Travel Day - Back in the USA

Location: Jonathan Dickinson State Park, FL

It's been an awesome 5 days, spending time with my ex sister-in-law (or as she likes to call us, outlaw sisters), visiting our Dominican cocoa suppliers, and having way too much fun at the Ocean Blue and Sand Resort. Alas, today we're headed back to the US and continuing on with our Winnie travels. Truth be told, I've missed the ol' camper.

Good-bye beautiful resort...

Good-bye new friends we made...

(Jack is covering up his nipples. He claims I bit them while we were dancing. Not completely true! He was whirling me about and I kinda fell into him, thus a head bump to chest happened). Jack was head of the activities and a lot of fun.

 

 

Good-bye decadent lifestyle...

(yes it has Bailey's in it)

 

 

 

 

Good-bye cocoa bean suppliers...

Our only challenge today was getting through security at the airport. Our cocoa bean suppliers gave us several pounds of cocoa beans to take back with us. At the Punta Cana airport Ned's backpack was selected to be searched. Yes, this is where we stashed the beans. The security folks at the airport had no idea what they were and before you knew it there were at least 7 security people surrounding poor Ned and looking at each and every bean. Ned thought it was ironic that they didn't know these were cocoa beans and what chocolate is made from. They were all very good natured, mainly just curious, and let Ned through with the beans. I wanted to snap a picture of the commotion, but I was reluctant to draw anymore attention to us. Here's Gary and Ned waiting to board the plane on the way back to the U.S.

We arrived back in Fort Lauderdale about 5:30, said our good-byes to Linda and Gary and retrieved Winnie from the economy parking lot. We had about a two hour drive north to our destination for the night, Jonathan Dickinson State Park. I called the Park Ranger to let them know we'd be arriving around 8ish. (This state park is gated at sunset.) The ranger, a really sweet young woman, waited for us and got us checked in. This state park has an interesting story, but I think I'll save it for tomorrow. We're tired, hot and going through withdrawals of not having our nightly refreshing after-dinner libations. Instead of exotic resorts and decadent drinks, I'll finish our blog with me blogging in our humble abode...ha!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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R&R in the DR*2

Ocean Blue and Sand Resort, Dominican Republic

Well that didn't take long. We swept the road dust off of us and brushed away the insects from the cocoa farm and settled right back into resort life. It was a r-e-a-l-l-y lazy day. Debi's big event was running in the morning followed by being immersed in a book the rest of the day, Linda took a Zumba class, Gary did some wide ocean swimming and Ned took a painting class.

 

 

Here's our resident artist's finished work.

Knowing this was our last evening to live up big, we reserved our strength for a fun filled evening. Linda and Debi danced the early evening away at a beach party

 

 

We had dinner at a steak house. Tonight we mixed it up and had the girls at one table and the boys at another.

Dinner was followed by watching the theatre circus entertainment. It was really good! This act was pretty impressive, but my favorite was the dog show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary and Linda made such a good-looking couple!

The highlight of the day was definitely Linda and Ned getting up the courage and doing a karaoke duet singing, "Don't go breaking my heart." There was several hundred people in the audience, so kudos to them. The majority were Spanish speaking only so hardly anyone knew what song they were singing, which made it really difficult for them. However, Ned and Linda were awesome!! I have the video, but Linda said if I posted it she'd kill me so for now, here's a still shot from the video.

p.s. Those of you who want to see it let me know, I got the goods;)

I think it's time to leave this place tomorrow. I think if I stay another day I'll keel over from either too much food, sun and definitely too much alcohol!

 

 

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Visiting our Dominican Suppliers of Cacao - The Conacado Connection

Location: El Seibo, Dominican Republic

Making chocolate is a labor of love. Once we receive the cocoa beans from our suppliers we need to roast, winnow, grind, melange, temper, mould, and package the chocolate. But that is only part of the process. Growing the cacao, harvesting and cracking the pods, fermenting and drying the beans must happen first. We have a tremendous amount of appreciation for our suppliers for all this hard work that occurs in a very hot and humid climate. Most of the farmers live in very modest conditions and struggle to eek out a living. They rarely get a chance to taste the end chocolate product. It's our personal goal to meet each of our cocoa suppliers, thank them for their hard work and present them with a bar of chocolate.

Today we traveled to the Conacado Co-op in El Sebo. It was a special treat to have my sister and brother-in-law with us on this adventure. It was their first trip to the cacao source.

Also working on the farm was Blake, a Peace Corp worker. She's been there for 14 months helping them with their business and marketing.

 

 

Ned in front of the fermentation area.

Ned and Debi in the drying shed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing the cut test to see if the beans have been fermented long enough.

One of the "cocoa dancers" flipping the beans to help the drying process. To fully appreciate this, the temperature was extremely hot and humid and he's in the baking sun fully dressed.

 

Ned and I giving some more of the workers a Cello Chocolate bar made with their beans.

In the field seeing the cacao growing on the trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had an opportunity to see how they prepare "cocoa balls." This is coarseley ground cocoa nibs rolled into ball form to be grated and sweetened for hot chocolate.

 

Of course Linda and I had to taste them.

 

 

 

 

 

They prepared a beautiful, typical Dominican lunch for us.

 

 

We had rice with peas, chicken, a type of spaghetti and a vegetable salad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ned especially enjoyed the cacao wine, which tasted like port.

 

They've invited Ned and I back to help them make chocolate. We are thinking of coming back next January. If we do, this will be our living quarters. We can't wait!!

 

 

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R&R in the DR

Ocean Blue and Sand, Punta Cana, DR

Today was very lowkey. Mostly just chillin' in the pool, walking the beach, and sampling the bar drinks.

They named the local tomato juice after Linda. She's such a celebrity.

 

Our beach boys...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking good Linda!!

p.s. Can I please borrow that shirt?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing in the ocean with my sister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our big activity of the day was taking a long, long, beachwalk and checking out the other resorts.

Of course that called for a dip in the pool and some refreshing adult beverage afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

Not wanting to give up the Swanky French Restaurant for dinner, and trying to find a solution to the closed-toe shoe dilema, we decided to go to the bowling alley and plead our case. Gabriel, the bowling alley attendant, took pity on us and let us borrow a pair of shoes for the dinner. He didn't have the correct size, so Ned settled for a size 13. Yes, a bit of a clown size but by golly we scored the shoes! Here's Ned looking quite pleased with his catch.

 

We had a fabulous dinner and thoroughly enjoyed our French cuisine. Duck a l'orange for Linda and me, and fish for the guys. Here's us celebrating our victory.

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner we took a stroll through the grounds and ended up at the Piano Bar. Nightcaps all around.

Tomorrow the business excursion commences with an early departure at 7 am. We're looking forward to seeing the real Dominican Republic.

 

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Business Trip to the Dominican Republic

Location: Ocean Blue and Sand Resort, Punta Cana, DR

Sigh, I hate when you're in the middle of a great vacation and it has to be interrupted by a business trip. Oh wait...it's to the DR, going with my sister, Linda, and brother-in-law Gary and we're staying at an all-inclusive resort for a week. Sometime during the week we're going to visit our Dominican cocoa bean suppliers, but in the meantime, we'll just have to enjoy the resort. Linda and Gary are both on the "Board" of Cello Chocolate. Linda has the honorary title of "Fam Club President" and Gary is "Head of Quality." True to her title, LInda was touting our chocolate to random people at the airport. Here's Ned pulling out our Bach Sweets. Yes, we shared.

Getting here was half the fun. We all left Ft. Lauderdale together and had a very easy flight to Puna Cana.

Yep, we scored some drinks upon check-in, you know, cause business travel is so grueling.

 

 

This resort is really beautiful. It is situated right on the ocean, has two pools, 9 restaurants, activity center and gorgeous walking paths. We have rooms overlooking the gardens and pool with the ocean in the background.

Being in charge of quality control, Gary insisted we sample some more drinks. Coco Loco, Dirty Monkeys, and of course a Cerveza...those are the ones off the top of my head that I remember.

 

 

After a swim in the ocean and hitting a snack bar, we had fun checking out the place. Linda and I took a poolside Zumba class, played some ping-pong, and we all visited the bowling alley and fitness center. (Notice I said "visited" and not used). There's a beach side rock climbing wall and I give props to Linda for attempting an ascent.

I would have, but I didn't want to spill my drink.

 

Each of the restaurants have a different theme. Ned got a kick out of the Route 66 restaurant. He thought it was rather ironic that we drove across the whole country, then flew to the DR, just to re-visit an American Themed Place. Nonetheless, it was pretty cute. I don't think it's going to make the cut though for our dinner pick.

 

 

The Mexican Restaurant looked pretty inviting too! Decisions, decisions.

It was a tough choice deciding on the restaurant tonight and we had several false starts. Our first attempt was at a fancy-schmany French Restaurant called Blue Moon. It was a 45 min. wait, but doable since it was next to the sports bar. We finally got called up to be seated when suddenly the hostess looked down at Ned's feet. All things stopped.

Here's a picture of the different restaurants spread around the lake and courtyard.

 

 

The dress attire was button down shirts (check), long pants, (check) and close-toed shoes. We tried to pre-empt this requirement by Gary loaning Ned his white sports socks...to be worn with Ned's Teva sandals. Oh My, the fashion statement it was not, but technically at least his toes were covered! Well, it wasn't passing muster and we were denied seating. To fully appreciate this attire Ned is also wearing his zip-off tropical pants/shorts that he purchased for his cocoa harvesting Trinidad trip along with a Hawaiian shirt.

I'm shocked we were denied seating!

Not to be deterred we went to the 2nd fanciest restaurant, the Steak House, which also had an hour wait. In the meantime, Linda was determined to get Ned seated in the French Restaurant. So, hilarity ensued as Ned attempted to negotiate renting out a pair of shoes from one of the vendors at the resort. Yes, actually renting shoes for an hour! Negotiations were officially aborted when the vendor would not except Susan B. Anthony coins. An American dollar was only acceptable in paper form.

Here's Linda and I posing with the cowboy statue outside the steak house while we wait to be seated. After a good long while, and starving at this point, we decided that what we really wanted all along was the Italian Restaurant. Fortunately, it was a great decision and the food was incredibly good.

After dinner was an evening of karaoke, the majority of which was in Spanish. Good times for sure! I have no idea what songs everyone was singing, but hey, did that ever deter me from singing along?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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