Pirates! of the Caribbean's True Tales, High Adventures on the Bounding Seas, Sailors Tales, Treasure, Gold |
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Caribbean Travel Guide -13
(OF 50 TC)
© PHOTOS BY CAPT. CHUCK
| CD: Sailing Adventures Cruising the Caribbean! Hilarious True Sea Stories |
| Dominican Republic |
| Get "Lost" in Your Own Island Paradise! Captain Chuck, a 10 Year Cruiser Guides You to a Columbus' Fave Caribbean Travel Playground Islands! |
Dominican Republic, North Coast
Columbus' 2nd Stop, where his
crew stayed for 4 years
Columbus' 2nd Stop, where his
crew stayed for 4 years
A large, glorious island in the sun, which history has seen
rise, fall, and regenerate into a very beautiful and diverse
Caribbean haven. It is one of U.S. tourism's most treasured
destinations, for a number of reasons. So diverse, the north
(presented here) and south coasts differ in almost every
aspect of culture and entertainment. New developments are
everywhere, and there is plenty of room for them. The D.R.
is more than 4 times the size of Jamaica, for example.
On the gorgeous north coast, for years it was a wild and
free escape for sailboaters and sun worshippers. For cruising
sailors, the first stop after the Bahamas, its long, untamed
ocean coastline seemed something like an Eden.
Its grand, sparkling white beaches lure visitors from
America's frozen north to perpetual spring. The D.R. boasts
290 miles of creamy, soft sand in its welcoming perimeter..
Puerto Plata, Sosua, Samana', Cabarete, and Luperon, all on
its north coast, grew with many small hotels and often, a
mysterious aura that seemed a touch of Casablanca. One
raucous bar featured a wild monkey that swung in the
rafters, and parrots that talked back when you said hello.
More than one wandering cruiser told me they'd found the
place to stay for a long, long time. Spicy meat pies called
empanadas, chorizo sausages, and El Presidente, the
Dominican beer were easy choices for lunch, from a variety
of eateries, but a fine chateaubriand -- dinner at a special
restaurant, even better. Merengue dancing, all hours.
Souvenir hunters will be surprised at the variation and
quantity of high-range amber gems. Finest varieties in Puerto
Plata are at El Palacio, a long-time and very reliable supplier.
Puerto Plata -- Silver Port --was named by Columbus in
1492, the second island he "discovered" which was occupied
by the native Indians. He then returned to Spain, leaving a
crew for several years until he returned. While they found no
silver, the port was later to become the most important last
stop for treasure ships on their way across the Atlantic, back
to Ferdinand and Isabella.
Now at Puerto Plata and Cofresi, a dazzling new Ocean
World Adventure Park has risen, with full service marinas
and hotels, pools, dolphin, shark and sea lion encounters. The
fully-equipped marina, boasting 83 wet slips and a sidetie up
to 250 ft., is a welcome addition for yachts traveling from
the U.S.. With full service amenities, showers, cable TV and
phones, it is the choice over Puerto Plata's busy commercial
harbor.
Sosua, with Playa Dorada to the east, is one of the best
beaches, miles long and several hundred yards deep. It's well
attended by the residents, as well as Canadian, European, and
U.S.visitors from a dozen hotels nearby. According to long
time customs, local sun-tanned hunks will hustle to massage
you with oil, or deliver anything from the bar or food stand.
Dominican people are friendly; the women are beautiful.
Lilting Spanish is their language, but a great number speak
very good English as well as German.
Puerto Plata was a famous name in WWII, when it
accepted a ship full of Jewish immigrants who escaped from
Hitler, only to find few countries would allow them to land.
The D.R took them in, and thus added a special, highly
educated and intelligent mix to its already diverse culture.
An unexpected feature is the cable car ride to the crest of
Mount Isabel de Torres, with its Christ statue rivaling even
the one at Rio de Janeiro. A fun afternoon.
A gem you mustn't miss is another short trip to Samana',
also where ol' Chris was said to land. It's up a tricky
passageway from the ocean,with overhanging mangrove
trees to embelish the mystery mood. Samana' was once
delegated to be a tourist draw, when then-President
Balaguerre used U.S. loans to build a modern, lighted,
winding parkway thoroughfare through town -- to compete
with Mexico's Cancun. It was lovely, but didn't include an
airport, so the hoped-for tourist invasion cooled.
But now, a long awaited $multi-million development has
come to D.R.'s north and east coasts, via Punta Cana, to the
east of Puerto Plata.
Punta Cana, for ages merely a struggling port at the far
eastern end of the island's Mona Passage -- like Florida's
Gulfstream considered one of the most dangerous ocean
ventures -- has blossomed to billionaire status, with a huge
marina and upscale hotels, led by Donald Trump.
About 100 miles to the east on a largely undeveloped
coastline,The glamorous new Cap Cana project offers
upscale properties, a fine, new marina capable of docking
and servicing megayachts up to 150', as well as more
average sizes. Several South Florida companies have been
leaders in this new building, such as International Marinas,
Eco Plan, Spirit Airlines, OBM Resorts, Jack Nicklaus Golf
Courses, Trump, Weston, and others, all centered in South
Florida. The venture is estimated to reach $3 billion.
The Dominican Republic has a lot to offer tourists and
property buyers too. It's an island life you'll like.
See D.R. South Coast, next.
rise, fall, and regenerate into a very beautiful and diverse
Caribbean haven. It is one of U.S. tourism's most treasured
destinations, for a number of reasons. So diverse, the north
(presented here) and south coasts differ in almost every
aspect of culture and entertainment. New developments are
everywhere, and there is plenty of room for them. The D.R.
is more than 4 times the size of Jamaica, for example.
On the gorgeous north coast, for years it was a wild and
free escape for sailboaters and sun worshippers. For cruising
sailors, the first stop after the Bahamas, its long, untamed
ocean coastline seemed something like an Eden.
Its grand, sparkling white beaches lure visitors from
America's frozen north to perpetual spring. The D.R. boasts
290 miles of creamy, soft sand in its welcoming perimeter..
Puerto Plata, Sosua, Samana', Cabarete, and Luperon, all on
its north coast, grew with many small hotels and often, a
mysterious aura that seemed a touch of Casablanca. One
raucous bar featured a wild monkey that swung in the
rafters, and parrots that talked back when you said hello.
More than one wandering cruiser told me they'd found the
place to stay for a long, long time. Spicy meat pies called
empanadas, chorizo sausages, and El Presidente, the
Dominican beer were easy choices for lunch, from a variety
of eateries, but a fine chateaubriand -- dinner at a special
restaurant, even better. Merengue dancing, all hours.
Souvenir hunters will be surprised at the variation and
quantity of high-range amber gems. Finest varieties in Puerto
Plata are at El Palacio, a long-time and very reliable supplier.
Puerto Plata -- Silver Port --was named by Columbus in
1492, the second island he "discovered" which was occupied
by the native Indians. He then returned to Spain, leaving a
crew for several years until he returned. While they found no
silver, the port was later to become the most important last
stop for treasure ships on their way across the Atlantic, back
to Ferdinand and Isabella.
Now at Puerto Plata and Cofresi, a dazzling new Ocean
World Adventure Park has risen, with full service marinas
and hotels, pools, dolphin, shark and sea lion encounters. The
fully-equipped marina, boasting 83 wet slips and a sidetie up
to 250 ft., is a welcome addition for yachts traveling from
the U.S.. With full service amenities, showers, cable TV and
phones, it is the choice over Puerto Plata's busy commercial
harbor.
Sosua, with Playa Dorada to the east, is one of the best
beaches, miles long and several hundred yards deep. It's well
attended by the residents, as well as Canadian, European, and
U.S.visitors from a dozen hotels nearby. According to long
time customs, local sun-tanned hunks will hustle to massage
you with oil, or deliver anything from the bar or food stand.
Dominican people are friendly; the women are beautiful.
Lilting Spanish is their language, but a great number speak
very good English as well as German.
Puerto Plata was a famous name in WWII, when it
accepted a ship full of Jewish immigrants who escaped from
Hitler, only to find few countries would allow them to land.
The D.R took them in, and thus added a special, highly
educated and intelligent mix to its already diverse culture.
An unexpected feature is the cable car ride to the crest of
Mount Isabel de Torres, with its Christ statue rivaling even
the one at Rio de Janeiro. A fun afternoon.
A gem you mustn't miss is another short trip to Samana',
also where ol' Chris was said to land. It's up a tricky
passageway from the ocean,with overhanging mangrove
trees to embelish the mystery mood. Samana' was once
delegated to be a tourist draw, when then-President
Balaguerre used U.S. loans to build a modern, lighted,
winding parkway thoroughfare through town -- to compete
with Mexico's Cancun. It was lovely, but didn't include an
airport, so the hoped-for tourist invasion cooled.
But now, a long awaited $multi-million development has
come to D.R.'s north and east coasts, via Punta Cana, to the
east of Puerto Plata.
Punta Cana, for ages merely a struggling port at the far
eastern end of the island's Mona Passage -- like Florida's
Gulfstream considered one of the most dangerous ocean
ventures -- has blossomed to billionaire status, with a huge
marina and upscale hotels, led by Donald Trump.
About 100 miles to the east on a largely undeveloped
coastline,The glamorous new Cap Cana project offers
upscale properties, a fine, new marina capable of docking
and servicing megayachts up to 150', as well as more
average sizes. Several South Florida companies have been
leaders in this new building, such as International Marinas,
Eco Plan, Spirit Airlines, OBM Resorts, Jack Nicklaus Golf
Courses, Trump, Weston, and others, all centered in South
Florida. The venture is estimated to reach $3 billion.
The Dominican Republic has a lot to offer tourists and
property buyers too. It's an island life you'll like.
See D.R. South Coast, next.
Download the Book
Click 'Home' to order!
The full text: 247 pages of fun,hilarious adventure,
sailing
the Bounding Main! Just $16.95
-OR-
CD only $12.00 free ship.
Order Your own Pirates Pearls & Paradise Today! Avast,
Me Hearties, Ye'll Love the Voyage!
Click 'Home' to order!
The full text: 247 pages of fun,hilarious adventure,
sailing
the Bounding Main! Just $16.95
-OR-
CD only $12.00 free ship.
Order Your own Pirates Pearls & Paradise Today! Avast,
Me Hearties, Ye'll Love the Voyage!