Bye Bye Brazil.... HELLO Dominican Republic

After we got back to Cumbuco from our jaunt in Jericocoara, de-sanded everything and finally got some sleep, we realised we had 7 days left in casa banana. We decided we wanted to make the most of that last week and kite everyday. We managed to kite 3 out of 7 days, the last time at Cauipe which was the most wind we'd seen during our time there and a last 2 sessions at Tabuba. The rest of the time was raining or still, we counted ourselves lucky that we were escaping the dying season in brazil and hitting the start of the windy season in the DR.

After cleaning the house, packing the bags, unpacking the bags to try and fit in all the stuff we'd missed the first time, negotiating with the landlord about the number of crockery casualties and finally handing over the keys we were left standing by the hot road waiting for the bus to fortaleza with rucksacks and boardbags.


The bus arrived, we mounted up and wound our way out of Cumbuco, everyone fairly quiet obviously taking in the last sights of the place that we'd called home or 2 months. As the bus wound past the lagoon at Tabuba I couldn't help but wonder how this place would change in the next 5 years and smile at all the fun we've had kiting at that place. So many good sessions by just hopping on the bus to CHABOOBIES...

The bus bounced it way into fortaleza, we changed at the inner city bus exchange and embarked what we hoped was the bus to the airport. A special mention should go out to jamie for lugging his stuff through the heat with a raging throat infection. Not a happy bunny at the time.

Everyone was nervous as we came through the double doors of the airport, basked in the AC momentarily then headed to check in. When we were asked "Whats in here? Kiteboards? " in our large, over size, over weight boardbag with "North Kiteboarding" written on it. I immediatly snapped "NO!" and turned to des who then said "......Golfclubs..." The man behind the counter then smirked, shook his head and checked us in with no extra charges.

We passed through security, boarded our flight to miami and landed without incident except when me and Jamie went looking for some food that wasn't ridiculously over priced and ended up both sitting down for a dinner that consisted of 500g of peanut MM's.

Arriving into Miami went without a hitch after getting grilled by customs and Des getting pulled into the back room with no explanation, who then emerged half an hour later saying they just wanted to check he was using the correct passport. ( I have my doubts, he was walking funny after that, i woudnt be suprised if the rubber gloves didnt come out...)

After burning 5 hours in Miami looking round the shops, eating an all American breakfast of pancakes, bacon and egg we boarded our flight to the DR. I was amused when I was sat in the midst of a large American family who were fussing with luggage and spilling the contents of their "fanny packs" all over the place.

We land in the DR after a short 3 hour flight, I headed off the flight and waited for the others in the arrivals area pre customs. Then i noticed that the Caribbean music I was hearing was actually from a  live band at the end of the corridor by the door to the customs hall. All wearing sunglasses and Hawaiian shirts. We re-grouped, paid "tourist tax" and filled in our landing forms and then went to the next counter and was asked if we wanted a free welcome drink... my kind of country, when you get a free shot of rum before going through customs. Our passports stamped we yomped off  into the Caribbean sun, met our taxi driver and headed off into paradise...