Amber Cove - Dominican Republic
Amber Cove - Dominican RepublicDecember 2017
Thursday December 7th – At Sea
Captain’s Log: “The one day journey between Basseterre and Amber Cove commenced a tad bumpily with Azura encountering a moderate swell from the North East. However, following winds throughout the day ensured pleasant conditions on the open decks. Guests were given the chance to enjoy bright sunshine and make the most of the Caribbean heat. Weather: partially cloudy, sunny. Temperature 27’c. Wind: Easterly Force 4.”
We relaxed by the pools and read. The ship had an Art Gallery and we attended a talk about a painter called Sherree Valentine Daines. We also attended an origami class. To be honest, the long haul to the Dominican Republic and back seemed to be an excuse to keep you on board to spend money. There were a lot closer islands to visit. Four weddings took place on board today. We saw one couple doing the photo shoot.
It was another Black Tie night. but to be honest, we couldn’t be bothered to get dressed up again and ate a buffet dinner in the Venezia where you could turn up however you wanted.
Friday December 8th – Amber Cove, Dominican Republic
Captain’s Log: “ Azura spent the early hours of Friday morning steaming westerly along the Northern coast of the Dominican Republic. At 0645, ‘Stand By Below’ was rung on the engines as Azura turned to the south to make her approaches into Amber Cove. Shortly after 0700, Deputy Captain Ward took control of the ship, slowing her down and guiding her through the buoyed approach channel leading to the Cove. Azura then entered the swinging basin in which she was swung bow to Port a full 180’ before being brought astern almost 1000m into position, Portside alongside her berth.”
Another day, another repeated country. I had toured the Dominican Republic extensively back in 1996 (along with a quick visit into Haiti). Since my visit, a new development had occurred. The P&O Cruise Guide said “Amber Cove is a purpose built complex nestled on the Bay of Maimon on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, near Puerto Plata. It’s an exciting new cruise centre with a variety of shops and themed bars and restaurants, as well as a water attraction. But it’s also the gateway to the tropical splendours of this beautiful island.”
I had also previously stayed in Puerto Plata so gave Wendy the option of what she wanted to do. Since the new complex was stuck out 20 minutes from the town, she opted for the easy option of doing a half day excursion run by the ship to see the ‘Highlights of Puerto Plata”. It would make a change from all the DIY touring we would do in the following week and be relaxing even if I dread tour groups.
As we departed the ship there were bici-taxis waiting to ferry passengers along the long pier. Wendy tried one of these just for the experience. The new complex was clean and tidy but rather generic and non-descript. A small band played Hispanic music in front of a Xmas tree and angled for tips. We sat around by a pretend waterfall and waited for two bus-loads of passengers to get to the meeting point.
The island of Hispaniola is the second largest of the Caribbean Sea’s Greater Antilles archipelago. It is divided into the countries of Haiti – a former French colony that takes up the western third of the island – and the former Spanish-owned Dominican Republic which covered the remaining eastern two-thirds. Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover it and used it as a base to explore other parts of the Caribbean. It has an undulating landscape rising to 3175 metres (Duarte Peak) and its fertile riverside plains and valleys produce sugar cane, tobacco, cacao and grazing land for cattle. It is home to 10.3 million people and natural resources include gold, silver, nickel and bauxite.
The historic city of (San Felipe de) Puerto Plata lies on the island’s shimmering north coast, washed by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean and backed by the protective peak of Mount Isabel de Torres. Founded in 1502, it was originally a strategic port then a tobacco producer and exporter. These days, tourism is the compact Caribbean city’s economic mainstay. It is a busy place with taxi mopeds darting around in-between the cars ferrying people and goods.
As we departed the security-conscious complex (a sign on the gate prohibited guns from entering), our guide Eddy, filled us in on the background of the island and Puerto Plata. A new, not quite completed dual carriageway took us towards the city passing the huge municipal garbage tip en route.
We were dropped in Parque Independencia. This was a nice central square with a beautiful Victorian bandstand. A couple of locals were dressed in fancy costumes looking for tips. Meanwhile another couple were dressed as bride and bridegroom with two children also in wedding clothing. They were walking around getting photographed. I originally thought they had just got married, but Wendy was under the impression, it was another scam to get ‘well-wisher presents (i.e. money) from the tourists. We would see them later at the fort as well.
Colonial city streets (Zona Victoriana).fanned out from Parque Independencia, and in recent years the old buildings have also undergone work to restore them to their former glory Many of these wooden gingerbread buildings were built by the tobacco merchants in the Nineteenth Century inspired by the Victorian style fashionable in England. On Calle Duarte one of the streets off the square stood the twin-steepled San Felipe Apostol Cathedral which had to be renovated after Hurricane George wrecked its havoc in 1988. It wasn’t anything special, just your typical Spanish Cathedral with no baroque ornamentation. While the guide took the others to a gift shop for souvenirs, I had a walk around the old streets. A local liqueur called Mamajuana was pushed on the tourists as an aphrodisiac concocted by allowing rum, red wine and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. The taste is similar to port and the colour is a deep red.
We re-boarded the bus and were driven to the small low lying San Felipe Fortress which is the oldest (1557) fort built in the New World and still perches on the peninsula comprising the east side of Puerto Plata’s sheltered bay. Constructed in the mid-16th century to protect the port form pirate attacks, it has also served as a prison.
Then it was off to the shore to the north of the old town which forms the Malecon, an ocean front boulevard backed by bars and restaurants stretching for about 5km from the San Felipe Fortress (west) to the city’s Long Beach (east). We got out here to walk on the lovely sandy beach, watch the waves crash into shore and gaze out at a large statue of Neptune on a small island.
As a half day excursion, it was fine but nothing special. Now I knew what the majority of passengers did when we docked at islands. Back on the ship for a late lunch, we relaxed again. The Oriental meal was Crab Meat, Fennel, Cucumber and Caper Salad, Mushroom Pate with main courses if seafood stew with a Crab Bisque and Tiger Prawn and Chorizo Brochette. Classic Tiramisu was the dessert. We passed on the evening entertainment, did our laundry and watched a movie.
Captain’s Log: “For departure after ‘Stand By Below’ was rung at 17:37 and Azura was ready to sail. The lines were let go at 17:44 and Azura was thrust laterally to Starboard off the berth. With Azura a safe distance from the berth, her main engines were set ahead and Azura was driven into the buoyed channel. Courses were then set to the West out of the deep water channel, back into the Caribbean sea. Weather: partially cloudy, sunny spells. Temperature: 30’C. Wind: Easterly Force 4.
Saturday December 9th – At Sea
Captain’s Log: “Saturday brought around the final day of the cruise before a run of six ports in a row. With sunshine levels ever increasing as the day went on, the occasional passing shower offered some refreshment for guests on deck. Throughout the morning, Azura steamed on an Easterly course as she paralleled the Northern coastline of Puerto Rico. She then altered onto a South Easterly heading and continued North of the Virgin Islands towards Guadeloupe. Weather: partially cloudy, sunny spells, occasional showers. Temperature: 29’C. Wind: Easterly Force 6.
Two more couples were married on the last day at sea. Wendy did another art talk in the gallery on Phillip Gray who believe it or not, paints underwater. We went to the photography department to view the wedding DVD and narrow down 160 photos to 30 to be printed in an album. I did the ironing, read and sunbathed. It was also another Black Tie evening. We dressed up but ate at the Venezia buffet. That evening we attended the Playhouse to see 'My Generation', a ‘1960’s music show’. The happy-clappy youngsters sang and danced through a medley of 1960 chart songs, dressing the part as well.
