Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro Punta Cana

... was there...so near..
The lunch time was like a picnic in the Caribbean.
The afternoon was full of activities, beachvolley, snorkeling, dancing and relax!
The return hour arrive TOO early! and at 6.30 pm I was in my hotel again with the fantastic remember of nice people and a great experience.
WOW...that was nice but I have more incredible adventure for my next trip to the DR!
See you again...Bianca

My first full day in the Dominican Republic just so happens to be a national holiday: El Día de Restauración (Restoration Day). Pretty much Independence Day #2 for Dominicans. The first Independence Day is in February when the DR gained independence from Haitian rule. The second (Aug 16) is Independence from Spain which occupied the country for two years after their first Independence from Haiti. Anyway, enough with the history. Let me now explain to you ...

... that serves as a dining/living room. Downstairs at the EF are offices, labs and classrooms.

After showering and unpacking, I meet the girls from the study abroad group on their way to the Club and I join them. The Club is a 2 min walk from the EF and consists of a store where they have the 'basics' (batteries, coca cola, rum, Presidente (THE dominican beer), and snacks), two pool tables (very tattered, and only one of ...

Fui en el autobus a el Parque Nacional del Este. Fui a acampar en el parque y fui a pescar en el agua. Fui a subir en las arboles. Fue a estar fenomenal. Fui a ver los animales. Muchos iguanas en la Republica de Dominicana. La Republica de Dominicana tiene muchos animales. En el Parque Nacional del Este, fui a comer bocadillos.

... When we finally got back to the restaurant, we sank down onto large cushions at a low table on the second floor, ordered lobster, and watched the people and the beach below, including a woman who searched in the sand for an hour or two for something important (an engagement ring?). She enlisted several hotel employees with flashlights and rakes to go through the sand, but she didn't seem to find it before we left, unfortunately. It was a beautiful setting, and the meal was delicious!

... tried to learn how to windsurf. We also went swimming with sea lions, a highlight for me. It was a great trip, although the last day and the few days after were unfortunately ruined by both of us getting pretty sick...Montezuma's Revenge claimed its latest victims!

... development in our trip, we've decided to spend the next two months respectively in Toronto and New York, working to raise more travel funds before resuming the remainder of our Asian travels. But for now, we are here in Punta Cana and enjoying the overwhelming amount of food and amenities the resort has to offer. Once back in Toronto I'll have more on the last portion of our trip. Until then, here are a few photos of the big surprise.

... the sun went away and the rain clouds came out. It started raining - and for the rest of the trip it only stopped sporadically.

We hadn't really budgeted for the overpriced excursions as we were fresh out of college and making no money at this point - we really just intended to veg by the pool and now that wasn't an option. Luckily, I had some books and I was able ...

... things really started to bother me. The hotel really tries to get you to interact with staff and other guests - which just really isn't my style. I don't like to make small talk and I don't like to be put into these situations...Well, at club med they sit you at large tables with guests and their staff also comes to sit with you as well.

We were the only guests there in our ...

... and I had to fight with the airline to wait for her as she had FINALLY arrived and was trying to get past security. I had to threaten to not get on the plane unless she was there in order to get them to wait the extra 2 minutes - luckily she got there and we were able to continue on our way.

When we arrived we checked into Club Med. It was an all inclusive resort and we had booked our trips separately as we were leaving from different ...