Travelogue The small complex of apartments is situated within the jungle some 200 yards from Playa Bonita; a beautiful sandy beach stretching for miles. That's not to say you need to fight your way in, machete in hand. The grounds have been beautifully landscaped with colourful exotic plants to enhance those already there.

Each apartment had a front porch with table and chairs where you could sit for hours watching the humming birds taking nectar from flowers or marvel at the numerous colourful species of lizard. Our arrival was much like visiting close family after many years of absence. We were actually greeted by friends of the Dutch owners; Jos and Ans. Gerard and Wil were the nicest couple you could possibly hope to meet. We'd been forewarned by Jos that he'd be away on holiday for the first few days of our visit, before he left though, he organised complicated taxi and bus transfers from our airport to the hotel with a one night stopover in Santo Domingo.

Gerard showed us around the apartment, it was clean, well decorated and included bedroom, shower room and kitchen with cooker and fridge. He organised water for us and told us all about the area, the best beaches, the town, restaurants and bars. The following day after a tremendous breakfast of Bread, Ham, Cheese, coffee and exotic fruits he took us into Las Terrenas so that we could stock the fridge up with fresh local produce. Drinks at the hotel were on a "help yourself and declare it later" basis. There was a large fridge full with beer and beverages and next to that was a comprehensive selection of spirits. There was a price list on the wall and the idea was that you "invoiced" yourself and paid at the end. Nice to be trusted. Gerard told us that Jos and Ans would be back the following day and would be meeting them at a small restaurant in Las Terrenas and that we would be welcome to join them. We accepted and enjoyed an incredible meal at an incredible price (more about that later!)There is no substitute for the kind of hospitality we received throughout. This was a unique and special hotel run by very special people. Gerard and Wil were only there on holiday (albeit for eight months so far) but fulfilled the role of the absent owners impeccably. Jos and Ans return enhanced our stay further. The Dominican staff were all brilliant, efficient and hard-working. Last but by no means least I have to give "Olivio" a mention. I've never been fond of dogs but this was one dog that I unusually took to. The gentlest, soppiest animal I've ever met but formidable opposition for unexpected intruders.

Unusually I'm only reviewing the first half of a two week holiday in the Dominican Republic here; the reason being that we spent the first week in the Northern Samana Peninsular and the second in Juan Dolio in the South, both were enjoyable but Samana.......Las Terrenas.......ahhhhhhh!
I've covered the hotel and those responsible for making us welcome. An important part of what made our holiday memorable. But there's more. We were in Las Terrenas out of season.....but the weather was tremendous. So it did cloud over occasionally, and rained a bit....warm rain. And there was a bit of thunder. But there was also glorious sunshine!

The beach was a short walk from the hotel, the most beautiful, perfect beach I've seen, diverse in that there were smooth sandy areas, rocky areas, sheltered bays with calm sea and fun surf. Some parts were overlooked by small unimposing hotels with restaurants and bars serving the most beautiful food and potent cocktails, other parts were just sand and coconut palms. One could walk and walk, and each day find a beach that you would swear was more beautiful than the last, and it was so very clean. And people? There were few tourists, many friendly Dominican people, Pick-ups with huge speakers blasting out the Bachata and the Merengue...and loud, it had to be loud! The food at Heidi's was absolutely incredible. I ordered large Prawn's and I swear I got three lobster's like I've never seen or tasted. Exquisite.

El Limon, well, Jos organised transport for us. We took a ride in a pick-up with a variety Dominican people; it was like public transport with an incorporated collection and delivery service. We stopped to deliver a container to a road-side garage consisting of a table full of plastic bottles full of petrol below a sign nailed to the tree above. We collected a man with a box of meat, the contents of which dwindled as various cuts were delivered along the way. We stopped to collect an old man with three large "bunches" of bananas. Everybody helped lift the bunches on to the car, my contribution was rewarded by a gift of two large bananas... sweet fresh fruit, delicious. We arrived at a family restaurant just outside El Limon where we were greeted with a cup of coffe and a demonstration about how cocoa was produced. Then two guides with horses appeared. They led us up the most slippery, windy track negotiating rocky rivers and oncoming equine traffic. Quite hairy sometimes but well worth the ride to a beautiful waterfall about 300 metres above sea level cascading into an oasis of a pool within which you could take a much needed dip to cool you down after the trip. Then the journey back to the restaurant......where a traditional Dominican meal of Chicken, meatballs, fried bananas and salad awaited. And a large "Presidente" beer.....nice.

And the highlight of the trip? The Car Wash in Las Terrenas on Sunday evening is transformed into one big Merengue party. Gerard and Wil took us there, what a blast! We stopped for dinner on the way at a little corrugated iron building with two tables at the front. Again real Dominican food, Chicken in sauce, fried Bananas and spaghetti and........a large "presidente". Then onward to the Carwash. There were few tourists there but we felt immediately comfortable there, it was clear that people only wanted to enjoy themselves. A live Merengue band, some very accomplished dancers. Soon everybody was up and dancing. I don't......but I did......we had to, and it was tremendous. I trod on a few toes and bumped into a few people but all in all I was pretty pleased with myself. I still hear the tunes in my head now.......