Approaching the front entrance
The new theatre, outside the entrance is almost ready to open
Lawn to the right as you approach - so green!
Having checked in, looking back at the lobby (the lobby bar is the first thing you reach, going back in)
Gardens are kept very tidy - in this case with the aid of what looked like a butcher's meat cleaver...
Towel art
Fruit and Champagne appeared one evening
Sunrise on our first day revealed where we were
So - we got a sea view. What a nice surprise!
Catamarans waiting to go to the islands
Main pool beach and sea, from 'our' verandah
Main pool, from front of building 4
Loungers under shade around the main pool
Picasso, in his element, gathering participants for his next game...
Infinity pool and swimup bar, from building 4
The pools are cleaned early every morning
Vendors display their wares around the main pool on alternate evenings
When we arrived, the beach barbecue was like this...
...but the next day, they were building a shelter over it! (Note the Dominican saw/plane/chisel/whatever (machete))
Piles of palm thatching waiting by the side...
Adding battens for the roof
Picachu passes by...
Sunset on the next day, and it's nearly finished...
Smooth the floor, for those bare feet...
And there it is!
The nearby towel bar, with new thatching
local art for sale every day
Picasso, with dolphin hat and 2009 glasses. Best English phrases: "Awright Mate? Too much sun on me 'ed! Merry Christmas!"
Simple - sea, and sun !
(View from sunbathing position)
Or, if it's too hot for you, they're thatching like mad...
You can have your photo taken with an iguana on your head...or a monkey...
Watersports centre, from the water (obviously)...
...and from the beach
Pedalo returning...
..to be quickly turned round...
...and given a good send off!
Or you can try kayaks...
...catamarans, or sail the Sunfish, solo...
...or be dragged across the water on a large plastic bag (banana) at an alarming rate of knots (overturning is compulsory!)
Or you might fancy fishing, or a catamaran trip...
I don't fancy that one! (The wreck, which was aground off the beach last year, is now afloat and appears to being cleared of all combustible material by burning it off)
Fancy a trip to an island? Catch a 'bus' from Bayahibe (a speedboat, that is)
We went by this catamaran, to Saona Island
ready to board 'Costa Romantica'
Drinks, music, dancing, or just enjoy the ride and the scenery...
Approaching Saona
Photograper being filmed...
Going ashore...
You really could make an advert here...gorgeous!
I think I could get to like this...
Idyllic (especially if you turn the sound down...)
The Caribbean's BEHIND YOU!
View from the 'quiet' end
If you wander round that corner, it is deserted...
See?
Time to go home...but this is one of the BEST bits !!!
Stoppng en route at the natural pool to see the starfish...
...and to have a drink (any excuse!). Some rather tasty boats to gawp at, too.
Back in the speedboat - brilliant fun
Hedge trimmer, Dominican style! (click magnify and see the machete in his hand0
Flamingoes like bread - and fingers, if you're not careful :-)
The World Cafe buffet, open at the sides...
Cacti - these grow wild, even bigger, outside the grounds
Desserts, in the buffet
Choosing is the hardest part....
One evening they have dinner around the main pool
I don't think many went to the lecture behind the bushes, though...
Heavy traffic on the path to building 5...
Evening, and the pool party draws closer...
Sun loungers playing at moon loungers
Dinner - and a welcome with a drink...
We meet the melon artist himself...
Displays of foods - bread....
...a 4-foot tuna...(I know tuna don't have feet!)...
...and a 4-foot long cake with flags...(who has the heart to cut into it?)
or this one....
Someone did cut into it, then...
The lobby to building 5, with furnishings added during our stay
It's Showtime!
Taino night - a taxi arrives...
Obeisance to the Chief
Hang on - who's turned up now?
...neighbours from hell!
Awesome fight dance
Take that!
Circus night - this little boy is a stunner (don't try this at home, kids...)
Quieter things to do: admire the gardens...
....the gardens at the Spa...
...with bridges, fish and fountains...
...labyrinth..
...lizards everywhere...
...like I said...lizards everywhere...
A walk along the beach and into Bayahibe is a must...
...passing the vendors, or stopping to buy, if you like...
...don't worry, they'll remind you, if you forget to stop...
In this heat, you must need several hats and pairs of sunglasses...
Onwards, into the town...
past the new restaurant...
Looking farther south, from Bayahibe's 'beach'
Local art gallery...
Hardware store...
Builders' supplies...
..some builders could do with some more...
A few rather 'up-market' residences...
...and some 'with development potential'...
The local constabulary...
Cafe with wall-to-wall charm...
Heading back to the beach...
..being eyed suspiciously by the military...
...stopping to pay respects at the cemetary...
...and home to Dreams again.
...where the sun shines and the surf...dribbles in
Sunset colours the sky...
OK, so it's our turn for the sunset picture competition...
If you didn't say " Aaaaah! or Oooooh!" to any of those, YOU GOT NO SOUL!
Last 10 minutes before we leave (quick - what else can we do?)
On the bus back to Punta Cana airport - roadside fruit stall...
So many places like this...
Typical street in Higuey...
Workers' transport, which we passed at about 60mph (careful with that machete...)
Pause the slideshow to see this properly
3 to a bike is quite normal...
Must stop and pick up some bacon...
...or some, er.............perhaps not
Home. We remember that many Dominicans have so much less than we do. Yet the ones we met were so friendly and cheerful. Thanks DR.
