Dominican Republic Vacation

My husband Joe and I have just returned from vacationing in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic at the all inclusive Ocean Blue Bavaro Resort. We had a reunion of sorts with his sisters, a brother, a nephew and their respective spouses. My sister-in-law, Anne, puts these family trips together and she does a great job. The only rule is that they have to be in the Caribbean and all inclusive, which means that everything is paid for up front, including alcohol. Our extended family enjoys their cocktails, so this works out well for us.
The Ocean Blue is a beautiful resort, right on the Caribbean. There is a huge pool with a swim up bar. The beach is absolutely gorgeous. Get up early and put your beach towel on a chaise or you will not find one. We upgraded our room to the "Elite Club" and it was great when there was hot water. The view from our balcony was of a vacant lot full of trash and some sort of large blue chemical drum. There were several stray dogs roaming around. You could see the Caribbean off to the side, if you leaned over the rail. The food was edible but just about everyone in our group of ten had some sort of intestinal upset. There was a huge buffet every night where you could find something to eat and a few themed restaurants in the complex. My favorite was the Mexican restaurant. Make sure if you are in a group that you make a reservation before 3 pm. The mixed drinks were hit or miss. Sometimes good, if they used the premium alcohol, but they could be really nasty if they used the locally made brands. We liked the Absolute Bloody Mary at the Lobby Bar. But, make sure that you watch the bartender pour the Absolute! There are massages, a fitness center, a casino, a theatre and water sports. If reservations are needed, make them at the beginning of your stay.
Do not, under any circumstances, fly on Spirit Airlines to get there. There is no acceptable level of customer service. They do not even know what the term means. The flight attendants are downright rude. You can only check one bag under 50 pounds and they gleefully charge you for any additional bags. The problem is that they will not guarantee that the additional bag will get on your flight. If your flight is delayed, they don't bother with any announcements. You just wait indefinitely either on the plane or in the terminal.
However, vacationing with my in laws is a riot. We seem to enjoy the same things for the most part. Laying on the beach or by the pool with our drinks. Reading, working crosswords or sudoku puzzles. Taking in the topless tourists. Shopping or fishing. It's all good!! Until next year...great job, Annie!!

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Florida

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park and Lodge is about 20 minutes from Florida's capitol, Tallahassee. This is one of the world's largest and deepest freshwater springs. If you are not staying at the Lodge, as soon as you get there, buy a ticket for the River Tour. The day we visited, the Glass Bottom Boat tour was not operating due to poor water conditions, but, honestly, it was very, very clear. You could see fish swimming. The river boat seats a bunch of people, so get in line and sit in the front if you can. This is NOT an air boat ride; it is about 40 minutes long and well worth the 6 bucks a head. You will see tons of birds, ducks, snakes, turtles, and alligators, alligators and MORE ALLIGATORS!! If you came to Florida to see gators up close and personal, this is it!! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! So, sit down, shut up, and hold on!
After the tour, go to the Lodge for an ice cream. While you are licking your cone, take a gander at "Ole Joe," a 14 foot stuffed gator in a glass case. Ole Joe was brutally murdered in 1966 and his killers have never been found. Ole Joe never harmed a human or pet and he rests in his first and only cage. If you find this disturbing, it is. Not much has changed in 40 years. Man is still the most dangerous predator to wildlife.

Alligator Point

This week, Joe and I are going to one of our favorite places, Alligator Point, Florida. Our house in Tampa is for sale with no lookers, so we are outta here!!! Alligator Point is on the Panhandle, southwest of Tallahassee on the Gulf of Mexico. This is our 4th visit to the same rental beach cottage, aptly named the "Gulf Breeze." The house is, in a word, rustic. But, it is the beach that we go for. Miles of private beach. Did I mention that it is in BFE? You can literally walk for miles and not see a soul. Fifteen miles to the nearest grocery store. Yeah, buddy. Low tide at Alligator Point is amazing. You can walk out a hundred yards into the Gulf of Mexico. See picture below right. Ivy, our yellow lab, loves to swim and dive for sand dollars. It is a sand dollar mecca. There are thousands of them, both alive and well, fossilized. If you need to collect some for a craft project or to hang on your Christmas tree, this is the place. Sunrise (yes, I have been known to get up for that, in fact I took the picture below) is equally spectacular. There are also scallops (in season) and loggerhead turtle nests. My Way Seafood Market in Panacea has the freshest seafood around. We love the oysters, the Bugs (Florida Lobster; ask for the tail to be split), and the shrimp (ask for heads off, worth the extra money). Our best friends, Bob and Mary Kay are coming for a few days from Georgia, so we will be drinking some wine also, believe it or not. More on Alligator Point when we return!