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Dominican Republic Day 1: A Late Afternoon Walk In The Santo Domingo Zona Colonial
The Billini Hotel , where I am staying my first three nights here in the Dominican Republic is located in the middle of the historic Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo, the first European city in the Western Hemisphere. After a quick check in at my hotel late Wednesday afternoon , which included a delicious non-alcoholic…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Two: Santo Domingo A Morning Walk On The Malecon
I awoke early, and still a little tired, my first morning in Santo Domingo. After some coffee, and a cup of excellent expresso, I was soon walking the cobblestone streets of the old city. I wanted to watch the sunrise, which I knew was around 6;40 a.m. , I knew watching it from the Malecon…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Three: Santo Domingo. Another Walk in The Colonial Zone
I awoke in Santo Domingo early on Friday with plans of continuing my exploration of the historic Colonial Zone . However nature wasn’t co-operating and my walk was delayed by a torrential rainstorm. It is the rainy season here and it pretty much could rain just about any time of the day. The rain stopped…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Three: Santo Domingo: A Short Visit To The Jardin Botanico
Finding a taxi in the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo was a lot harder than you would think. I needed a ride to the Jardin Botanico, the National Botanical Gardens. The staff at the Billini hotel said their driver wasn’t available. They said they couldn’t call a taxi. I left the hotel and there wasn’t…
Read MoreDominican Republic: Day Four: Farewell To Santo Domingo And A Long Ride to Los Haitises National Park
I awoke early again on my last day in Santo Domingo. After a double expresso I was walking the deserted, cobblestone streets down to the Malecon. It was partly cloudy with temperatures in the low 70’s with a refreshing breeze blowing in from the ocean. The traffic was much lighter on Saturday morning and I…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Five: A Morning Walk With A New Friend In The Los Haitises National Park
I slept well my first night at the remote Altos de Cano Hondo resort adjacent to Los Haitises National Park in the Dominican Republic. The night was filled with the sounds of crickets and frogs. I heard them throughout the night and they were so calming. I awoke early, as I always do on my…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Five: A Boat Ride Down the Cano Hondo River To The San Lorenzo Bay
After breakfast on Sunday morning, I met our guide Wilfred and four other guests at the Altos de Cano Hondo hotel for a boat tour Los Haitises National Park. We drove about a mile to the entrance to the National Park where we boarded a small boat for a short ride down the Cano Hondo…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Five. An Afternoon Walk And A Tour Of The Beautiful Altos De Cano Hondo Resort.
After my morning boat excursion, I spent the afternoon editing photographs in my room at the beautiful Altos De Cano Hondo Lodge/Resort at the edge of the Los Haitises National Park in a remote section of the Dominican Republic. It is a part of the Paraiso Cano Hondo resort. And it truly is paradise. This…
Read MoreDominican Republic: Day Six: Birds, Butterflies and Blooms At Altos De Cano Hondo Near Los Haitises National Park
I awoke early on Monday morning during my stay at the Altos de Cano Hondo resort. It is located at the edge of the Los Haitises National Park in a remote part of the Dominican Republic. I was the only guest staying at the resort that night but there was still hot coffee awaiting me …
Read MoreThankfully, I Still Found Some Fall Colors On The Trees In Northeastern Pennsylvania.
I wasn’t sure whether I’d still see some of our beautiful Fall foliage here in Northeastern Pennsylvania this year. On Saturday I returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic. I was gone for almost two weeks and when I left the trees where just starting to reach their peak colors. I remember many a…
Read MoreThe Dark And Cold Months Are Here But Still Some Birds And Fall Beauty At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
It was dark and cold when I awoke Saturday morning and went for my usual two mile morning walk. It was still dark and cold when I got home from my usual two mile morning walk. Actually, Saturday, November 7, was the latest the sun will rise here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It rose at 7:41…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Six: A Short Walk Before The Rains And Another Morning In Paradise.
It is the hurricane and rainy season in the Dominican Republic. I found this out during my stay in Santo Domingo. It rained a few hours everyday. And just about anytime of the day. I was lucky during my stay at the Altos de Cano Hondo resort near the Los Haitises National Park. There was…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Seven: An Informative Hike in The Los Haitises National Park With My Guide Wilfred
Los Haitises National Park is described by the Dominican Republic travel website as “one of crown jewels” of the Dominican Republic’s national park system. Encompassing over 600 square miles “Los Haitises ” translates into “hilly land” in the native Taino language. I learned this firsthand on a wonderful guided tour of the park with Wilfred, …
Read MoreA Frosty Early November Morning Walk In The State Game Lands 119 And To Moosehead Lake
One can only predict that early November weather will be very unpredictable here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Like late March, temperatures could range from the low 20’s to the mid 70’s. Snow is not uncommon in either month. However, unlike March when the air is cold from the long Winter, and the sun is becoming stronger…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Eight: My Full Last Day In Paradise At The Altos De Cano Hondo Resort.
I awoke early on Wednesday morning during my visit to the Dominican Republic.. It was my last full day at the beautiful Altos De Cano Hondo resort. My experiences at this world famous eco-lodge situated at the edge of Los Haitises National Park were already truly amazing. I was glad I decided to visit this…
Read MoreAbundant November Sunshine At Community Park In Hazle Township.
November sunshine is not common here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. November is usually our cloudiest month of year . I remember years when we didn’t see the sun all month. Many of my November memories are of cloudy and dreary days. However, this past week we were blessed with abundant November sunshine. And I took advantage…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Nine : A Last Walk At The Altos De Cano Hodo Eco-Lodge, And A Long Drive To My Airport Hotel
I awoke early Thursday morning on my recent visit to the Dominican Republic knowing my trip was coming to an end. I would be leaving the beautiful Altos De Cano Hondo resort, which I had come to love, later that morning. Arrangements were made for me to be picked up for my three hour drive…
Read MoreA Mid-November Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands.
Mid-November arrived with some torrential rains, and then our first snow flurries, here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday. So I didn’t hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands , but I am a creature of habit, so I drove to the Wetlands early Sunday morning. I know there are many beautiful places to hike in my area…
Read MoreDominican Republic Day Ten. Sunrise At Boca Chica Beach, A Long Walk Back And , A Negative COVID Test
I was up early on Friday morning, my last full day in the Dominican Republic. I was determined to watch the sunrise over the Caribbean Sea at nearby Boca Chica beach. I say determined since, when, on the previous evening I inquired at the desk about taking a one way taxi to the beach and…
Read MoreA Week Of Walks , Weather And Wildlife Around Lake Irena At My Local Community Park.
Community Park, and it’s scenic Lake Irena, are located near my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. I have been a visitor here since I was a young child. I am pretty sure my first visit was in the Spring before I was in school. I remember well that the sunny cold day. It had…
Read MoreA Lot Of Birds On A Frosty Morning At The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was a cold and frosty morning when I arrived for my usual weekend hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township, Luzerne County on Saturday. It was 25 degrees as the sun was rising in partly cloudy skies. There was frost on the leaves that littered the ground, including some of my favorite the…
Read MoreNo Bears, But A Few Birds And Cool Clouds On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails.
Last Sunday I decided to stay close to home and hike on the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails in Luzerne County. Once again I began my hike on the eastern access to the trail located near the village of Hazle Brook. I saw a bear here a couple of weeks ago and was hoping to…
Read MoreRiver Otters, Bald Eagles And Wood Ducks On A Blustery November Day In The Susquehanna Wetlands.
River otters, bald eagles and wood ducks were the last things I expected to see when I decided to visit the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township Luzerne County on Saturday. But saw them I did! It was a cold and blustery morning with a temperature of 28 degrees when I arrived around 8:30 a.m. I…
Read MoreMississippi Day One: Exploring The Charming Gulf Towns Of Pascagoula And Moss Point
How did I wind up in the charming little town of Pascagoula, Mississippi is a good question. I am not sure. I will say it was totally random, having never heard of the city until about a month ago. I wanted to get away and relax. . My visit to the Dominican Republic was fun …
Read MoreMississippi Day Two: A Sunrise, Pitcher Plants And Woodpeckers But No Sandhill Cranes.
I awoke refreshed on Thursday in Pascagoula Mississippi. Sleep will do that to you. Especially when you are traveling. I still needed my coffee and was delighted to have a Kurig coffee maker in my room. As I sipped on my coffee I was deciding where to watch the sunrise. I knew my next destination…
Read MoreThe First Snowfall: Another Hike On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
We had our first snowfall here in in the Hazleton area of Northeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday. Well the first measurable snowfall anyway , we had a few dusting earlier in November. I awoke to find a winter wonderland in my back yard in the Green Ridge section of Hazle Township. . It was beautiful but …
Read MoreMississippi Day Three : A Pleasant Morning Walk In Pascagoula, And An Afternoon Of Altered Plans, Again
I had a plan for the day when I awoke in the quaint Gulf town of Pascagoula on Friday. I was going to watch the sunrise from the beach on the Gulf in Pascagoula. I planned to only walk a mile or so along the beach in the morning. Then, I planned to drive back …
Read MoreMississippi Day Four: A Morning At Lake Mars Pier And The Fontainbleau Nature Trail In Ocean Springs
My plan for Saturday were to drive my new KIA rental car to the Fontainbleau Trail near Ocean Springs Mississippi. The trail is a part of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refugee. If you have been following my blog, you would know my plans weren’t working out to well on this adventure. So I…
Read MoreMississippi Day Four: An Afternoon Hike And Sunset At The Lake Mars Pier And My Own Private Beach
I knew, after my Saturday morning visit to the Lake Mars pier in Ocean Springs, that I would have to return. The skies cleared and it was a sunny afternoon so I decided to take the 20 minute drive from my hotel in Pascagoula to the Lake Mars pier. I hoped to photograph the shore…
Read MoreMississippi Day Five. Fog, Then Sunshine And A Lot Of Birds At The Lake Mars Pier And The Beautiful Shoreline.
On Sunday morning I learned that the Mississippi bayou gets some pretty thick fogs. I experienced this as I drove back to the Lake Mars Pier in Ocean Springs early that morning. It delayed my arrival to watch the sunrise at 6:34 a.m. but that didn’t matter since the thick fog obscured the sunrise for…
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