Punta Cana - Part 1

It was a 3am wake up call and I had only gone to bed at 1am. Last minute packing and cleaning up around the house had kept me up. It was freezing outside in Pittsburgh but that didn’t deter me from wearing a cute maxi dress, I was officially in vacation mode.

At the airport I got to use my first passport ever for the first time. I was only going to Miami from here but it still made me feel special. From Pittsburgh to Miami was our first flight. To say it was bumpy would be an understatement. Prior to our departure I had made the oh so wise decision to eat a Philly cheese steak sub with a diet coke for breakfast. About an hour into the constant turbulence that sub became something I deeply regretted, and gave me my second first of the trip. Losing my lunch (actually breakfast) on the plane. Luckily, I made it to the bathroom and all was well a few hours later, but one of our travel companions Nate couldn’t make it to the bathroom I was occupying and enjoyed a first for him self as well.

From Miami we flew to Puerto Rico, and then finally onto Punta Cana. We went through customs, and straight to get our bags. We were able to quickly find our transportation, a prior decision that proved perfect, and we were just a short 25 minute drive to the hotel.

As we turned out of the airport I quickly pulled out my phone to play a game. Because of continued conversation I had to put it away and was forced to acknowledge the extreme poverty surrounding us. Honestly, it is hard to look at. Hard to fathom such a difficult life. I found myself heartbroken that just outside this luxury resort that was taking me away from all my responsibilities was a hard reality for so many. I will never understand how I have been so blessed in this life.

We arrived and though I was still sidetracked from the drive over I couldn’t help but enjoy this beautiful place that would be my home for 6 nights. Once we got to the room I was in heaven. It is beyond beautiful and better then described. Out in the back porch is a mini hot tub and I wasted no time enjoying that while Brian did what he was looking forward to the most, eating. He ordered room service and assembled the gifts he had brought to give the maids to take home to their children.

It was a perfect night out in the hot tub looking out at the stars.

Punta Cana - Part 2