Caribbean – Diary – Volume II – No. 9
01.01.2025 - 06.01.2025
Off to new shores... North coast of the Dominican Republic
The New Year 2025 has begun and we too are setting out to continue circumnavigating the Dominican Republic. Jonah and especially Toni are still remembering the Mona – Passage Still in our bones, but since the wind and waves are kind to us for a relatively relaxed tour along the north coast, we set off on the first day of the New Year to experience new destinations and new adventures...
In three days, we plan to reach our final stop in the Dominican Republic – the Ocean World Marina near Puerta Plata. We have to cover approximately 160 nautical miles, which means two brisk day trips and a shorter leg. We sail to our next three stops as planned. The sea is quite calm, and we're once again the only sailboat in the wide open spaces...
We cast our lines, and Jonah and Toni are having their first experience as deep-sea fishermen. Pulling such a large fish ashore, or rather, onto the boat, is hard work—the fish fights with all its might for its life. We're having every chance of a good catch, but no luck. All the fish we pull out are barracudas, and they shouldn't be eaten in this region due to the risk of poisoning from the red algae ciguatera, which accumulates in the flesh of these predators. So our plates remain empty, and the fish are released back into the wild...
A good hour before the Ocean World Marina closes its doors for the night (actually late afternoon), we enter the protected harbor area. We'll spend the next few days here, stocking up on provisions for the next two months and waiting for the right weather to set sail for the Turks & Caicos.
The next day there is another birthday to celebrate, Jonah completes his third decade of life… After a hearty birthday breakfast we set off to spend the day in the adjacent amusement park Ocean World Adventure Park For just under $65, you can spend a day with various animals here. If you want to get up close to the animals, this is the place for you. Sea lions, sharks, dolphins, and large and small parrots put on interactive shows with their trainers and come very close to visitors.
You can get up close to the parrots while feeding them, and you can even go snorkeling on a "reef." The reef is artificial, of course, but the fish are real, and there are entire schools of large specimens. This way, I can frolic among schools of fish and get up close to the animals—it's definitely something special.
For a small fee, you can pet, feed, and swim with sharks. For even larger bills, you can book a swim and cuddle with dolphins in the various pools. Twenty dolphins live in the park, and they are extremely sociable. As they walk across the water, these curious creatures often come very close to visitors and are happy to offer special displays of their skills—especially when a trainer walks by and beckons with a glimpse of fish...
Even though we only paid the standard entrance fee, we still enjoyed the proximity to the animals and spent an eventful day in the park. We skipped the group swim in the swimming area and took an Uber to Puerta Plata. Although cruise ships dock here regularly—two are currently here—the restored and attractive part of town is very small and largely confined to the much-touted Umbrella Street. A handful of restaurants and shops are located here, and we quickly strolled through them. The nearby main square is still awash with Christmas decorations... well... we won't be visiting again...
We have a cocktail at a rooftop bar, followed by a birthday dinner. Jonah tries a mofongo – the national dish here... plantains in molds with various side dishes... I try a forkful – my first encounter with mofongo was in Puerto Rico – my horizons broadened once again – this national dish won't make it into my final selection again...
On Monday, it's time to say goodbye – Jonah and Toni will travel overland back to their plane in Punta Cana. They'll stop in Santo Domingo for a few days, then their vacation will be over.
We'll stay here for the next few days – doing laundry, stocking up on provisions for the upcoming expensive islands, and waiting for our new crew. Mona and Simon, two Lake Constance captains, now want to take their knowledge to the open sea. Between their studies and starting work, they plan to spend a few months exploring the Caribbean and South America and sailing with us via the Turks & Caicos to George Town in the Bahamas.
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