Most of you have read the drama surrounding my suitcase while on our trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. In my carry-on I had 1 bathing suit, 1 cover-up, 1 pair of flip-flops, 1 extra pair of underwear and a small bag of essential make-up (including my face-wash). PTL! These items got me through the week! Despite that business, we had an amazing time. I am so proud of Joel for qualifying for this elite trip for PPG. We were treated like royalty, being encouraged and congratulated everywhere we went. The travel agency NAVIS is a top-notch group that planned and facilitated all the events. The NAVIS ladies were the ones whom ultimately saved my whole weekend. At midnight the first night, they brought me clothes out of their own luggage for me to borrow. My 4 angels. Here's our trip... mostly in order.
DAY #1
Close to midnight, waiting for the red-eye on a delayed flight.
My 4 NAVIS angels. Kara, Andrea, Judy & Linda.
Driving from the airport to the hotel
Housing with laundry hanging outside 
Produce Stand
Tire Shop
Finally arrive to Hard Rock, all-inclusive hotel.
Meeting the NAVIS team for the 1st time at check-in.
Whoo-Hoo!
Our 1st gift... Punta Cana bag, sunscreen, itinerary and name tags.
Our beautiful room with balcony & jacuzzi
Our balcony view
The mini bar that was all free. They would re-stock every morning, yet I think we drank 1 Sprite. 
We checked out the hotel & beach right when we arrived. The Caribbean is amazing! I had SO much fun using my DSLR. I think I had more scenery pictures than people!
My only swimsuit & cover-up. I wore it every day and night. :)
Painting class on the beach
Our Footprints
Love this path & hut. Used for weddings as an aisle.
"The Library" Pool - calm & quiet. I never got to relax there!
Borrowed Outfit #1- from a PPG wife I met on the charter bus to our hotel
Welcome Dinner
They gave the wives some credit for the husbands making the Winner's Circle. They wanted each of us to go on stage and have our picture taken.
On stage with the VP of Refinish North America
Every night after dinner, we would come "home" to a gift on our bed.
Night #1 GiftMaui Jim sunglasses for each of us. We had a "fitting" and could choose 1 of 21 styles. They will be shipped to our home (YEA!).
Timing how long it would take to fill this gi-normous tub. 30 minutes. I later discovered this tub to be most useful for washing my 2 pairs of underwear. :)
DAY #2
Our 1st breakfast -- Ahhh, what a view!We had made to order ham, bacon, & cheese egg-white omletes every morning, LOTS of fruit, bad coffee and weird yogurt.
Borrowed Outfit #2
Iguana by the pool -- for pictures purposes only. They charged $40 for a 5x7. We did not buy one.
Dinner the 1st night was by a reservation that we made when we first arrived at the hotel. You had no idea who you would sit with... just show up at the restaurant the time you selected. We had a great table, including Joel's boss- Jim Downey (white shirt), the VP of Refinish Global (in the blue shirt) and Billy Dias from Hawaii (black shirt). What a fun night!
Kathy Downey and I
Borrowed Outfit #3
Joel and his PPG teammate, David Grande checking out the casino
Joel with his boss and teammate
I won $106 on this slot machine with $20 Jim Downey gave me.
Dinner the 1st night was by a reservation that we made when we first arrived at the hotel. You had no idea who you would sit with... just show up at the restaurant the time you selected. We had a great table, including Joel's boss- Jim Downey (white shirt), the VP of Refinish Global (in the blue shirt) and Billy Dias from Hawaii (black shirt). What a fun night!
Kathy Downey and IBorrowed Outfit #3
Joel and his PPG teammate, David Grande checking out the casino
Joel with his boss and teammate
I won $106 on this slot machine with $20 Jim Downey gave me. I did pay him back... immediately.
Night #2 Gift
Gift Certificate for $50 each plus 10% off for the "Hard Rock Shop". It was meant to buy a shirt for the "rock n roll" themed farewell dinner. What we bought will come up later...
Night #2 Gift
Gift Certificate for $50 each plus 10% off for the "Hard Rock Shop". It was meant to buy a shirt for the "rock n roll" themed farewell dinner. What we bought will come up later...DAY #3
The best ice cream EVER (probably because it's not low-fat like I eat at home). I had this every day. I tried Banana, Coconut, Amaretto, Strawberry and Chocolate. My fav was Banana and Coconut.
Joel and Billy tried scuba... pool dive only.
Region 5 hanging out together at the pool
Picture opp. with little monkey (it was amazingly SOFT!)
Joel showing his skills in the pool
Dinner at the Japanese steakhouse, Zen. The best dinner we had all week!
Night #3 Gift
Handmade Mother of Pearl clutch with $50 shopping money. Golf shirt for the men.
Gathering around laptop to watch live lap times of Salt Lake SX race. Eli Tomac won!
Borrowed Outfit # ??
DAY #4
Last day was spent at the spa in the am for a couples "retreat" massage & facial (3 hours worth!). Then met up with Region 5 for pool time. Guys dominated water volleyball. Storm was moving in fast...
Storm was coming...
Downpour for 20 minutes and then cleared to a beautiful sky.
Farewell "Rock n Roll" dinner... bought both our shirts with our Hard Rock GC. Red carpet treatment, LOUD music, good food and fun company. My fav part of this dinner was buzzing around the room touching base with all the ladies I met. I almost missed the dinner, but had a yummy waldorf salad and BRIE (my favorite!!). I got a certificate and $250 for winning the photography contest (see title picture for winning shot).
Time to go... walking to the plane to board. This was a serious system they had getting us to our planes. Talk about cattle-call.
Ready to go! Notice, today I am wearing Joel's 1 clean shirt and my shorts! What a trip!
The best ice cream EVER (probably because it's not low-fat like I eat at home). I had this every day. I tried Banana, Coconut, Amaretto, Strawberry and Chocolate. My fav was Banana and Coconut.
Joel and Billy tried scuba... pool dive only.
Region 5 hanging out together at the pool
Picture opp. with little monkey (it was amazingly SOFT!)
Joel showing his skills in the pool
Dinner at the Japanese steakhouse, Zen. The best dinner we had all week!
Night #3 Gift
Handmade Mother of Pearl clutch with $50 shopping money. Golf shirt for the men.
Gathering around laptop to watch live lap times of Salt Lake SX race. Eli Tomac won!
Borrowed Outfit # ??DAY #4
Last day was spent at the spa in the am for a couples "retreat" massage & facial (3 hours worth!). Then met up with Region 5 for pool time. Guys dominated water volleyball. Storm was moving in fast...
Storm was coming... Downpour for 20 minutes and then cleared to a beautiful sky.
Farewell "Rock n Roll" dinner... bought both our shirts with our Hard Rock GC. Red carpet treatment, LOUD music, good food and fun company. My fav part of this dinner was buzzing around the room touching base with all the ladies I met. I almost missed the dinner, but had a yummy waldorf salad and BRIE (my favorite!!). I got a certificate and $250 for winning the photography contest (see title picture for winning shot).
Time to go... walking to the plane to board. This was a serious system they had getting us to our planes. Talk about cattle-call.
Ready to go! Notice, today I am wearing Joel's 1 clean shirt and my shorts! What a trip! We need to get away more often... :)
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