EPTThe resort we stayed at was the Occidental Grand Flamenco in Punta Cana if anyone is looking at going down south, I highly recommend.
The most fun I had down there was for sure the excursions from the resort. The wife and I ventured off into town to buy some keep sakes and goods, everything down there, for the most part, you bargain for. Someone would ask $200 for something and you would walk away with it for $25. Who can blame them from getting all they can out of some people, we were told the average wage down there was $250/month.
The first excursion we went on was these off road buggies. We visited a beach, swam in lake deep inside a cave, seen how they made coffee, chocolate, cigars, etc. It was a good cultural experience. Not to mention driving the things were pretty fun, we had to wear bandanas to keep the dust out of our mouths and nose. I felt pretty badass, like I should have an AK47 and trying to start a revolution. Anyway..
Our second excursion was a caribbean festival tour. We went out to this open water aquarium place called Stingray Bay, there we got to hold and swim with some de-barbed Stingrays and then we got to swim with sharks. Some of these things were huge, they were called Nurse Sharks. Apparently they are nocturnal so during the day they are fairly calm. We were told that we were not allowed to go too close but on the way over one of the guides came up to me and said `Do you want to touch?' to which I replied ".. Yes". So I got to touch this 15 foot giant shark, as soon as I touched his back he started to turn and move and I thought "Crap, I didnt bring my big cross necklace like LL Cool J had in Deep Blue Sea." Then it swam past me and I thought "Phew". It was awesome!
They also have this stuff down there call Mamajuana, its a drink thats made of healing herbs, honey, red wine and rum. The stuff tastes horrible, and I will never drink it again.
Sorry for the ranting, its 1:40am and the day before we returned home to Canada there was a murder-suicide on the native reserve across the street. So I can't sleep with the banging of drums and singing. So yeah, if anyone wants to go down south, I recommend this place for sure!
