Casa de Campo

The Travels of Running Tide
Mick Norman
Mon 17 Mar 2014 02:30
Casa de Campo is a remarkable place. Its a massive gated resort. The Marina
is just one aspect of it, the rest comprises masses of posh housing set in
tropical surroundings, five golf courses, polo fields, shopping centre
boutiques, etc, etc. However like many of these resorts it is totally soleless.
Half the properties are empty most of the year. Most of the boats never leave
the marina and the staff sit around in the boutiques looking bored for lack of
custom. There are many places free in the marina but the marina is full as the
places all belong to people who are not using them. We have been allowed to
anchor up off a very pleasant beach within the marina cove. As a consequence our
anchorage is free. There is a nice little bar and restaurant we can use so
we are fine.
On our first full day in DR we all went into Romana the local big town.
Everyone said there was nothing to see however it was a real antidote to C de C
and found it really interesting in a mundane everyday life sort of way. A little
bit how real DR works.
The other day Pat and I went to Bayahibe, a few miles east of Casa de
Campo. This as close as it gets to free for all on the beach but its well
control if not a bit crowded. Its a jumping off point for Saona Island and tends
to get packed in the mornings and late afternoon when the punters depart and
return from Saona.
Pat left us today to fly back to Blighty. I hired a car and drove her the
80 odd Km to Punta Cana International Airport. This another resort/s along the
same lines as Casa de Campo. We managed to get into a restaurant and hotel on
Playa Blanca, a beautiful stretch of beach. The east coast line facing the Mona
Channel is idyllic and its not surprising that many resorts have grown up
in this area.
We will move on shortly but first must get a Despacho from the Customs and
Immigration people. They like to know where you are and we have to declare our
next destination in DR which will be Boca Chica. We are not strictly supposed to
stop on the way as the authorities don’t understand that we might want to stay
at a lonely anchorage on the way. They tend to think you are up to
something. I think they have a bit of drugs problem here. If we do stop
the line is to say, you were tired or had a problem, give them $5 and that seems
to do the trick. We will let you know how we get on from our cell maybe.
A Rare Shot of The Skip, just before his Romana haircut
![]() Casa de Campo Marine, RT Anchored in the Background
![]() Rolling Cigars Romana
![]() River in Romana
![]() Street Art Romana
![]() Central Park Baseball Hall of Fame Romana
![]() The Main Church in Romana
![]() Taxi Motorcycles Crowd around as Passenger get off the Long Distance Bus in
Romana
![]() We bought out DR Courtesy Flag from the Souvenir Sellers at Bayahibe
![]() Debris from the Saono Boat Trips, Its supposed to be a National Park
![]() Punt Cana Beach
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