Travelogues: Hispaniola cont..
Depart Santo Domingo to: Bayahibe
3Mar:
We checked out of the Dona Elvira and loaded up our rental car. We drove around one last time and then we stopped by a 'super mercado' for beer, rum and supplies to take to our next B&B. We headed east down the hiway 3 with the crazy drivers, Chelsy was starting to fit in.
Before departing the city we first we made sure to stop at the Los Tres Ojos Park. Some call it a tourist trap, but worth it. It was very dank and humid and had plenty of bats!
Los Tres Ojos, or "The Three Eyes," is actually four subterranean lakes fed by an underground river called Brujuelas. Each lake has unique characteristics, and water temperatures range from balmy to a chilly 59° Fahrenheit, and depths range from 10 feet to over 900 feet.
We took the pully boat to the other side of the cave for a few pesos. A guy sits there in the dark with bats waiting for tourists.. I don't mind giving him some pesos for the ride.
After the park we headed towards Boca Chica. This is the closest 'really nice' beach to the city. My guide book suggested Neptunos for really good view and excellent food. I had the lobster lasagna, it was awesome! This turned out to be a pricey lunch.
Then we were back on the road, we drove through the town of La Romana where we got caught in typical rush hour traffic. Suddenly a sponge flew onto our windshield and 6-7 'lil ninos' were scrubbing our windows asking for pesos.. at the first stop light ok, - then shoot! We ran out of loose change! and more kids came at us at every stop. This is when Chelsy was then yelling at them in his angry Spanish.. I felt bad.. but geez they only came after this gringos rental car and not anyone elses.. light after light...
After the town we kept on the Hiway 3 past the River Chaveon. Finally after about 3 hours we made it to Bayahibe fishing village.
We checked in to our Inn which was a newer looking building in town with a plalapa rooftop with German owners. I had reserved us the top floor with our own fridge and patio, hence the stop at the store. We mixed a cuba libre had meat cheese and crackers and unpacked our stuff. We had 5 nights to enjoy here.
Cheers to another day.
4March
We had to wake up early as I booked an excursion out of Bayahibe to the popular discovered by Christopher Columbus even..: Isle Soana I booked us on a smaller VIP Tour of 12 people.
At 8:30 am we left the Marina (other folks that stay in all inclusive places are bussed to here, so we could just walk down the boat.) We took the speedboat past the de Este National Park to view mangroves and go snorkeling.
Then we headed to the beach on Isle Soana which was a lovely coconut tree postcard landscape. Walked about beach combing and then we had a fab lunch of grilled lobster, pork and rice, Cuba libres and wine. We met French, Italians and Americans on our tour with us. The tour was a full day!
At the end the boat dropped each couple their All-inclusive so we pulled up to see the Dominicus and Sunscape complexes but we were the only ones that went back with the boat to the town of Bayahibe with the crew.. When we were talking with the captain he informed us the reason there were so many darn roosters keeping us awake is due to for 3 months the cockfighting was happening in town. We never did go see that thankfully.. We had excellent peel and eat shrimp at a beach front stand with garlic toast. Later we had a pica polla snack.
Thanks for Flying!
3Mar:
We checked out of the Dona Elvira and loaded up our rental car. We drove around one last time and then we stopped by a 'super mercado' for beer, rum and supplies to take to our next B&B. We headed east down the hiway 3 with the crazy drivers, Chelsy was starting to fit in.
Before departing the city we first we made sure to stop at the Los Tres Ojos Park. Some call it a tourist trap, but worth it. It was very dank and humid and had plenty of bats!
Los Tres Ojos, or "The Three Eyes," is actually four subterranean lakes fed by an underground river called Brujuelas. Each lake has unique characteristics, and water temperatures range from balmy to a chilly 59° Fahrenheit, and depths range from 10 feet to over 900 feet.
We took the pully boat to the other side of the cave for a few pesos. A guy sits there in the dark with bats waiting for tourists.. I don't mind giving him some pesos for the ride.
After the park we headed towards Boca Chica. This is the closest 'really nice' beach to the city. My guide book suggested Neptunos for really good view and excellent food. I had the lobster lasagna, it was awesome! This turned out to be a pricey lunch.
Then we were back on the road, we drove through the town of La Romana where we got caught in typical rush hour traffic. Suddenly a sponge flew onto our windshield and 6-7 'lil ninos' were scrubbing our windows asking for pesos.. at the first stop light ok, - then shoot! We ran out of loose change! and more kids came at us at every stop. This is when Chelsy was then yelling at them in his angry Spanish.. I felt bad.. but geez they only came after this gringos rental car and not anyone elses.. light after light...
After the town we kept on the Hiway 3 past the River Chaveon. Finally after about 3 hours we made it to Bayahibe fishing village.
We checked in to our Inn which was a newer looking building in town with a plalapa rooftop with German owners. I had reserved us the top floor with our own fridge and patio, hence the stop at the store. We mixed a cuba libre had meat cheese and crackers and unpacked our stuff. We had 5 nights to enjoy here.
Cheers to another day.
4March
We had to wake up early as I booked an excursion out of Bayahibe to the popular discovered by Christopher Columbus even..: Isle Soana I booked us on a smaller VIP Tour of 12 people.
At 8:30 am we left the Marina (other folks that stay in all inclusive places are bussed to here, so we could just walk down the boat.) We took the speedboat past the de Este National Park to view mangroves and go snorkeling.
Then we headed to the beach on Isle Soana which was a lovely coconut tree postcard landscape. Walked about beach combing and then we had a fab lunch of grilled lobster, pork and rice, Cuba libres and wine. We met French, Italians and Americans on our tour with us. The tour was a full day!
At the end the boat dropped each couple their All-inclusive so we pulled up to see the Dominicus and Sunscape complexes but we were the only ones that went back with the boat to the town of Bayahibe with the crew.. When we were talking with the captain he informed us the reason there were so many darn roosters keeping us awake is due to for 3 months the cockfighting was happening in town. We never did go see that thankfully.. We had excellent peel and eat shrimp at a beach front stand with garlic toast. Later we had a pica polla snack.
Thanks for Flying!