Jarabacoa and Constanza

This really was paradise!  Absolutely beautiful, even without the ocean.  Up in the Central Cordillera Mountains.  The highest peak here is almost 11,000 feet but that is at sea level remember.

                    Here I am thumbs up and ready to go...well on the outside I was ready!

While in Jarabacoa we decided to try paragliding.  It was so cheap, we couldn't pass on this.  So, I ask the instructor when were the lessons and he said all you need to do is run and whatever you do don't stop!

So that's exactly what I did...ran and didn't stop, even when they were all telling me stop! Stop!  I finally did stop, mostly because the parashute had me in the air on my tip toes and I couldn't run!  And no, its not a big grin on my face, but me gritting my teeth and groaning. Arrrrrrggghhhh!  We did go river rafting but I haven't got the pics off the disc we bought yet, so I will post them later.

Love this picture!  When I talk with my mom and tell her about how poor it is here and the sanitation issues and not very good water, she asks why, Tina, would you want to be there?  This is a picture that explains why, silly as it seems.  I can't explain the why, its just different and new and exciting to see how other people live.  Meet so many interesting people along the way here locally and on the water with the other crazy people cruising around.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is the country's capital and the largest city in the Dominican Republic.  It was founded by Bartholomew Columbus (Christopher Columbus's brother) in 1496.

Larry and I went with two other couples and a single guy to visit the first city in the New World!  We took a 5 hour bus ride, but it had air conditioning, so it wasn't that bad.

                                              
                                                     They even have a McDonald's!

North Coast of the DR

Larry and I took a road trip along the north coast with another couple we met here in Luperon.  4 nights and 5 days of beautiful scenery, good company and great food - finally!

Tall "Mountainous" roads through the green palm trees.  Definetely could visualize dinosaurs running through here.  From Luperon we headed East to Puerto Plata, then on through a town called Sosua.  Sosua was once a haven for Jewish refugees, so you can find many Germans and also the French here.The beaches are amazing .  Pics below are one of the beaches - Playa Cozon.

Friends we met from Detroit.  Elisa climbing the only palm tree she will probably ever have a chance to climb.

Next town - Cabarete.  This town is known for professional kite surfing as well as surfing.  The food was Excellente!  Those Europeans sure know how to cook.

                                            

The first night we stayed in Cabarete, which was about half way to our final destination.  The next morning we headed further down the coast to Las Terranas which is a province of Samana (basically the last area along the north coast into the east coast of Samana Bay)  Samana is where the humpback whales migrate through to the Silver Banks off of Turks and Caicos to mate during January - April.  We stayed and enjoyed being pampered here for 2 nights, then headed back to Pooperon. 

                  On the way back home, we saw a cool cave.  I think these were the best pics.

6 Weeks Without Tina?!

What did Larry do for 6 weeks on the boat without me?  Any guesses?  Here are some clues...

                                                              Hang out at the Bars?

                                       Threw Private Cocktail Parties and play dominoes?

                                                  Tour the country with other cruisers?

                                                             Make his own meals?

                                       Make a disaster of the boat while he had the chance?

                     Actually, all of the above!  Yeah, even Larry made it through 6 weeks!

Back to the DR

Yes, I finally made it back.  It was a long 6 weeks away, but I managed.  Here are some pics from back home.

                            
                                         Huntsville, Utah  In the background... Snow Basin

I traveled a long way to see this little guy.  My new grandson, Kai!  He loved his Grandma.

                              We will see if Kai loves his grandma as much as Rayne does!

Goodbye Luperon...For Now

I am going to head back to the states on Wednesday August 13, 2014 to visit. (2 days)  I will be able to hold my second grandson and spoil him rotten.  I am sure Rayne will get his share too!  Not sure how long I will stay - I guess as long as I can stand to be away from my new home and for as long as Larry can stand it.  Took some pictures of the bay here where we call home for the hurricane season.

                    At the top, is the entrance to the harbor.  And the blue Atlantic Ocean.

I missed my kids and my grandkids so much, I had to temporarily adopt some Dominican kids.  This is Yosmeli, Maria, and Mikey. (left to right) They have never been on a boat or the water before.  They were hanging onto the dinghy for dear life on the ride to the boat.  These kids have nothing.  No toys, video games, etc.  They don't hang out at the mall or go to the movies.  I would have loved to take them to Ocean World!

I couldn't believe the huge smiles on their faces when I showed them the boat.  They were also excited to have some American food. (all I had was chocolate pudding and granola bars)  I showed them the TV and the DVD  and then showed them where we were on the charts. Mikey got to sit in the captain's chair and he said it felt good...real good.

On the way back, Larry let Mikey drive the dinghy.  He looked like he had one to many Presidente's (Dominican beer)  The had a great time and wanted to come back the next day.  Of course, this is not usually what is done..bringing them on the boat.  The crusiers say to watch out because it may not be them, but who they brag to and what they saw on the boat that causes problems.  Oh well, I guess we will see if we have our electronics still on board next time we go out.  It was worth it!

Our new transportation while here.  Not a bad deal, paid $600 with a buy back guarantee.  Next post will be of me and my grandkids back in Utah!

Ocean World

Just before Carter left to go back to the US, I took him to Ocean World.  Like SeaWorld, but in Spanish.  Carter has never experienced this before, so it was Great!

                                                               Entrance to Ocean World

                           
                                                                   Ocean World Marina

 Dolphin program and dolphin training.  You can pay to be a dolphin trainer for the day and then participate in the shows.

                            
                                                                     The dolphin show.

The trainer was just sitting there in the water and then all of the sudden the dolphins came under him and thew him up in the air and he was doing a somersault in the air.  Awesome!

                                                                       Sea Lion Show

Dengue Fever

So a week after Carter gets here, I start getting sick.  A week later, Larry gets sick.  As I am trying to find help for Larry and figure out how to get a doctor, I almost pass out in JR's.  All the cruisers there sit me down, put ice on me and have me drink lots and lots of gatorade.  I felt better, but was still pretty sick.  So I go to the local hospital and they put me on an IV to rehydrate me, give me a B12 shot and I was good to go!  Kinda.  The doctor didn't care if I left the hospital as long as I kept the IV in.  Their hospital had no running water, tiolet paper, or soap.  The place was falling apart, but it was free.

                                                         The emergency room entrance.

                                                       Emergency room reception desk.

              At JR's restaurant/bar with an IV.  Wishing I could hook up the coke to the IV.

                                              See the IV at the top of the pic, by the bird?

               
                      And lots of Gatorade!  I was so dehydrated the doctor couldn't find a vein.

After about 3 very long weeks of being sick with dengue fever ( kinda like having a bad achy flu), my back started hurting really bad.  After 2 weeks of horrible back pain, I am down again with a fever of 103.5 again and then my stomach starts hurting really bad.

Found out I had a kidney and urinary tract infection and still dehydrated.  Still working on this problem, but it is getting better.  This one, I think I will have to fix when I get home.  Nice IV hanger, right!  I am in a strange hospital with Captain Hook holding my IV.  This hospital was in Puerto Plata and it was a nice hospital AND cheap!