It Was Paradise For Me In Punta Canna

While visiting Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic or as I like to refer to it, Paradise, I took many, many, many pictures to document my experience.

We stayed in an all inclusive resort that was far from the city center, you could hire a driver and venture out on your own, but this was not advised by the resort. So we happily spent our time at the resort.

The main building housed the reception area, this was an opened air building, no windows or doors so the breeze could flow through the area keeping it very pleasant. Bronze sculptures peppered the main lobby. Comfortable seating arranged in a cozy setting were always filled with people sipping drinks from the bar, or from the coffee/tea station, and it was the only location that had WIFI. Laptops, tablets, and smart phones were everywhere.

An open air theater had two performances each night, musical reviews, plays, and game shows entertained the resort guest. There was a small casino where a member of our group won on a penny machine. They put in a twenty dollar bill and played ten lines betting two cents each time. After three pulls on the handle, total spent 60¢, a bonus game came up and the machine paid out $65.00. Who was the winner... that would be me. I quickly cashed out and pocketed my winnings and the remainder of my $20.00.

This is the building where we stayed, my sister and her husband had a first floor room, and my niece and I were on the second floor. Every morning we were greeted with delightful views from our balcony.

Breakfast was my favorite meal of the day, twice we ate at the buffet located in the main lobby. This buffet had food for every pallet. There was the typical breakfast foods eggs, sausages, bacon, cheeses, cold sliced meats, fish, tortillas, and even onion rings were served.

The two chefs pictured above made me crepes, and huevos fritos, or fried eggs. I enjoyed the juice bar where I would drink several glasses of water mellon juice and something similar to an Orange Julius, orange juice, milk, and sugar blended with crushed ice.

It was yummy.

The cafe con crema, coffee with hot cream helped perk me up each morning, and then there was the chocolate con churros that I ate every morning. Who could resist fried dough that you dip into a very thick hot chocolate? Not me!

The native drink in the Dominican Republic is called Mama Juana. 

The Dominicans believe that Mama Juana can cure la gripe, the flu, and is an aphrodisiac.

Mama Juana is a drink from the Dominican Republic that is concocted by allowing rum, red wine, and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. I did not partake in this Dominican drink, it smelled yucky.

Next, shopping at a market on the beach.