Riu Taino | MotionGroove.com

We are on week 2 of our Dominican Republic vacation, and the last week of it as well. I am really enjoying the friendliness of the local people here. People here seem so much more laid back than in Vancouver, not sure why but they are very relaxed and care free.

I just took my daughter for our usual afternoon baby stroller/walk so she can fall asleep and have her afternoon nap. I sneak away after she falls asleep in the stroller, then I go over to the next hotel (Riu Macao) to use their wireless Internet. It’s my afternoon ritual here in the Dominican.

Me and wifey are walking quite a bit each day because we both hate just sitting there all damn day (gets kinda boring tanning for 8 hrs). This morning we walked to the “stores” which look like basic structures with no electricity, no flooring (unless sand is considered a floor) , no doors. My mother in law suggested we walk to the stores, yeah some stores ha ha. In any case it’s always interesting to other cultures around the world. Things here are much more simple than Vancouver and for the most part I consider it a GOOD thing.

walking to “the stores”

The Dominican Republic version of MetroTown Mall…

various items to buy such as, drums, statues, pottery

This is called the “John Wayne” store, not sure why but it was funny…

do you like the floors here? beats laminate flooring anyday…

The “Leonardo Di Caprio” store, umm no comment..

The outdoor mall of Punta Cana…

walking along the beach back from “the stores”…

We checked out all the hotels on the strip and surprising our hotel is actually not as nice as others around here, however those other hotels cost much more to stay at than ours (Riu Taino). The food is the exact same at all the hotels (we checked) on the strip, the only difference is the visual appeal. Our hotel is by no means bad but when you compare to others such as Rui Palace then you can see the difference. I snapped a few photos but we went at night and it’s hard to get how amazing this hotel is in the dark. It really does look like some type of palace.

outdoor bar at Riu Palace

outdoor bar area Riu Palace in Punta Cana

inside bar at Riu Palace hotel in the Dominican Republic

outdoor waterfall

Matteo with Mamma at the Riu Palace hotel….

night shot of pool at our hotel Riu Taino…

local Dominican man making hats & bowls out of palm leaves, very neat…

dude selling cigars, he looks pretty mad at me (yikes..)

my little showoff

And back I go to the pool to meet up with the kids and wifey, maybe grab a Pina Colada along the way.

And here I am in the Dominican Republic on my 2 week vacation, hence the few blog posts. I had a hell of a time being able to post let me tell you. I called ahead of time to the hotel (1 month ago) to make 100% sure that they have Internet access available. Let’s face it I’m an Internet junky and not having Internet for 2 weeks straight would probably have me going into convulsions. I called ahead and they said they did have wireless access. It was a half truth on their part. They did have access but in ANOTHER hotel. It’s only a 5 minute walk, but still a pain in the butt to go to another hotel to sit in their lobby to get wireless access. On top of that I forgot or didn’t even consider the power outlets here might be different than North American style power outlets. They have the European style power outlets, so I had to buy an adapter (only $2), that fits on my existing plug so I can get power through the outlets. It took me a few days of asking to find a shop that sells them.

I am staying at a really nice 5 start hotel called Riu Taino, which is located in the city of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. I’m not going to make some huge essay describing the hotel and all that stuff. The place is all inclusive, meaning all you can eat and all you can drink. Last night I got gunned after 3 strawberry margaritas, 1 rum and coke, 1 strawberry daquari and other stuff that I don’t remember cause I was too drunk to. Ha ha it was a much needed binge session. It’s sucks drinking alone though, my wife can’t drinks because she breasts feed still and the rest of them well…..

And for the food, well it’s all buffet style meals, but the food is amazing as I expected. You can get all types of fish, chicken, veal, fruits, and anything else you can think of. More than you can ever ask for, but since I’m always watching my carbs I don’t indulge is breads, pastas, pizzas or anything else that will gain me the 15 lbs that I lost late last year.

I am here with my mother in law, my wife’s aunt and uncle, and her uncles brother and his sister in law. Basically a bunch of old wops. They’re all great people and good babysitters, lol.

I have been snapping photos here and there but my batteries for my camera died. I did bring a recharger but until about 1 hour ago I couldn’t recharge anything because the power outlets are different than home. That is all old news now and I can charge my batteries and take some more pics and video as well.

I thought I would be doing more work here, but who is kidding who? I’m in a tropical place, all you can eat and drink with sun, palm trees and all that good stuff. I didn’t even want to come on this vacation if you can believe that, since I am a workaholic but I am starting to unwind. Personally I get bored just laying on the beach for 8 hours a day so we go for walks and all that stuff.

Tonight there is some type of festivities going on in the street in front of our hotel. I’ll snap some photos of that and upload to my blog tomorrow in the afternoon (when the kids are asleep).PS: Don’t even tell how the weather is in Vancouver, I already know.. .

Time for me to have another drink now, don’t be jealous, lol…..