Casa de Campo Marina our position 18.23.80N 68.54.09W
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Wed 20 Feb 2008 01:47
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So, we arrived in Casa De Campo Marina, wow! what a place, Dominican
Republic a relatively poor country, but there is a lot of wealth here. So much
money has been spent on this Marina area, its thousands of acres. Al these
photos are taken in and around the marina complex. There are cinemas, shops,
supermarkets, bars and restaurants. The house are beautiful and the crumbling
Italian village that looks hundreds of years old, is newly built being only
thirty years. Money, Italian money apparently has been thrown into this area,
far more than can warrant a return, but certainly a beautiful place. Not cheap
by Caribbean standards but compared to European prices it is, considering the
amenities available. The rates here are US$1.10 per ft per day, Chris and Tony
arrive here a few days before usand new the lay of the land. In fact they were
invited to take part in a local regatta, and in return the marina offered them
free moorings. Waylander came second in the race too which was even
more rewarding. The marina staff were so friendly and helpful, nothing was too
much trouble. They helped with our paper work, ferried us back and forth if
necessary to the offices. The first photos shows the Yvonne and Chris with the
marina commodore Frank Castillo, Chaser and Waylander in the
background.
Our first night, Chris, Tony Mick and Sharon,
prepared dinner for us, that was great after our trip across, all we needed to
do was eat and sleep and they made that easy with the barbecued chicken, wine
and rum.
Chaser spent 3 nights here, a welcome rest and good to see the
surrounding area and town of La Romana. We rented a golf cart to have a drive
around the marina area (too big to walk round). It was about a 20 min drive in
this buggy to a hotel on the outskirts of the marina complex. We parked here and
took a cab out of the gates into town to do a bit of shopping for provisions.We
didn't need too much but we had used all our fresh produce while waiting for
weather in Blanquilla. In the evening we went to the cinema and watch the
Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, a beautiful cinema almost
empty. It was a shame that one family (Americans I believe) came in with
bags of popcorn and drinks just threw their rubbish all over the floor before
they left.
On our departure Frank helped us threw the
necessary paperwork with customs and prepared our bills, Waylander and
Chaser were given free stay for our period, just a charge for electric
and water. Not a normal procedure I'm sure, but they enjoyed us visiting as much
as we enjoyed being there.
The next day we moved around to Isla Catalina, only
about six miles away but a nice overnight anchorage.
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