Caribbean 2022 - Day 15 - Wednesday 26 Jan

Hispaniola is an island that isn’t terribly well known, I suppose it is analogous to the “Island of Ireland” sideways. It’s the collective name for Haiti and Dominican Republic, on the “left” and “right” respectively as one looks at a map.

Most people will know Haiti as amongst the poorest nations on Earth, the DR side is much more affluent, relatively speaking at about 10 times the GDP pc. That’s not to say it’s a wealthy country, but it’s not doing too bad and consistently posts the best growth rates in the Caribbean. DR courts tourists both via resort hotels and of course (or this blog wouldn’t be) cruise ships visits.

Last time we visited, fifteen years ago with John and Sheila, we docked at Santo Domingo, the nation’s capital. This time we’re pulling into Amber Cove, a far more anodyne tourist centre well away from any untidiness.

As usual we’re eschewing the ship’s tours in favour of walking, we head out on the main highway, through a nearby local town before transferring to a dirt track back to the bay we’re moored in.

We walk some distance, enjoying the incredible silence once we’re away from the highway, only us and a few horses, traffic is very light. At one point a massive six inch across spider comes arcing towards us, poor thing missing two hindquarters (or would that be two hind-eighths?)

Before long we join the beach, and see where it’s obviously a popular spot in pre-covid times, but much less so now. Then a dune-buggy tour passes by from the ship, which is fortunate as it suggests the beach is now passable, earlier the tide was in and we didn’t stand a chance.

So our return journey is much shorter, shaving at least two miles off the outbound route, numerous cars pass us, also using the beach as the highway!

We then head the other way on the proper highway for a while, the rich jungle countryside is quite beautiful, but we decide after yesterday that we don’t need to significantly extend our walk, and head back, via a small beach adjacent to a five star resort, towards our ships’ terminal. Here we find an area of swamp running down to the sea.

It’s quite amusing that whilst we probably contravened every road rule, jaywalking, walking in the highway, etc, once we’re in the port we get shouted and whistled at twice within minutes because we refused to follow the marked out pedestrian pathway - double standards eh? We did find a butterfly to photograph today though.

Before we return, we look at the free pool complex available to cruise guests, there’s a huge slide, zip wire, stacks of pools, bars, massage (and special massage!) all either free of for modest charge.

The dock is huge, there are rickshaws just to ease the burden for our cousins, from ship-side to the gate is probably half a mile.

We volte-face into sushi and sandwich today just to be different.

Back earlier than usual I get yesterday’s blog posted (internet issues) and then chat with a lovely Toronto couple, the Manchester couple and later a Kansas City couple. We manage a mango daiquiri for sailaway, then move back to our cabin for the traditional canapés and what’s left of our lunchtime Chardonnay.

Another spectacular dance performance, as faultless as last week, it’s wonderful to see these productions than once - just like being at work haha, we are so lucky!! As one of the boys (from Cantaré) was sat right in front of us filming the entire performance I decided I was OK to take a couple of shots for you, dear reader.