Outta Moving Van

I can't believe it was snowing when I left DC...

Stardate 66546.1

"We need to just get out of the van. Just go!" --Mom  "What?"--Me

We found ourselves on the side of the road next to a market about ten miles from the hotel. But this is will into middle of our story. Focus Foxies, we need to back up to the beginning.

Hotel beach

My Mom and I touched down in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on Monday (stardate 66543.4). We came to escape winter, experience the beach, and go whale watching. We were welcomed into the tropical island with a fun tourism visa fee. An interesting development tactic to say the least, but since it was only $10 and the airport was nice, we thought it worth it. If we didn't, it would be a short story. Our hotel was  an all-inclusive beautiful resort that backed up to a beach.

A different market

Our first full day, we wanted to go shopping in a local market. We had a free day before we went on our excursions and wanted to make the best of it. Our hotel guest services had no idea where to send us. They had one shuttle service to a place called 'Bella Mar.' We were assured that it was a large market with many shops. Basically, it would be everything we would want out of DR. Bella Mar was a small, one shop stop. I mean larger that a few market stalls, but no dice. On the way back, I cobbled enough Spanish to get the driver to stop by Plaza Bavaro, which looked more promising. The driver was about to not let us out, so Mom took matters into our own hands. We just left the van and freaked everyone else out who stayed. They probably assume we are dead.

But, spoiler alert, we are not! We shopped until we dropped getting larimar (type of blue stone), paintings, shot glasses, and necklaces. We were the only tourists in the market, so it wasn't a take out your camera type of excursion. All eyes were on us as we walked around. It would have been a wonderful photo opportunity. We eventually caught a cab for $10 back to the cab. So the tip I have for you, Focus Foxies, is jump out of a slightly moving van. It will be a blast!

View from the hotel room