Bob's Blog

This Blog will follow my adventures - well holidays really. Hopefully you will want to tell me what you enjoyed in the countries I have visited and maybe recommend places to go.

Monday, October 30, 2006

A Typical day at the Iberostar

Well, of course, there is not a typical day as I don´t have the resolve to do what I ought to do, so this is what should happen.
I wake between 6 and 7 and it is just getting light. Awake and alert I slip on some shorts and head for the deserted beach. After a walk along the beach sometimes plodging, I do a series of stretching and other exercises before finishing off with some Tai Chi.
Back for a shower and then I am ready for a light breakfast of juice and fruit.
Then the first decision of the day, whether to lounge around the pool or the beach. In either case it has been easy to get enough loungers for our group to be together. The sun is really strong, certainly the hottest I have experienced so a lot of care is needed when you have my skin type.
From about 10 through to 5 there are organised games with hotel staff energetivally trying to get you to take part.......I need 20,000 people for the game.... but they do take no for an answer! Games vary from dancing lessons, salsa, merengue, bachata to frisbee games...all good fun if you are in the mood and you don´t bother if not in the mood. The sea is amazingly warm, I have had cooler baths!
Of course, there is lunch, in the poolside restaurant or the main buffet, with any drink you can think of available all day long.
It gets dark about 6pm so a chance to freshen up for even more food with dinner in the main buffet or one of the 3 a la carte restaurants.
After food, well more to drink and a show which is best left to others!

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

The Wedding

I am here in the Dom Rep for the wedding of my Great Niece, who I will call R, to A. I am told it was a snap decision to do things this way but it has worked out so well that it was a wise decision! We are a group of 13 with R´s mother A´s parents and sister, bridesmaid, and brother, best man. 2 friends of R, each with a friend or partner should add up to 13 if you include sister R´s partner.
First the setting was quite wonderful as well as casual. Exotic flower displays in a special thatched open area just for weddings. Red carpet, nice chairs, champagne on the side to keep us happy while we waited for the bride.
Now, most important, the bride, who looked absolutely stunning. Having been here a week she had a glorious tan and the white dress made it stand out beautifully. L, also looking great in her silk dress, gave R away and bridesmaid R looked equally lovely. A trio to admire, no wonder we probably all took a thousand photos in the day!
The ceremony was simple, conducted in Spanish with an English translation read out.
A very attentive photographer professionally captured the day. Moving to the beach for even more photos was something quite special.
A very special day finished off with an excellent sit down meal.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Arrival in the Dominican Republic

The flight is 9 hours and, although the food was good, the films OK, it was boring! I had to get up at 3am for a taxi at 4, for a coach at 4.25, to check in at 9 and to fly about 1pm. The best bit of the flight was the tight banking to the left before landing, increased heart rate for some of those near me.
Transport to the hotel was quick, but in the dark so didn´t see anything. Registration was the easiest ever, done on the coach so we were straight to our room on arrival, without a queue.
All inclusive meant just that. The food on display was amazing and all drinks, even Baileys, were free.
Next morning was the first opportunity to get a sight of the place. It really is a tropical paradise, don´t want to advertise but we are at the Iberostar Costa Darada. An enormous complex, palm trees, flamingos, turtles, exotic flowering plants, the structure all pillars and marble with a large swimming pool, but lots of people. (However we were always able to get a sunbed by the pool or on the beach. We found the hotel was 55% occupied during our stay - it would be more difficult when 100% as will occur in November.)
The beach lacked only the Bounty Bars, white sand, trees, a curving bay and inviting sea. (Actually they do a fly excursion to the island where they really did film the bounty advert!)
It is hot and humid and I am going to take it easy for a few days to try to acclimatise.
I really don´t know how much this benefits the people and ecomomy of the DR nor how much goes to the tour companies but taken on face value this must be as good as it gets.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

18 - 21 October 2006

These days are devoted to getting organised for the trip to the Dominican Republic that starts at 4am on Sunday. I have begun to dig out what needs to go and will soon get the clothes together. However i did get to see 'The Departed' and 'The History Boys' on Wednesday and will see Julia Biel in concert tonight and Marie Antoinette (only on film) tomorrow!

Bob's Blog

I am setting up this Blog because I am lucky enough to have a number of holidays each year. Many people are kind enough to ask me about these and they will now be able to follow, almost day by day, my adventures.