Day 2, July 9: Beach Bums Unite!
- randolf50
- Jul 9, 2025
- 8 min read
Today really could be summarized very easily and succinctly:
Had breakfast,
Packed for beach
Taxied to beach
Hung out at beach
Lunch at the beach
Taxied from the beach to a local grocery store
Unloaded groceries
Washed clothes
Fixed dinner
Ate dinner
Settled down for the evening.
Straightforward, but what is the fun in that! Straightforward, but rather droll. So let's begin again.
After a night of sleep -- fine for Patrise, really, really rough for me -- we awakened and prepared for the day. Patrise and Deborah fixed scrambled eggs with cheese and toast. We really wanted grits with the eggs, but there was no salt in the house. No such thing as fixing a respectable pot of grits without some salt. Deborah's niece, Sandy, was supposed to drop some salt at the house this morning, but she got busy with a car repair and forgot. So breakfast was scrambled eggs with cheese, fruit, and some buttered toast. It tasted fine and got our day off to a good start. After breakfast, I washed dishes, Barry dried, and so we cleaned up the kitchen, which is only right given that the ladies had done the heavy lifting preparing the meal.
I headed to the shower to get cleaned, while Patrise got onto a phone call with some of her legal team back in Atlanta. Why in the world would I take a shower BEFORE going to the beach, knowing that I would have to do the same thing after going to the beach? It is a fine question, but the simple answer is "I stunk." I needed to make myself presentable to be around decent people (LOL). After her phone call, Patrise got a quick shower, then we all prepared for Felix to pick us up and take us to the beach.
Felix arrived at 1pm and bags in hand, we loaded into his van headed for fun in the very hot sun. At first Felix drove to the local supermercado, thinking that we wanted to visit the grocery store before heading to the beach. However, upon entering the grocery store parking lot, Deborah corrected that notion. He then turned around and went the opposite direction, to take us to Alicia Beach. Here are a few photos I took of street scenes while on the way to the beach. Very similar to yesterday's pictures, only this time the sun was out in full force and we all know everything looks better in the sunshine.
We arrived at our dropoff point and here are the views seen near the steps leading down tot he beach.
The mountain seen from the beach is Loma Isabel de Torres (last row, far left), about 2,600 feet above sea level. You can't see it in this view but there is a cable car that goes to the top of the mountain and a Christ the Redeemer statue at the top, similar to the one in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. According to DR Tourism, that cable car is the only one the Caribbean.
Anyway, we arrived at the beach, and a couple of men escorted us to a location near the water, where they arranged four chairs and two umbrellas for us, We gave them a nice tip, then proceeded to be sun bathers for the afternoon. We applied a considerable dose of sunscreen and varying doses of insect repellant: heavy for Patrise, light for me with extra attention to my ears, the nape of the neck, my ankles and wrist. I took off my over clothes (cargo shorts and a short-sleeve shirt), to reveal my swim shorts and beach top. I also traded my gym shoes and socks for a pair of pool shoes. Patrise, Deborah and Barry did likewise. Here are the four beach bums preparing to lounge around for the next two and one-half hours.
Then, quite unlike me, I walked immediately to the water and tested the temperature. To my pleasant surprise, it is rather mild. I am a total chicken when it comes to getting into cold ocean water or cold pool water. This water was not cold at all. Mind you, it would not have hurt my feelings for it to be a degree or two warmer, but even for a cold water chicken such as me, the temp was quite tolerable. While out there, Patrise took a picture of me standing in ankle deep water to show our children, because they know I am not the water adventurer (temperature wise). Here it is...
...and then I walked into the ocean, until the water reached waist high. After that, I took the plunge and dove under the water, swimming a few strokes out further into it. The waves were higher and much stronger than they appeared sitting in the beach chair. Still, I hung around in the water for a bit, long enough that my wife decided to follow me and wade in. She thought the water was colder than I thought. Still, she stayed in a brief while, until she realized she still had on her nice, new watch. So she made her way back to the beach chair to deposit the watch, and there she stayed never returning to the water.
Barry came into the water, and he shivered a bit, thinking it was a bit cold for his taste, but stayed he did. Eventually, he took the plunge and swam around a bit. I left the water about this time heading back to my chair and the warmth of the sun.
There were families up and down the beach, but it was not at all crowded. Out in the water was a boat that was giving rides on a large plastic seat. Barry called it an ocean version of a pool noodle. Kids (who were old enough and tall enough) would sit on the "noodle" and be pulled by the boat driver. Across the beach front, back and forth they zipped. There was a sign on the side of the boat which read it should not go more than 16 mph, while pulling the noodle. (Sorry I keep calling it that, but I don't know the actual name for the thing, so noodle will have to do). Barry and I agreed that it appears 16mph may have been the lower limit and not the upper limit of the boat's speed. Some of the smaller/younger kids wanted to ride, but their fathers were real clear: not going to happen. Families were having fun, mothers were wading in the water watching the little ones splashing themselves and each other, young couples were strolling hand in hand or holding each other in the water and talking as young lovers do the world around. Here are some more beach photos:
About thirty minutes into our beach experience, a gentleman came over to ask if we wanted to order any food and drinks. Patrise responded with an enthusiac "yes", a sentiment we all shared. Robinson, as he introduced himself, gave us menus to view, then took our orders: rock shrimp sandwiches for Deborah and me, beach tuna tartare, fried plantains, and chicken wings for Patrise, salad for Barry; pina coladas for Deborah and Patrise, caipirinha for me, water for Barry. (All four of us each had a bottle water when we first arrived, so everyone was being mindful of the need to properly hydrate.)
While waiting for our lunches to be delivered, there were a series of vendors strolling past trying to sell us all manner of items. The first guy wanted to sell us CD's and solar-powered boom boxes. A fruit vendor sauntered through with all kinds of fruit in a basket and on her head. I was amazed at how she had all of it perfectly balanced and walked without a care. A man and a woman came by to sell us on having a massage and a facial. This same woman had given Deborah a massage just a day ago or so. Deborah spoke so highly of the experience that Patrise was waiting for her to come by. Patrise pounced, arranging to have a massage a 3 o'clock today and then a facial at the same time tomorrow afternoon.
Patrise enjoys a pina colada served in a real pineapple; eating her wings, with a side of plantains; my rock shrimp sandwich and fries.
Lunch was delivered and we munched while observing the beachgoers, reading our books, and soaking up the sunshine. Then our merry band was reduced, when Patrise headed off to find the location for her massage. Later in the afternoon, after Patrise had gone for her massage, an older woman came by trying to sell us lollipops. Initially we deferred, but when she came back through, Barry decided to buy some from her -- not because he wanted the candy, but because he wanted to put money in her pocket. She appeared to be living a meager existence, and he wanted to do a small part to ease it.
About 4pm, we gathered our various items and slowly made our way up the beach to the steps up to the street, where we were to meet Felix at 4:15. Patrise was already there and knew where Felix had parked, just a short walk away from the beach entrance. We loaded into the van and headed for the grocery store. Leaving the beach, I could not pass up the opportunity to take photos of these mourning doves finding a generous meal of grubs in the hot sand.
Felix drove to the Playero Supermercado. Patrise, Deborah and Barry got out to shop. Since I was situated in the very back of the can, and since it was supposed to be a very short trip, I remained in the van. Much to my surprise, but not my consternation, Felix went to the front of the store and picked up another fare that was waiting for him: a Norwegian gentleman who had moved to the DR five years ago, and three young local women. I don't think they were together. He drove them up the hill into a neighborhood above the grocery and dropped them off. All three got out at the same time, but they proceeded to walk to three different residences, reaffirming my early deduction that they were not a single party. The Norwegian man said he had been to the U.S. -- San Francisco, Philadelphia, and some other places whose names, I did not catch -- but he had never been to Atlanta.
Having dropped them off, we returned to the store and parked. I was a bit surpised that we got back and parked, and still no sign of our shopping party. Eventually, Patrise wandered out, but no Deborah and no Barry. Felix spotted her and directed her to the van. A man who carreid her grocery bags loaded them in the back and she gave him a nice tip. We waited and waited and waited. Patrise became a bit frustrated and called Deborah, who said she was only looking for three items. And yet, it was still a while before she and Barry emerged from the store.
Their two shopping bags were loaded in the back of the van and then we headed back to the condo. We unloaded the car, all of us moving slowly, having been exhausted by the sunshine and heat. We proceeded to put away the groceries, and in doing so, Patrise opened a cabinet we had not previously explored, and there, and there much to our surprise were shakers of salt and pepper, along with olive oil, hot sauce and some other condiment items. Deborah was even more surprised than Patrise, Oh well, I think grits will be in order either tomorrow or Friday.
I loaded white clothes into the washing machine, including our beach towels. Then took a shower, while Patrise started preparations for dinner, which was to be a fish called basa, rice and carrots. Deborah laid down for a nap. Barry was working, while I switched my attention from my book to a game on my phone, trying hard to stay awake.
Dinner was ready in fairly short order, we prepared the plates and Barry, Patrise and I sat down to eat. Just then, Deborah awakened and joined is for the meal. We had good conversation, prompted by Deborah's question: "What was one new thing that you learned today?" I will not recite our various responses, but it prompted a convivial discussion.
After dinner, I cleaned and washes the dishes, and advanced the clothes. Then I sat down to write today's blog entry, while Deborah and Barry prepared our tour for tomorrow. I am looking forward to what Thursday's traipsing around the DR will bring.
For now, though, adios and buenas noches!
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