Cabarete - Day 5 (recap)

Day 5 starts off with an adventure for the boys and then when we get back a trip to town for ice cream.

Daniel, Parker, and I head down to kite beach with our snorkel gear to attempt to snorkel out to the reef.  Needless to say that the trip doesn't last very long due to the fact that the waters are rough today and so visibility is low for the first 100+ yards off shore.  This is not the conditions that someone new to snorkeling, like Parker, feel comfortable swimming in.   We decide that it would be better to try it out a different day if the water is less rough another morning.

While we are out, the girls hang around for a bit and then head to town.  Becky and Delany take turns taking close up pictures of each other.  Becky is even getting a nice tan (for her) by this time in our trip.

Becky close up

Delany close up

Delany also takes some other pictures of the local foliage.

When we get back from our attempted snorkeling trip the local "sun troupe" at Vivia is leading aqua aerobics.

We head to the beach to walk up to Cabarete since it is always cooler on the beach due to the breeze...not to mention we try to enjoy the ocean and sand as much as possible.

pathway down to the beach

Once we get up to Cabarete we take our normal walk in that brings us through this cute little alley that is lined with stores and restaurants.  The buildings here just have a great design.

First things first though....it's hot out...let's get some ice cream guys!

We make a stop or two, then head on back down the beach to Viva....and to our chance to kite some more.  The wind is building and kites are getting on the water.   Time to hurry up and get out there if you ask Daniel or I!

We also see something that absolutely makes me glad we kiteboard....and no, poleboarding..I mean wind surfing does not look fun!

By the time we are halfway back, it is going off!!!

So once at Viva, Becky and I run in, lube up with sun screen and head to kite beach to get out there and start riding.  Daniel plans to ride down and meet us. 

On our walk down to kite beach Becky takes a picture that is somewhat ironic....a Cabarete classic for sure.

Once at kitebeach I get a wicked 2-3 hrs on the water.  Becky has a great day and progresses. All in all a fantastic day with stellar wind and water. 

I go riding with Alex and end up "upwinding" it to the eastern most point of Cabarete / Bozo beach...which needless to say is the furthest I have ever rode up wind.  Alex tells me that I should be able to do it in 2 or 3 tacks at the most.  Jeesh.....it took me at least 25 today.

After my session we get to watch the hothead Texan get cut off by some other kiter...or so he says...and then he proceeded to yell at him.  The guy was twice as big as Brian, the Texan, so we all knew if punches got thrown, there would only be two hits.  Dude hitting Brian, Brian hitting the ground.  Needless to say, some on the deck at F10  where hoping to see that scenario.

While we are watching the spectacle I get visited by a little dog.  Kind of cute little bugger!

His name is Brownie.

Then, after a bit of hanging, Becky and I decide to walk back to Viva for dinner. 

We grab a quick picture in front of kite beach first...

And then we walk the beach back...ocean water and sand between our toes.

Once back we get entertained before dinner by Delany, who since she is no longer wearing kitty cat make up...decides to draw one for me instead.

And that was pretty much our day...I am sure that we caught a show after dinner...and drinks...but I can't remember what was going on this night.

I leave you with one last shot from day 5...my rash guard and board shorts combo.

Cabarete - Day 4 (recap)

Finally we wake up to a typical Cabarete day...blue sky, warm waters that are not extreme with crazy storm swell...YAY!   Becky is excited as she is feeling like the conditions match her skill level now that the storm winds and swell have passed the island.  Her and I decide to head down to kite beach and ride from there.  Daniel decides to meet us later in the day by downwinding it from Bozo beach.

I pack Becky's gear down the beach for her...mine is already in a locker at F10.  Here I am with today's outfit, with both Becky's kites strapped to my back.

today's pimpin threads....Yes, this is today's outfit pic that I know you were waiting anxiously to see. ;)

By the time we arrive the wind is picking up, although it is still pretty light.  Most of the kites on the water are 13m-14m kites, but I decide to be optimistic and pump up my 10m...counting on good ol'faithful Cabarete winds to build as the afternoon progresses.

kite beach, Cabarete - day 4

Because it is so lite, my first few runs put me downwind...which require a small walk back up the beach.  Not that I mind, it is just great to be on the water!

It doesn't take too long until the wind is ripping.  I am lit out of my mind on my 10m.  Out near the reef it is rad hitting the flat water between the waves as the roll in...I ride for a good 2 hrs by myself.....then.....

Whoop whoop...here come Daniel Stoner joining me.

Another hour or two passes with the two of us tearing it up, fully lit, depowered even....we are both on our 10m kites, but there are 7m and 8m kites all around us at this point.

I finally decide to head in and take a break.  I know Daniel is running out of days here and that he really wants some pictures of him riding so I grab Becky's new waterproof camera and head out in the surf, treading water, to get pictures.

Of course, once the camera is in the water, all the camera hogs come out to play, so soon it becomes a bit more difficult for Daniel to get in close.  Not that it stops me from grabbing some cool shots of him.  I also get shots of Robinson, the local F-One team rider.

Daniel showing off boosting....

fail.....

watch this.....

as Daniel jumps near shore and put innocent people in danger.... heh heh heh

Pictures of Robinson: local Cabarete F-One team rider

While I am out taking picture, Alberto, the local kid who has taken to helping Becky and I setup and put away out kites each day for about $2 a day, decides to swim out and join me.  He is a really cute kid who is super helpful.  It pretty much kicks ass having a 14 year old kid pump up and then put away our gear for us everyday.  We befriend him and for the most part feed him every day as well.

After a long hard session...Oh, and I forgot to mention that Becky did great today.  Issac, my old instructor, spent time with her and said she was even making it upwind.... "there is nothing more I can teach her" he said, "from now on it's just time on the water." Becky was very glad to hear this....anyways, the three of us (Becky, Daniel, and I) catch a moto back up to Viva Tangerine.

It is pretty much dinner time when we get there...so we all head to our rooms for a quick shower and change.  Of course I always beat Becky...so I do my thing and head to the bar for a drink or two while I am waiting....and as usual Parker and Delany are waiting for us / me.  They join me at the bar, sherlie temples in hand.

There is an amazing glass blower artist doing art near the dining hall and Parker is obsessed with a glass blown Tarantula.  He is doing his best to talk Daniel into seeing that he "really really really could use a glass Tarantula".  Needless to say his dad, Daniel, doesn't see it his way...but being the "cool" guy I am when Becky gets to the bar I decide to go over and get him his glass spider....Parker also get a lesson is driving a hard bargain as $11 is what I pay...$15 is what they wanted. 

Parker happily shows off his glass Tarantula....Daniel is truly scared ;)

Delany is done up like a cat...leftovers from kids club.

Hear me roar!!!! meow.....

We also get to enjoy a local band playing near the bar.  The kids think that they just keep playing the same song over and over....funny! I'll let you decide....

Before we all head to the dining hall for dinner, we decide to get a few picture of us all.  Here is a great one of Anne and Daniel. 

And another great one of Delany and Becky.

It goes without saying that Parker was going to make the picture difficult...so here is what we got.

But needless to say, him and I are buds...even if he won't pose for a picture with me.

Cabarete - Day 3 (recap) Santiago nightlife

After leaving Carolina's house (with a Styrofoam cup of Cuba Libre in hand) we made our way downtown.  Carolina brought a CD of famous tunes redone by local meringue and salsa bands.  In this video you can hear some of that music while Carolina gives me a Spanish lesson on how to pronounce the name of the CD compilation.

The city is quite beautiful at night.  So many neon signs, people everywhere....a city that is alive after dark.  I loved it immediately.

After passing by a few colorful casinos in the downtown area, we arrive to our first stop which is at a monument that sits on a hill in the middle of the city over looking all of Santiago.  Alex performs one of the worst parking jobs I have ever seen after which we all pile out for pictures.  We even leave his car (halfway in the middle of the road) and head on up the road to get a view of the city at night.

Here is some video of us at the car taking pictures.  you really get to see how busy it is at night here.  Also in the video towards the end you will see the guard standing there with his machine gun....at least we know we won't get mugged here!

After walking to the top of the hill near the base of the monument, we are greeted with an amazing view of the city at night.

(view of the bars we visit a bit later) click for larger view

We also get a few group pictures taken.

Alex, Becky,me, Carolina stand in front of the cityscape

group shot with monumento in back of us....Styrofoam cups still in hand (Thanks Indy)

After taking pictures, we decide to head back to our car, hop in for a quick trip to the main strip of neon encrusted bars, in order to save ourselves a drunken walk back to our current parking spot.  The drive only took us a few minutes, as we were going to hit up the bars in the previous picture which reside at the bottom of the hill below the monumento. 

With all the neon lights outlining all the bars, the night life is just great...almost magical when walking around at night.  Just don't forget your street smarts as we have heard tourist get mugged at night fairly often.  Good thing we have two locals with us....although Indy is walking around with a $2000 camera around his neck which does not make anyone of us feel too secure.

Santiago night lights

almost magical...... click for larger view

We finally settle on a little bar that has a local band playing with plenty of people dancing.  We spend some time to having drinks and getting pictures.  Indy gets a ton of shots....and man oh man are the women here beautiful.  Check out this picture of the band playing and tell me that the singer (chick) isn't bangin!

Of course Becky was looking mighty fine this evening as well..

yep...I married a hottie!!!

Needless to say there was much drinking by all.  We even run into a friend of Carolina's from college who just happens to be from New York.  Here is a video of us all at the club.

Here are some more pics of our night.

Around 1am we decide that we are tired, and since Alex has a 2 hr drive in front of us to get back to Cabarete (Carolina did offer for us to stay at her place, but we wanted to get back to our all-inclusive), so we took Carolina back home so she could get her car and head back out on the town. 

We drive back.  I would like to tell you that the whole countryside of D.R. is beautiful at night...and it very well may be, but both Becky and I slept most of the way back, so honestly I have no clue.  We arrive at the Viva around 4am.

Anyways, I fall asleep content with having seen the two largest cities in the D.R. and vowing to be kiteboarding in the morning.