Saona Island Tour: Part One

Last Tuesday (which seems like weeks ago now), we went on the Saona Island Tour. After a long bus ride to the fishing village of Bayahibe, we boarded a catamaran destined for the Isla Saona, which was just a short distance from the mainland. There was dancing and rum on the catamaran, but Jim and I were looking for food! We had left the resort early in the morning, and did not have a chance to eat breakfast.

Before reaching Saona Island, we stopped at another island to have a traditional Dominican lunch of fish, chicken, pork, rice, and vegetables. Much to our dismay, lunch was not served immediately upon our arrival as we had hoped it would be, but an hour later.

The island was beautiful, and the ocean water was clear and warm. The beach was gorgeous and LOOKED like the perfect spot to relax under a sunny sky. Unfortunately, the area was infested with SAND FLEAS that feasted on us, attacking us on our feet, arms, legs, and bellies. These bugs were tiny, but they packed a punch with their bites! We were literally itching to get off of the island! When we finally left, we noted that we weren't the only ones bothered by the bugs; one woman probably had 200 red welts on her back left by the fleas. The bites faded a day or two after our excursion, but curiously, they began resurfacing and itching like nobody's business a week later.

After many applications of Cortizone cream and Benadryl spray, the bites are still visible on my skin, but a little less itchy than they were before. Jim and I were annoyed that the tour company had not warned travelers of the potential for bugs, as we could have easily applied and packed bug spray before the excursion.

At least the pictures are pretty!