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Here we go again, another stint in the Caribbean. AC Flight was great
in the cushy seats up front. Arrival at the "kontiki hut" (airport) was
great. Seems the airport keeps getting bigger (more huts), but no windows
or walls etc. Short ride to the resort by bus. And at the entrance
to the resort, across the street, was the El Cocotal Golf and
 Country Club.
Excellent! This is going to be the year Geno gets his game back (even if
it takes new equipment).
Anyway, off the bus, we were the only ones coming to this resort, into the
Royal Service lounge for check in, rules and regs, and off for a short tour by
our butler. It is a small resort, looks to be about 50% empty at this time (sweet).
Oh, and the Paradisus rep at the travel did as he said. He ask them to
treat us special, and they told us we were upgraded to an ocean view room.
How cool is that.
 Here are a few of the features...
* Largest pool in the Caribbean, Bruce and Judy, you'd love it. Depth
is 4'8" in most places. So you can swim, almost for miles, well maybe not
but 2 or 3 Centennial pool lengths!
* The sand of the beach is a mere few feet away from the main (and Royal
Service) pool. So you can enjoy both within feet of each other.
* They have Bali beds (large shade structures with a king size bed type
of thing underneath, with lights for evening use). Talk about shade, and
privacy.
* Towels. Not sure about all guests, but for us, we are not held to
ransom if you lose one. In fact, there are 2 in our room, yet to be used,
and a towel area where you take one when you want one. So we use 2 or 3 to
line the bed, and a couple for drying or sitting out in the sun on these huge double (padded) recliners that also allow one to
sit up more when reading.
* Banana Mud Slide... Yummy. They use real fruit in their drinks
here, unlike the last few places we visited.
So a banana, Vodka, Kahlua,
Bailey's, cream, ice ... blend. WOW!!!
* Banana Mamas, real ones, with real fruit.
* Corona.
* And other booze, good rum, brandy, whisky... You ask, they have it,
premium blends.
* Internet wi-fi everywhere, pool beach, lobby, etc.
Royal Service adds (among other things)...
* Private pool, bar, restaurant, preferred al-la-cart, personal butler who
makes handles not only all your requirements but also all your wishes.
Included... Horseback riding, golf, water sports...
* Our butler has been great, books our al-la-carts, golf, Bali beds (not
getting up to put a towel on it) (and they have them on the sandy beach as
well).
* In our room daily Corona, wine of our choice, fruit tray, fresh flowers,
assorted nuts etc etc. And Lisa likes a bucket of ice at both 5pm and
10pm.
* In room internet via CAT5 and or wi-fi - though our wi-fi seems to be on
the fritz.
Anyway, Saturday was a get settled day. Sunday we Bali bedded, swam pool
and warm ocean. What a beach, powdery Punta Cana sand and turquoise water.
To the gym (for Geno) for 30 minutes (19km) on the spinning bike.
Japanese Tepanaki for dinner.
Monday was a late sleep in, late breakfast, stretching, and off for a game of
golf at 1pm. Yep they told us 9pm would be cooler. Hey, 32C wasn't
that bad on a cart with a slight breeze. I got a set of rentals,
Taylormade. Hate Taylormade. Regardless, no choice. The woods
had shafts that were so whippy I had no control over them so after putting a few
(4) balls on and over the roofs of the adjoining retirement villas (ala Florida)
(and counting all those strokes) (of course), I decided to hit irons. They
started with a 5 and went up to SW. Suffice to say even I can't reach all
par 4's (esp when they are over 400 yards) with 5 iron, 5 iron. Made some
brilliant shots, including an intentional slice around a tree on my
 second shot
into a 398 yard par 4 (yes tree was kind of in the middle of the fairway) onto
the green. Of about 7 birdie puts, none went in. My survey stats are
still rock solid. Over 99.9% of birdie puts that are short will not go in. Taylormade putter. Hate Taylormade. The irons were Taylormade Burner
irons. I haven't hit 5 irons and SW they way I did for years. My
Pings suck! I knew it wasn't me, it's the clubs!!! I don't think
Geno will be buying Taylormade irons soon. Too many other better options
out there. Anyway, game ends, Geno records and signs a 92. Geno was
happy. And tired, and hot, and thirsty. Lisa played golf as well.
Today, we spent another day in a Bali bed. Swimming in the private pool,
the ocean, and we even slummed it in the grande everybody pool. In we
went, first stop
 the swim up bar, banana mud pie, then off to swim to the far
end and back. Took a good 20 minutes, we are not fast swimmers.
Judy, Bruce, it would take you guys a good 5 minutes. Read and reread my
two 2009 golf equipment magazines, too many options. I'll be back to Golf
Town for yet another try out session in a few weeks. Another visit to the
gym today, another 30 minutes, another 19k. Dan, Sylvain, Stewart, start
sweating, I was down a pound from 2 days ago. After a late dinner, a few
games of backgammon, back for an early night (10pm) and this web publishing.
Our nightly routine thus far... after dinner we head up to the Royal Service
lounge for a few games of backgammon and a drink, then off to the lobby bar to
have Demetrio make me a BMS and then we hand there, take a walk and head for the
room.
First impressions of this place. Top notch. This beats the 2006
and 2007 Princesa Varadero resort in so many ways. Except in 2006, the
music, the Havana musicians that played in all the a la cartes while we dined,
and the dining there was a bit better, more sophisticated. But that is a
small price to pay for the service and attention they are pampering us with
here.
Go to Day 04 or Back to Punta
Cana home
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