b'Our Story Every project has a story and a dream behind it. Wed like to share ours with you.After having worked in Spain for seven years in the hotel industry, in my early thirties, a long time ago, I thought it was the right moment to venture outside Europe and start a new and exciting project. Maybe the last moment to do it, before I get too comfortable with everyday life and my projected life story starts rolling out in a very predictable, conventional way.Together with my former husband, I traveled around the Caribbean, Central and SouthAmericainsearchofthatdreamspotwheretobeginsomething unforeseen and risky, adventurous and creative, and after a lot of traveling, our hearts were set on Las Galeras, Samana. At thetime,there was noexistinginfrastructure whatsoever noelectricity, water,telephone,nottomentioninternet.Roadsweredifficultandfullof potholes. Still, it was so beautiful and inviting.After learning the arts and crafts of buying land in the Dominican Republic, we acquired several properties and grouped them together into what became the hotel premises and the surrounding settlement of houses and apartments. Ittookushalfayeartocreateabasicinfrastructuredigginga waterwell, buildingawatertank,creatinganaccessroad,installingthreeelectricity generators and the appropriate water and electricity distribution systems. From complacent city dwellers we used to be, suddenly we turned pioneers, explorers, engineers and mechanics. What a learning experience!The architectural design was the next part of the project. We embraced it with intrepid courage and enthusiasm. To the point that I learned how to design it myself and actually did it. We traveled again around the Caribbean to study the most beautiful architectural achievements. We were clear our hotel was going to be a true representation of the traditional Caribbean style. Several architects and engineers helped turn our detailed drawings into the official plans.A year and a half we spent on the building site, supervising every move and each material being used. Our life was made of cement blocks, trucks bringing in sand and gravel, trips to hardware stores, and climbing wooden ladders up and down the building site.'