Four Boats and No One's Funeral

Stardate 66597.2

Our last day in the Dominican Republic, we decided to visit the South side of the island. We booked a tour that led us on four different boats that explored the Southern coast.

Boat 1: We sailed on the catamaran along the coast, catching wonderful views of the Parque Nacional de Este on land. The National Park is one of the few in the world that tries to protect the whole coastal ecosystem from the ocean to the mangroves to the shoreline. It’s actually one of the largest marine national parks in the region. We sailed on the catamaran until we reached the channel between the main island and Isla Soana.

Boat 2

Lunch

Boat 2: Our second float was just that a float. Our tour guide made a joke about it being what Cubans tried to get to Florida on. So we figured it was pretty sturdy. We took the canoe raft into the mangroves to see the breeding grounds of frigate birds. Fun fact, frigate birds are large and have huge red necks that can be puffed out. They would swoop all around us, giving us the feeling of being wild adventurers. The tour guides were also able to drudge up some weird looking jellyfish for us. They were up-side-down jellyfish, meaning their tentacles were on top. I’m not going to lie, Focus Foxies, I petted one. I did not get stung, but it did feel gross.

Up-Side-Down Jelly

Boat 3: Next, we flew past the channel between the main island and Isla Soana in a speed boat. Our destination was the sand bar where the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans meet. So they let us out to drink and have fun in crystal blue waters.  We watched as the waves came crashing into the sand bar and intermixed forming some outstanding blue hues. This water was much choppier than the sandbar we were on the previous day. Also, the wind came in pretty strong as well. We just stayed under water with our drinks for warmth. That's a free survival tip for everyone out there.

Boat 4: Our final boat consisted of paddle boat that took us upstream into the main island. It seemed like a trip back in time with the old school transportation and the Jurassic vegetation.  It was as if the boat and river pierced a hole in the gigantic wall of jungle. Focus Foxies, I think we were in the Rio Yuma that borders two providences in Dominican Republic. There is actually no way to be sure. Our guide just dropped off after a while.

As the sun set, I held a rum cocktail in hand and propped my feet up. I felt peaceful amongst the jungle and happy about our last day in the Dominican Republic.