We made it!

After a 20-hour travel day with just enough glitches to remind us that we are indeed in a third world country, we were so happy to finally "find" our destination. Yep, there's a whole 'nuther story behind that word "find" and yes, we were very happy and relieved. By then it was dark so we couldn't see the view, but we did still explore the beach just a bit so we could enjoy listening to the waves. What an amazing view we discovered Sunday morning! We spent the day checking the place out - walking the beach and down the highway a little in both directions.

How exciting to discover a colmado down the street just a few paces - even closer than Luciano's was in Santiago. We can purchase pretty much any/all essentials there - bananas, napkins, TP, dish soap, CocaCola and even aspirin if we need it. Oh, yah, and platanitos!!!

It is a lovely little cove - made interesting by the fishermen going in and out in their small motor boats. Farther out we can see the whale-watching tours pass by on their way in or out of the bay. And then there are the cruise ships heading to the harbor at Samana. But most of the time it is quiet - other than the crashing of the waves and the sounds of people talking in the distance and the motorcycles going by - and the occasional blare of music from a pick-up truck. And yes, I have heard a few roosters crowing, but none of them very close or loud - and no donkeys yet. As for livestock, there is one cow just outside our bedroom window and there is a horse grazing at the far end of the compound but we don't hear from them. Bang Bang the dog and Leon the puppy don't bother anybody but each other - well, and hopefully any intruders. And we haven't seen any whales yet, but then again we haven't really looked.

So what's not to like? Well, there is one little thing lacking - internet access. 'Tis a huge adjustment for me to not be able to connect with the rest of the world, but we'll find places with WiFi now and then.

The weather is a tad bit warmer than what we left in Michigan. It didn't take long to doff the long-sleeves once we landed. I was quickly reminded of how humid it gets here.

Bonus: I have been surprised and pleased with how much of my Spanish knowledge is coming back.

It is indeed a lovely place - idyllic even. What a delight to make our home here for the winter!