From the land of the Bluenose.....Friday the 13th! That should have been warning enough for us as we started our vacation flying out of the Robert Stanfield International Airport on our way to the Dominican just before the snow pounded the area.
The flight itself was smooth and in a mere 3 hours 45 minutes we landed in a much warmer location. Stepping out of the finger the heat hit Marie and I like a blast furnace.
After gathering our luggage we had to fight our way through the porters and sellers who were like a pride of lions on a wounded wilderbeast to get to the bus for the 20 minute drive to the resort.
First impression of the Tropical Fun Royal was favourable.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dff11569c00000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>
Within 10 minutes of being shown our room I was geared and ready for a swish with our transportation to the beach via a wagon on the back of a tractor....um. The beach was a welcomed sight.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dde44977100000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>
Water was warm and within a minute I had my first signal so I stepped on the seive and felt a nasty vibration up my leg.............Lord love a duck the target was embedded in the coral...da. Quick lesson learned so I headed to where the bottom was sandy and not black. Of course in the sandy areas there were so many craters in the bottom that I thought I was making my way through "No Man's Land" at Vimy Ridge! Swished for about an hour finding 5 pesos and a ton of junk. Getting thirsty I headed back to Marie who was in heaven laying on a beach chair with her head plugged into the ipod bopping away.As she got up I had a Kodak moment!<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838df844165200000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>
At the bar was a fellow who could have passed for Ozzie Osborne who was busy being yelled at by his lady who was without a doubt high on something other than life. We gave them wide birth , ordered a few beverages and set down to relax when this ranting lady comes over to me and slaps me twice on the shoulder, cursed and then made her way behind the bar giving the poor bouy there much the same treatment. Marie looked at me and I simply said, "Time to do some more swishing. We later ran into this couple again and they were both flying a kite or was it higher than a kite!
Back at the resort this bouy was strutting around emitting a sound that was half ways between a cat being strangled and a dog run over!<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dde5a976f00000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center> While this little dewy crawled about looking for a handout.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838ddbfd566200000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>Of course Marie had to get into the act and did her "Peter Peacock" imitation later that evening just before the main event.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838df6fe97df00000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>
Just shortly after this photo was taken Marie and I had seated ourselves to watch the evening entertainment on the stage when I went to the bar to fetch a few banana mammas when I looked to my right and there was a British couple arguing loudly. Then out of the blue he let loose a haymaker that knocked his lady to the ground. She bounced up quicker than a rubber ball off pavement and continued giving him a piece of her mind till security arrived and quelled the storm. Mister man this sure beat the halibut of the stage show which we watched then headed to our room and the slab of concerte that served as a bed.
Next day was another super hot, typical, clear day with the only fog and clouds to be found was in front of my eyes. I grabbed my Freedom 3 and headed towards the beach feeling like I had forgotten something..................oops. I back tracked and picked up Marie who was not impressed.
Marie immediately went into the water and I thought for a second she forgot something but it was just that darn fog rolling in front of me.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dd279167a00000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center> Did a grid of the beach that would have made my departed digging buddy the "Bardman" proud. Man those pesos sure ring up nice on the old Garrett and it wasn't long before I had a good rattling in my pockets and a good thirst to match. Making my way up to the bar I noticed the bartender looking strangely at me and my Garrett so I ordered something fitting, "I'll have a banna mamma for Marie, a scotch and milk for me and three nine volts for my Garrett." Well at least he got two out of three right! Best find of the day was Saint Chris who I took with me while taxiing around on the Evil Knivel freeways. Man those bouys drive first class nutso.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838df845976300000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>
That evening the main bout was a donny-brook by the pool as several Brits got into it with the Yanks (few Canucks thrown in for good measure). Man what is about 20 year old males and beer? Of course not to be outdone "Mrs. Ozzie Osbourne" was running about cursing and pulling her top up every time she passed a man.
Next day it was off to Sousa Beach with Marie, the two Garretts and St. Chris clutched in my hand as our cab driver played chicken with everything from a moped to a Mac truck. Of course arriving at the beach, in one piece I might add we were greeted with this.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838df859977f00000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>Son of a seahorse the place was packed with barely a spot to spread a towel. Did a quick land dig before giving up and spending some quality time with Marie shopping.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dd27b167800000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center> I would return!
One zillion pesos lighter we returned to the resort and I took up my reserved spot at Popeye's Bar.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dd266975500000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center> Of course another little tiff took place whereas a fellow had his jaw broken by his girlfriend. (at the time of us heading home this lady could not leave as the police had seized her passport, credit cards and all her money).
Next day was a washout but I still did the dew finding my only ring of the trip in the form of a 925 with a stone.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dd264975700000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>
With the peacock sounding a new day of digging was at hand with a most welcomed sight at the beach.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838ddbe7567800000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center> Had a bit of a shock on this land dig as I was digging deep in the sand for a peso when I unearthed one angry little crab.....last laugh was on the crustacean as it was a 5 peso coin! This beach also produced a first for this bouy as I found a working laser pointer.
The one saving grace of the resort was the Mediterranean Restaurant where Mario's service and food was impeccable. We ate here just about every night in the company of this nice PEI couple who enjoyed the food and service as much as we did.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838df6ff16ee00000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center> My necklace was one gold ring short after our last great meal here.
Last day and last trip to Sousa Beach for some peso popping. Here it was indeed peso heaven with coins coming every other swing of old faithful. Stomach started cramping again and I knew it was time to visit King John so I presented his royal guard with the mandatory 10 pesos and was given passage to his inner sanctum.
Well the vacation was at an end with the Dominican being relieved of 140 coins, 7 earings, 2 5 pound diver weights, a sinker, pin pointer, St Chris medal, a heart, a mother of a bronze hotel key ring, a silver ring and a key.<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dff15569800000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>
A big special thanks to this lovely lady who let me dig and swish to my hearts content!<center>[img width= height=]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da00b3127cce838dff13569e00000016108AcM2bhk4ZN2[/img]</center>
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