Vacation In Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Vacation In Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

A week of fun filled activities

460
Vacation In Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

No one claps at the end of a flight anymore - I realized that as I traveled to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic last week. The trip was one of the best experiences I've had, and I got to share it with my family.

It was raining for the first two days, but my father, step mom and I didn't let that stop us from having fun. It rained heavily for a while and when it lightened up, we took that as an opportunity to make our way into the pool. Once I was in the water, it wasn't that bad and I barely noticed the rain. We played volleyball. I didn't win, but I was three points away, so I gave myself an A for effort.

I went zip lining for the first time, which I was very excited about. My father and stepmom had done it before and told me the "do's," the "don't's" and that I didn't really have anything to be worried about. I wasn't nervous, I didn't go first though because I had to see how it was done, well, that was my excuse. We went on seven different lines, all different lengths and speeds. It was nice flying across the sky over green land, it was almost surreal and as quickly as it started it seemed like it was over, and I wanted so badly for the line to keep going.

We met a really nice family who was staying in the resort with us. We decided to go explore the waterfalls together. I love to swim and be in the water, I wasn't too sure about jumping off a cliff and into it but it was definitely something I was willing to try. What I wasn't ready for was the hour hike we had to do to get to the waterfall. All I had was a life vest, a helmet, and a bottle of water but it felt like I was carrying much more climbing up rocks and stairs. We had to wear these not very comfortable, and not very protective shoes because they were good in the water and wouldn't have made our feet heavy due to it being wet. As I reached the first waterfall, out of breath, I told myself that it was worth it and I was going to go into every single waterfall because I didn't hike all that for no reason. I was a lot nervous for the first one, but I still did it. The scariest part was jumping into the water and not feeling the bottom, my heart dropped a little but the life jacket brought me right to the top. We went into twenty-seven different waterfalls, either jumping, sliding, or getting pushed in. I could never forget it, mostly because my body still aches from the hike but it was so worth it.

I saw a monkey up, close and personal for the first time, several actually. It actually went on my head and jumped all on me. It mostly wanted the grapes I had in my hand, and it didn't mind invading my space to get them. I was a lot scared for this one because they just dropped on your head from the trees and I thought that I was going to jump, which is a natural reaction, and I didn't want to find out what a scared monkey could do. I caved in though, and I wanted it to jump on me and when it did, my nervousness changed to excitement. Now I kind of want a pet monkey, even though I'm still a little afraid, but they were so cute!

On my last day, I went ATV riding and, at first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to ride my own bike or be on the back of my father's bike. With a little persuasion from him, I decided to get my own bike and it was amazing. It was semi-automatic so I had to switch gears and once I got the hang of it, I took off! I think at one point I got a little too excited and crashed. Maybe crashed isn't the right word, just deviated from the path a little, and I have a cut on my knee to prove it. My step mom really went off course and for a minute I thought she was trying to do tricks. One minute she was in front of me and the next she was flying through the air, but luckily she's okay and no one was seriously hurt.

We visited a lot of beaches and I tried a lot of new foods. It was nice to see how people outside of NYC live because it made me appreciate the things I have. Even going on this trip, I was grateful, because I saw in different places how little business some stores got. Many people talked to us about their living conditions and it was sad to see how some people really struggle, and the thing I noticed was that they always had their family. I did much more and saw things, easier seen than explained, but I'm happy that I got to spend this time and experiences con mi familia.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3105
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1871
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201141
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21507
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments