Isla Saona

We decided to join our senior missionariy friends for a Saturday "get-a-way" to the island of Saona just south of the National Park of the East (Parque National Del Este) between LaRomana and Punta Cana.

Getting off bus Dominicus Beach National Park East.

We boarded a comfortable "over-the-road" tour bus at 7:00am and rode about three hours to the Playa (Beach) Dominicus.  We commented that this was the first Saturday we have had as a "p" day (play day) since we started teaching English at the Valiente Branch on Saturdays.  The ride was relaxing with a lot of conversation with our friends:  Gary and Micelle Aitken (Orem), Jon and Shauna Duke, (Bountiful), Dr. James and Kristy Benedict (Logan), and Colin DeWitt (Gilbert, Arizona).  Arriving in the National Park, we boarded a large catamaran with about 20 others for a one hour ocean ride to the northwest corner of the Island. Along the way we enjoyed soft drinks, LOUD latin music and watching the crew line dance the bachata and merengue AND the fast salsa.

Catamaran Ride from Mainland to Saona Island

Peggy and I even tried out some of our Dominican merengue moves in the group line dance when they grabbed the norteamericanos for the group moment.  Funny stuff!  About ten minutes before arrival at Saona,  it started to rain grande gatos y perros  (huge  and cat sand dogs).  Everyone on board huddled together under the boat canopy to try to stay a little dry. Then miraculously the sun came out and it was amazingly beautiful.

Four hours of enjoying the sun, swimming, some good chicken/fish, salad and pasta lunch, all the soft drinks we desired and searching for shells and other treasures along the beach, made this a very nice day.  The only negative was that there was no snorkeling or at least good snorkeling.  I love to snorkel.  No coral reef and fish.  However, everything else made this experience a big Wow!

Catamaran anchored off shore Saona Island

The Caribbean waters are so warm and clear AND gorgeous.  Walking the beach, with a soft warm breeze, palm trees lazily swaying, and being with your best friend and others makes for a special time.  On the return trip it rained again only this time it was a deluge.  We were spared getting drenched (even though we were wet from swiming) because  Peggy brought her trusty umbrella. Prggy and I shared with a young lady and we huddled together to survive the head on downpour. We laughed and had a great time.

Walking the Beach Saona Island

Saona Island,, D.R.

By the time we arrived home it was dark and we were very tired. It was nice to spend the day with our friends. Randy and Peggy