For my first ever surf lesson, I started with the essentials: lots of sunscreen, a cool, rash-guard shirt (my instructor’s!) and a beginner’s board. I practiced lying down and getting up on the board on the beautiful, white sand before finally taking it to the water, when Roberto decided I was ready to give it my first shot. Within one hour, I had done it— accomplished the impossible: I was walking on water. Nothing compares to the feeling you get the first time you get up on your board and ride it to shore. It’s a moment of pure freedom, exhilaration and bliss. Roberto had the biggest smile, and two thumbs up, when I turned around to look at him. “You’re a real surfer girl now,” he said with as much pride in his voice as a new father. After three hours of surfing, I was totally spent and in dire need of refuelling. I had noticed a fishing boat earlier in the day and realized that fishermen regularly caught fresh fish for hungry beach bums. A quick jaunt to the far end of the beach, where a blue tarpaulin marks the spot famous for freshly caught, perfectly grilled fish, lobster, plantain, cold Presidente beers and more, and I was ready to dive back in.
The sleeve notes on the 1962 album Surfin' Safari, the first to be released by The Beach Boys, includes an interesting description of surfing: “For those not familiar with the latest craze to invade the sun-drenched Pacific coast of Southern California, here is a definition of "surfing"—a water sport in which the participant stands on a floating slab of wood, resembling an ironing board in both size and shape, and attempts to remain perpendicular while being hurtled toward the shore at a rather frightening rate of speed on the crest of a huge wave (especially recommended for teen-agers and all others without the slightest regard for either life or limb).” While the description is slightly tongue-in-cheek, it is a pretty accurate representation of what surfing is all about. So for all of you teenagers, or teenagers at heart, planning a trip to the Dominican Republic, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, make sure to head north and explore Macao Beach. Even if you’re not a surfer, The Beach Boy’s vibe (or The Beach Boy’s piano, on display at the resort) is sure to infect you with a little surfer all of your own. n
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ICE CREAM SHOP Nothing says vacation quite like the smooth chill of an ice cream cone. Dig into your favourites like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry or try a tropical temptation like orange pineapple or vanilla-rum with raisins and caramel. And because the ice cream parlour is part of your all-inclusive experience you can keep going back, again and again and again. Enjoy.
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MAGASIN DE CRÈME GLACÉE Rien n'évoque aussi bien les vacances qu'une crème glacée bien rafraîchissante. e Dégustez vos saveurs préférées comm s z-vou laisse ou fraise et e vanill lat, choco tenter par une saveur tropicale comme orange-ananas ou vanille-rhum avec raisins et caramel. De plus, comme le magasin de crème glacée fait partie intégrante de l’expérience tout-compris, vous pouvez y retourner comme bon vous semble. À votre santé, glacée!