Summer 2023 - Punta cana 2

Our last day in this blessed paradise is in the horizon. The whole family has very much fell in love with the place. The week has been rich in all senses: the warmth of both the wheather and the dominicans, the lushness of the nature, the variaty of food to meet all possible tastes and beyond, the good energy of the place with many young families around. Not to forget the carabian rhytms and yesterday's night beach party with dance and fire show, which will stay in our memories for a long time. The kids have been taken to sing karaoke, get their face painted, experience their first dives. They have made new friends from Venezuela, United States, Greece and with locals - language is no issue with this bunch who manage well in English and Spanish. They are curious to see different families - the common thread being all appear to be united and having great time together. For us, it is also the first time for a long time we are actually all together in the water at the same time, throwing balls or kids doing saltos. The water is so incredibly warm, it is the only place to stay for the long ours of the days. After the intense work centered winter I was already worried my heart was no longer able to sing or feel the bliss,but suddenly I feel again a re-connection, happiness and joy.

Summer 2023 - Happy birthday in Punta Cana

For the first time I thought I would not be able to make it this time - pack the life of 6 for 4 weeks in just 2 suitcases. After 2 days of re-adjustments (and prioritisation) and a few extra kg bought we managed to close the bags..My usual travel fever has been full on for weeks now resulting in 4 am sweats of forgotten vaccins, hasty notes on the "to-do" list by the bed side drawar and nightmares having read of "bermudas triangle" to my son as evening tales. We are, after all, going to cross the big Sea tempting the first long-haul flight with the kids. I have reasoned to myself that it is not actually much longer than our usual journey up North (flight to Hki or Madrid - 7h train/8h plain). Our biggest concern was how to entertain our 5 yo.in the plane.I was picturing the tantrums in the DR immigration point 1 am in the morning. And? Maybe because of the intense pre-visualisation, when the difficult moment happened I had the much needed chupachups in my purse.Yey! At the end, the trip went flawlessly - flights on time, transport waiting with our name on the sign, hotel reception welcoming. The first few days can be described with positive superlatives only. I get moved by the joy of our kids discovering the tropical nature (and wheather, the humidity..!) the breathtaking choico of Food in the restaurant...I knew my son's appetite is insataible, but have to admit my jaw dropped when my little girl finished a full donut for breakfast. After her cereals and minny mouse pancake..on the other hand, given the humid warmth, we stayed all practically 8 hours in the pool yesterday. And learned to dance Bachata into the Carabian night. Reasons for a good appetite! Today was probably THE most important and high-pressure day of the whole summer (and contributing to my panicky packing) - my sons's 8th birthday! He had been raisin his expectations for several weeks now, worried about gifts and cake and suprises and whether they would actually make it to the Caraibes. So we had conversations with probably 5 different persons at the hotel yesterday to ensure they would make the day for him. The happiness in his little face when 10 dominicans come singing to him! The day reached its perfection for him with the very first diving lesson in the pool (competing the top place with the huge police car with blinking lights we carried from home). These moments are irreplacable and make all the efforts worth it. Feel so ever grateful and relieved.