was COLD! Not really, but it felt that way. Lots of palm trees around the pool, so it's hard to get sunny areas. You have to get up early to stake out your deck chair. After dinner, Jim & I walked down to the casino and spent an hour playing video poker. Broke even, so we counted it as good.
Wednesday I was up at the crack of dawn. Actually before the sun rose. Walked down to the beach and then along to the gazebo up on the western cliff of the resort area. Played around with the camera to try & get some sunrise pictures. Seems I figured it out. Got some pics of the foliage on the way back to meet up with the rest on the crew. To the beach again, other than walking around a lot, the exercise for the day was aquafit in the ocean. That was difficult! Not only do you have water resistance, you have to deal with the strong waves. And the footing is questionable. Fun anyways, and there was group dancing on the beach afterwards.
Thursday Julie, the kids & I went on a half day snorkelling trip. When they came around to sign us up the day before, they had told us to grab bananas and bread from the buffet for fish feeding. We had a long boat ride to the reef, over an hour. Reef was neat, fish came swarming when we pulled apart bread for them. Lots to look at. Went to another location a short way down the coast, and there were different fish. Julie got bit by one, trying to get them to eat from her hand, rather than letting the bread float free. Cold boat ride back, we were on the shady side of the boat. The driver pulled into the harbour at Puerto Plata and we hailed a sport fishing boat just coming in. We all asked them if they had had any luck, and they held up a 5 foot marlin! Wow! Joined up with Jim near the pool when we got back, and relaxed for the afternoon.
Friday was a mix of sun & cloud and very windy. We took advantage of the cloudy morning to get Laura's hair braided. Ladies were wearing light parkas and huddling in their little hut, while we were wearing shorts! Were down on the beach for a while, but very windy. Tried to make wind shelters on the treed upper area, but got cold after a while. Kids entertained themselves knocking coconuts down out of the trees, and cracking them open. Got spaces near the pool, got some sun. Wandered over to the pool bar & staked out a corner. Ended up spending 3 hours + there with Jill & Randy from Illinois. Kids stayed with us for a while, ordering cocktails without alcohol, and spent some time back in room. After dinner, there were tables set up in the main building, and Jim got bracelets for Laura & I.
Saturday was cloudy most of the day. We relaxed by the pool, was too windy to stay on the beach. As we did every day, we went for long walks through the resort complex. That was the nice thing...although our resort was the smallest, the three RIU resorts were all linked with nice pathways. Walked all the way down to the watersport area at the far end of the complex and the kids found nicer shells there than on the main beach. Kids & I went down to the internet cafe & checked email and the kids MSN'd for a bit. Went to the Steakhouse for dinner, nice meal.
Sunday the sun came back. We spent the whole day on the beach. It's nicer than the pool, and the kids played at the water's edge the whole day. We got ourselves organized with packing, so we wouldn't waste any of the last day.
We were up early Monday morning. Down to the beach until 11:30, then went and gathered our suitcases and checked out. Back to the beach until 4 p.m. then we headed up to clean up for the trip back. Decided that a quick rinse in the pool would be fine for travelling, and that was quicker than waiting in line for the shower. Back to the bar to get a couple more drinks and to say "choo choo" to Tito. That was his greeting to everyone. Shuttle picked us up at 6:30 and we were off to the airport. Plane was a little late arriving from Toronto, but they got it ready to go back quickly and we arrived on time in Toronto. Immigration was quick, and the only waiting we did on the whole trip that was annoying was the wait at the baggage carousel in Toronto. Caught the shuttle and we were back to the Park N Fly in no time. Dropped Julie off at home and we were all in our own beds shortly after 4 a.m.
Up early the next morning, and after a quick breakfast, we headed to the beach. Warm, sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Julie & I did the stretching class in the morning, felt good after travelling. Had lunch and then moved over to the pool area. Pool water was COLD! Not really, but it felt that way. Lots of palm trees around the pool, so it's hard to get sunny areas. You have to get up early to stake out your deck chair. After dinner, Jim & I walked down to the casino and spent an hour playing video poker. Broke even, so we counted it as good.
Wednesday I was up at the crack of dawn. Actually before the sun rose. Walked down to the beach and then along to the gazebo up on the western cliff of the resort area. Played around with the camera to try & get some sunrise pictures. Seems I figured it out. Got some pics of the foliage on the way back to meet up with the rest on the crew. To the beach again, other than walking around a lot, the exercise for the day was aquafit in the ocean. That was difficult! Not only do you have water resistance, you have to deal with the strong waves. And the footing is questionable. Fun anyways, and there was group dancing on the beach afterwards.
Thursday Julie, the kids & I went on a half day snorkelling trip. When they came around to sign us up the day before, they had told us to grab bananas and bread from the buffet for fish feeding. We had a long boat ride to the reef, over an hour. Reef was neat, fish came swarming when we pulled apart bread for them. Lots to look at. Went to another location a short way down the coast, and there were different fish. Julie got bit by one, trying to get them to eat from her hand, rather than letting the bread float free. Cold boat ride back, we were on the shady side of the boat. The driver pulled into the harbour at Puerto Plata and we hailed a sport fishing boat just coming in. We all asked them if they had had any luck, and they held up a 5 foot marlin! Wow! Joined up with Jim near the pool when we got back, and relaxed for the afternoon.
Friday was a mix of sun & cloud and very windy. We took advantage of the cloudy morning to get Laura's hair braided. Ladies were wearing light parkas and huddling in their little hut, while we were wearing shorts! Were down on the beach for a while, but very windy. Tried to make wind shelters on the treed upper area, but got cold after a while. Kids entertained themselves knocking coconuts down out of the trees, and cracking them open. Got spaces near the pool, got some sun. Wandered over to the pool bar & staked out a corner. Ended up spending 3 hours + there with Jill & Randy from Illinois. Kids stayed with us for a while, ordering cocktails without alcohol, and spent some time back in room. After dinner, there were tables set up in the main building, and Jim got bracelets for Laura & I.
Saturday was cloudy most of the day. We relaxed by the pool, was too windy to stay on the beach. As we did every day, we went for long walks through the resort complex. That was the nice thing...although our resort was the smallest, the three RIU resorts were all linked with nice pathways. Walked all the way down to the watersport area at the far end of the complex and the kids found nicer shells there than on the main beach. Kids & I went down to the internet cafe & checked email and the kids MSN'd for a bit. Went to the Steakhouse for dinner, nice meal.
Sunday the sun came back. We spent the whole day on the beach. It's nicer than the pool, and the kids played at the water's edge the whole day. We got ourselves organized with packing, so we wouldn't waste any of the last day.
We were up early Monday morning. Down to the beach until 11:30, then went and gathered our suitcases and checked out. Back to the beach until 4 p.m. then we headed up to clean up for the trip back. Decided that a quick rinse in the pool would be fine for travelling, and that was quicker than waiting in line for the shower. Back to the bar to get a couple more drinks and to say "choo choo" to Tito. That was his greeting to everyone. Shuttle picked us up at 6:30 and we were off to the airport. Plane was a little late arriving from Toronto, but they got it ready to go back quickly and we arrived on time in Toronto. Immigration was quick, and the only waiting we did on the whole trip that was annoying was the wait at the baggage carousel in Toronto. Caught the shuttle and we were back to the Park N Fly in no time. Dropped Julie off at home and we were all in our own beds shortly after 4 a.m.
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