In my last column, I wrote about my aspirations to travel and to see the Caribbean. I’m here to tell you, it was better than I imagined.

My first glimpse of the Caribbean was from the plane. The turquoise waters and the unknown islands below captivated my attention. No longer a dream in waiting, but one to be realized.

We arrived at Punta Cana airport and stepped onto the tarmac. It’s a sunny and wonderful 84 degrees. We get through customs and head to the resort. 

Scott is talking with the driver and I’m looking at all the palm trees along the highway. It’s a welcome site for this Minnesota girl. My mind is setting up the tropical paradise that awaits. I’m so excited!

The Grand Bavaro Princess Resort is as beautiful as the pictures online. We check in and we take the trolley car to our room.  Our building is the second one from the beach. We have a clear view of the tiki huts and palm trees. We can hear the waves crashing on the shore.

It’s time. The moment that I have been waiting for since I was a teenager.  We walk past the tiki huts and step into the softest white sand.  I lift my head up and behold the most beautiful shade of turquoise that I’ve ever seen. It’s better than I had imagined. 

Everything on this resort was beautiful. The landscaping, animals, flowers, pools, and even the people.

It was an adventure walking around. You never knew what you would see. One day, we came upon a Rhino Iguana.  It was bigger than any iguanas we had ever seen and looked prehistoric. 

Various ducks, birds, pelicans and peacocks walk around. The male peacocks would call out to the females and then fan their feathers. It was awesome.

Flamingos adorned a large pond. I never thought you could get so close and actually feed them, but you can. They take the bread crumb out of your hand. 

One of the restaurants you could sit right up by a pond. There were lush palms, tropical plants, white pelicans and other beautiful birds flying around. Definitely was our favorite.

We took a catamaran excursion to Saona Island. It was wonderful being out on the sea. The island itself was tropical and jungle like in every aspect. 

Swimming with the dolphins was an experience.  I always knew dolphins were smart, but seeing them up close and what they can do is amazing. They are in their natural environment when you meet them. I danced, swam and even got a kiss. I loved every minute. There was more to this adventure than the dolphins. This was a park reserve with wild birds that you could feed out of your hand and see the Macaw parrots up close.

One of the highlights of this trip was meeting people from all over the world. Germany, Argentina, London, fellow Americans and many from our northern cousin - Canada. I found we have more in common than we realize. It was interesting and rewarding at the same time.  We came as strangers and left as friends.

The beach by far was my favorite. I couldn’t get enough of it. We spent hours swimming, walking and just watching the waves roll in. There is something about the rhythm of the tide going back and forth. It’s relaxing on every level,

We took lots of pictures, met some of the nicest people, drank straight from a coconut and pineapple, and experienced the beauty of the Caribbean and Punta Cana. This trip was everything I had hoped it would be and more. We are definitely going back.