Imagine: A whole city with absolutely no lights at night. We snuck out of our hotel at about 11pm in search of signs of life. We stumbled upon a group of people in a room playing music and drinking. We spent a few hours with them listening to live music and sharing spirits. On our way back to the room, we paused to look at the sky filled with stars. There is no star gazing quite like here...the city with no lights. Truly amazing.

The next day we visited the jose ignacio uruguay light house, stood atop the hill where you can see both coasts of the peninsula, and met many people from all over the world.

I cannot say enough good things about Cabo Polonio-it may not only be one of my favorite places in Uruguay, but anywhere.

Do you remember the old Seinfeld episode, when George's strategy to achieve inner-peace was to shout "Serenity Now!"

Posted by: cramer john at 08:14 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Punta Cana coast has become one all-inclusive resort after another with very few options for the independent traveler. Bayahibe, on the other hand, has only one all-inclusive resort known as the Dreams La Romana Resort. This a 568 room resort that sits right on one of the best portions of Playa Bayahibe (Bayahibe Beach). Otherwise, all the lodging in Bayahibe is small independent hotels, bed and breakfast places, and cabanas. Hotel Bayahibe is the largest of the independents and it has only 25 rooms. Again, you get a more authentic experience staying in Bayahibe as compared to Punta Cana. Just for clarification, I should mention there are 6 full scale resorts in 2-3 miles away from Bayahibe in Dominicas to southeast which is sometimes considered part of the Bayahibe region.

Cabanas are cute stand alone "huts" or small cabins, traditionally built with a thatched roof punta del este although they don't all have these now. They are scattered throughout Bayahibe, including some right on the beach. You used to be able to rent them at a steal but the price has really gone in recent years as more tourists have come in and as more of them are being used as housing for employees of the resorts that are creeping closer -- the cabanas are still a good deal though if you can find one! Of course, they are also a totally different experience than a Punta Cana resort.

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