Dominican Republic

La Romana, Dominican Republic, Day Four, 12/12/12, posted the next day.

Mark is feeling almost back to normal today, although not 100%.  Still, he felt up to going on our shore excursion.  He had picked what turned out to be the most popular excursion here, Altos de Chavon and River Cruise.  Several full busses took people off on this one.

Our tour guide, Ottavio, has been a guide since 1977.  We felt that he was excellent and taught us a lot about the history, culture, government, and education of his country. It was fascinating.  Our bus went on the river cruise first up the Chavon River.  They gave us rum and rum, or Coke and Coke, or rum and Coke as choices for drinks on the cruise.  LOL!  Mark took nothing because he wasn’t sure it was a good idea to put any of that in his stomach at 11 a.m.!  I took a rum and Coke and then just some plain Coke. Yummy.

The river cruise was calm and beautiful on a stern wheeler. We sat in the shade on the upper deck and were joined by a couple from our dinner table who live in the Toronto area.  When we returned from the cruise, it was a short drive to the village of Altos de Chavon, a made up place in the rich touristy area called Casa de Campo. Mark joked that it was Epcot in the Dominican Republic.  In 1982 some rich guy decided to make a replica of a European village from the middle ages.  Weird.  It was all stone and walls and a huge amphitheater that looked like it was from ancient Rome.  They actually use it for concerts and shows today.  The best part of this place was the scenic overlooks of the river that we had just cruised.  The second best part was the shop called the Amber Museum. It had a lovely display of amber and how it is formed as well as the history of the discovery of Larimar, a mineral found only on the Dominican Republic. I first learned about Larimar on the Celebrity Century cruise in February of 2011 and bought a beautiful necklace and bracelet in St. Maarten. I was determined to buy a small piece here in the Dominican Republic.

One of my Hanukkah presents from Mark was $100 worth of jewelry of my choice, so he bought my larimar today. I picked out a small pendant, a pretty piece set in a silver turtle.  I also got a lovely pendant of amber.  The money is DR pesos, 40 to the US dollar.  My purchases were 4000 pesos or $109.  Not bad for two necklaces. I am quite happy with them, especially getting larimar mined and set right in the Dominican Republic.  Lovely.  There will be pictures eventually!!

We made it back on board around 2 p.m., so I had a little time to type this blog while Mark uses the “facilities” in our cabin.  Then we will head up to lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the ship before sailing away at 6:00.  There is a special area on decks 12 and 13 called the Serenity area for adults only.  The best, most padded, chaise lounges are there and two hot tubs, right at the bow of the ship.  After lunch, Mark went to the gym, but I went to the Serenity deck, napped, read, and soaked in the hot tub until it was time to get ready for the menorah lighting.  Lovely day.

Tomorrow, San Juan!!