| Tucked away on the northeast coast of the | | | | females and vying for their attention. If you are |
| Dominican Republic where tropical forests meet | | | | really lucky you may even observe one "standing" |
| the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, lies the | | | | on his tale momentarily, right out of the water. |
| aptly named resort; Eden Bay. Although only | | | | The whale observation boats have to go quite a |
| eighty minutes away from the mass tourist | | | | long way out in the bay and can encounter some |
| resorts of Puerto Plata, Eden Bay feels beautifully | | | | surprisingly choppy waters. A travel tip to anyone |
| remote and away from it all. The Adams and | | | | like me, who does not have a sailor's stomach, is |
| Eves who stay in Eden enjoy a fully naturist | | | | to take a sea-sickness tablet before setting off. |
| vacation at this beautifully maintained, clothes | | | | Another tip is to take something warm to put on |
| optional resort. | | | | if needed. We got soaked as the power boat |
| It is only too easy to spend everyday of your | | | | crashed through the waves and even though the |
| holiday within the extensive grounds of Eden. | | | | weather was fine and the Caribbean is about as |
| They must cover at least 40 acres of land and | | | | warm as seawater gets, the ocean breeze made |
| include areas that are shaded under swaying | | | | me feel quite chilly after a while. |
| coconut palms, grass lawns, sandy coves, rocky | | | | It is a wonderful experience to get close to these |
| beaches and floral gardens. Amongst these natural | | | | amazing animals and the trip to Samana Bay is |
| features, the resorts man-made facilities can be | | | | one not to be missed. However, it was |
| found. They include; two swimming pools, three | | | | sometimes possible to catch sight of the whales |
| hot tubs, a volley ball court, a water volley ball | | | | from Eden Bay, as they passed by on their |
| court, bars, restaurants and accommodations. | | | | migratory passage, a few hundred meters out to |
| If you can muster up the will power to put some | | | | sea. One day we sat in a hot tub that overlooked |
| clothes on and step outside of Eden at some | | | | the ocean and watched one sending great plumes |
| point during your vacation, this part of the | | | | of water into the air. |
| Dominican Republic offers many sightseeing | | | | There are many other places worth visiting in this |
| opportunities. My best travel tip is to visit the | | | | part of the Dominican Republic. The northern |
| Samana peninsula. | | | | mountain ranges present the more adventurous |
| Here you will find lonely beaches with sand as | | | | tourist with activities that include mountain bike |
| white as sugar and beautiful hills of palm tree | | | | trails, hiking, and rubber rafting on the Rio Yaque |
| forests shading orchids and bromeliads of vivid | | | | del Norte. For people who enjoy more extreme |
| colors. On the southern side of the peninsula, | | | | sporting activities there is cascading. This involves |
| hotels and small upmarket tourist resorts have | | | | climbing to the top of waterfalls and abseiling |
| been developed over the years but they merge | | | | down through the cascade! |
| tastefully into the surrounding environment. The | | | | Personally, the magnet of Eden proved too strong |
| largest town in the area is Santa Barbara de | | | | to allow me to spend any more time away from |
| Samana and there is one very good reason to go | | | | the resort. Days of basking in the tropical sun, |
| there if your vacation is between mid January and | | | | playing water volley ball, snorkeling in crystal clear |
| mid March. At that time of the year, Samana bay | | | | waters, or enjoying one of the many beach |
| is the natural calving and mating grounds for three | | | | games organized by the Eden Bay staff, were |
| to five thousand humpback whales. Boats from | | | | followed by balmy evenings of dance, dining and |
| Santa Barbara take tourists out into the bay for | | | | drinking. Sometimes it makes me feel a little guilty |
| sightings of these magnificent animals at close | | | | that we saw so little of the rest of the Dominican |
| quarters. From a boat it is possible to hear the | | | | Republic but we were by no means alone in this |
| male humpback's solitary courting song and to | | | | respect. We made many new friends during our |
| witness displays of tail lobbing, flippering and | | | | stay in Eden Bay and all them found it as difficult |
| breaching. Most of the performances are | | | | as we did to leave the resort. |
| undertaken by male humpbacks, trying to impress | | | | |