Sosua Reports

[TravelingMan3]

Ok thanks, in August I will be in Sosua for 2 weeks, I will prepare a report on how the situation is.

I must apologize misread Checo hotel as Coco hotel I'm not familiar with Checo.

[ForroMambo]

Ian is a great host this was one of the few spots open in Sosua during covid the rooms looked ok and it was cheap didn't stay there myself but drank there plenty of times.

Ok thanks, in August I will be in Sosua for 2 weeks, I will prepare a report on how the situation is.

[TravelingMan3]

Has anyone been to the Checo hotel lately? How was the experience? The situation seems very good and some renovated rooms. What about the guests?

Thanks a lot.

Ian is a great host this was one of the few spots open in Sosua during covid the rooms looked ok and it was cheap didn't stay there myself but drank there plenty of times.

[ForroMambo]

Has anyone been to the Checo hotel lately? How was the experience? The situation seems very good and some renovated rooms. What about the guests?

Thanks a lot.

[Manizales911]

Rico was a great contributor to the game and I really liked his style about how he did things in life. Seemed like a great guy. He posted often about Sosua and always spoke the truth. It's a shame this guy was the epitome of health just a year ago and it looked like his heart went bad and he passed very recently.

I hope all people posting on this forum are about helping other brothers in the game, that's what Rico really seemed to be about. This game is like the devil and too much of it can really take a toll on your health. All the booze, women, drugs, cialis, etc. Can take its toll very quickly, always remember to play the game safe and moderate and be in it for the long haul.

Rico was a friend of mine and we lived across the hall from one another. The "game" had nothing to do with it. He had a hereditary heart condition, his father had the same problem. Originally he was going to have heart surgery here in the DR to correct it but they wanted something like $25 Kusd so he went back to the states, he was a veteran so he didn't have to pay. He was too weak at the time so they wanted him to get stronger first, then they were talking heart transplant but same problem, he wasn't strong enough to survive the surgery so it wasn't performed. RIP hermano.

[Xpartan]

The next morning my buddy met us at the hotel for breakfast. You give the hotel your meal ticket, and they bring out your breakfast. My buddy informed me the food would be whatever they had on hand. After an hour had passed, our food was brought out. It was a plate of cold spaghetti covered in ketchup (I'm guessing they used the ketchup in place of tomato sauce). My buddy said, "You better eat it all, no telling when the next meal is coming. " So, I ate it all.

A few years ago I stayed at an AI in Costambar. In 4 days I was already bored out of my mind and seriously considered making it to Haiti for 2-3 days, but then a Haitian waiter in the buffet begged me to reconsider so I did. It was kind of comical, the way he described the horrors and dangers that I would find in Haiti.

[IronQuinn]

The next morning my buddy met us at the hotel for breakfast. You give the hotel your meal ticket, and they bring out your breakfast. My buddy informed me the food would be whatever they had on hand. After an hour had passed, our food was brought out. It was a plate of cold spaghetti covered in ketchup (I'm guessing they used the ketchup in place of tomato sauce). My buddy said, "You better eat it all, no telling when the next meal is coming. " So, I ate it all.

We had about 5 hours to do a little sightseeing, since we wanted to be back at the border by 3 p to start the long journey back. My buddy said he'the show me the ruins of an old French fort on the shores of the bay. We hopped on 2 moto taxis and took off north toward Fort Liberte Bay. There were only two available at the time. So, my buddy got on the back of one, while my girl and I got on the other. These motos were not set up to carry three people, so my seat was the narrow steel rack on the back of the bike that consisted of three steel bars. There were no pegs to rest my feet, so I had to just hold them up. I put one arm around my girl's waist and the other hand gripped the small corner of the rack behind me for a little stability. The driver took off, dodging potholes, other vehicles, people, and random animals that wandered into the street. At one point, a goat wandered in front of us and the driver had to swerve sharply. I nearly lost my balance and had to clamp down on the bike with my legs. I still have the scab on the inside of my leg from being burned on the bike's exhaust.

Thankfully, that was the only incident, and I never fell off. We stopped at a monument on the way in remembrance of the revolution for freedom. Once we reached the bay (which took about an hour and a half) we got to explore the ruins of Fort Dauphin. There was nobody around, we had the whole place to ourselves. The fort overlooks the bay, and I had a great time climbing through the ruins. Afterward, we checked out a nearby beach where I estimated about 200 kids were playing in the water in respite from the brutal heat.

There were about a dozen guys sitting around this gazebo-like structure. I asked my buddy to ask them if they had any water, since we were out. There was one guy out of the group who stood up, looked at my girl and then back at me, asking if she was with me (in English). I said yes, and a smile creased his face. I guess that bought me acceptance with this group, and the guy made room for all of us to sit. We spoke for about twenty minutes about the situation in Haiti. The guy had a case of water with him that everyone was sharing. He gave us all a bottle apiece, and actually paid for the extra time of having the motos wait for us. They were a great crew and wished us well when we left.

We reached the border a little after 3 p, did the crossing with all the little bullshit fees, and reversed the transportation process to get back to Sosua by 10 p. My girl and I cleaned up in the shower and got into bed. The AC felt great. I closed my eyes looking forward to a good night's sleep, but my girl had other ideas. Sometimes I think she wants it more than I do. I was glad to have made the side trip to Haiti, even if it was only for a couple days. It was worth it just to experience a little of the island's other side. As for my girl, we're still talking on a daily basis. I make trips to Sosua once every three or four months, so I'll be seeing her in early fall. She's a cool girl, never asks me for anything, but I'll help her out a little when I come down. We just have good times. Who knows where it'll lead, but I'll ride this road and see where it takes me.

[Coolie High]

Fuck those mosquitos.

I agree but unfortuantely you can't wear that jacket and pants when you're butt ass naked, full of sweat, smashin a hunny dip froggy style with the moon being your only light at night. That's when they get your ass.

[Mr Enternational]

BTW how did the mosquitoes treat you in Haiti? When I went to Haiti in 2011 those mosquitoes were some aggressive assholes LOL..

Fuck those mosquitos.

[IronQuinn]

Jesus that is unnerving. All seriousness that maybe the most unnerving thing I ever read here on ISG. Literally folks surronding the table, watching you eat like a lost hungry puppy but theses are human beings instead. When you see that type of supreme poverty it makes you extremely grateful of your life and more appreciative of the little things we take for granted here in western society.

BTW how did the mosquitoes treat you in Haiti? When I went to Haiti in 2011 those mosquitoes were some aggressive assholes LOL. Like they smelled fresh meat and ate me the fuck up. Literally in one night I had well over 50 mosquitoes bites. DR mosquitoes are bad but Haiti mosquitoes are on another level. Like fucking full fledge Vampires 😳.

I had been stared at before in some places I've traveled, but never so blatant and while I was eating like in Haiti. It was an in-the-face reality check.

I bring a small bottle of Ben's bug spray with 30% deet when I go to the tropics. That usually works for me, though I still had some bites in Haiti, like they were laughing at my bug spray.

[OldKool]

I just read how Haitians are being run out of the the Dr like they have the plague. Last year 75,000 were deported. It is becoming a national past time. Haitians are blamed for every ill in the DR. I once read in a DR paper that 80% of working girls in Sosua were Hatians.
Gangs are running the country with no regard for any authority. They have better weapons than the police. Haiti may be the most fucked up place in the world. Iron my hat is off for you. Thanks for giving us a look into world we have not seen. Hard to imagine how rough their lives are and how powerless we are to help.

Jesus that is unnerving. All seriousness that maybe the most unnerving thing I ever read here on ISG. Literally folks surronding the table, watching you eat like a lost hungry puppy but theses are human beings instead. When you see that type of supreme poverty it makes you extremely grateful of your life and more appreciative of the little things we take for granted here in western society.

BTW how did the mosquitoes treat you in Haiti? When I went to Haiti in 2011 those mosquitoes were some aggressive assholes LOL. Like they smelled fresh meat and ate me the fuck up. Literally in one night I had well over 50 mosquitoes bites. DR mosquitoes are bad but Haiti mosquitoes are on another level. Like fucking full fledge Vampires 😳.

[Coolie High]

For dinner we went to a little eatery across the way (my growing entourage following). It was a good dinner consisting of chicken, rice (with some kind of sauce), beans, and fried plantains. They also have this great rum called Barbancourt that comes in flask-sized bottles. The only unnerving part of the meal was the six Haitians that had accumulated around our table who were watching me eat. They just sat there staring at me. About halfway through the meal I just couldn't finish it. I felt like some privileged asshole eating a nice meal, while these people were obviously hungry, but couldn't afford one. I offered the last couple pieces of chicken and half my rice to them. The food disappeared in a matter of seconds.

Jesus that is unnerving. All seriousness that maybe the most unnerving thing I ever read here on ISG. Literally folks surronding the table, watching you eat like a lost hungry puppy but theses are human beings instead. When you see that type of supreme poverty it makes you extremely grateful of your life and more appreciative of the little things we take for granted here in western society.

BTW how did the mosquitoes treat you in Haiti? When I went to Haiti in 2011 those mosquitoes were some aggressive assholes LOL. Like they smelled fresh meat and ate me the fuck up. Literally in one night I had well over 50 mosquitoes bites. DR mosquitoes are bad but Haiti mosquitoes are on another level. Like fucking full fledge Vampires 😳.

[Tempoecorto]

Sosua to Puerto Plata, and Puerto Plata to Santiago.

Thanks! The first leg is well known but I did not know about shared taxis to get to Santiago, from Pto Pta. By the way, Caribe Express from Sosua would take you to Santiago without a sweat. I. e. , in air conditioned comfort for a piddly 190 pesos or so but perhaps you already know it.

[IronQuinn]

Changing money on the street was the only option at this point. Here in the border town Dominican pesos were accepted, but I needed Haitian gourdes for going further into the country. I also received a crash course in the Haitian dollar. Haitians will tell you prices of things in "dollars". At first, I thought they meant US dollars, but no, they meant Haitian dollars. Here's the catch: they don't exist, it's a mythical currency. My buddy said that one "dollar" is equal to five gourdes. So, whenever I was told the price of something, I had to multiply it by five, and pay that amount in gourdes. Confused yet?

I secured a room for my girl and I at the Constellation Hotel, based on my buddy's recommendation. He said it was the most secure in town with a steel gate at roadside and a 24/7 guard armed with a shotgun. The price for a basic room was the equivalent of 50 bucks. I was finding prices here were similar or a little higher than in the DR. My buddy was staying with a friend for the night. We had looked at three rooms with AC units, but none of them worked. Finally, we settled on a room with a fan that did work.

For dinner we went to a little eatery across the way (my growing entourage following). It was a good dinner consisting of chicken, rice (with some kind of sauce), beans, and fried plantains. They also have this great rum called Barbancourt that comes in flask-sized bottles. The only unnerving part of the meal was the six Haitians that had accumulated around our table who were watching me eat. They just sat there staring at me. About halfway through the meal I just couldn't finish it. I felt like some privileged asshole eating a nice meal, while these people were obviously hungry, but couldn't afford one. I offered the last couple pieces of chicken and half my rice to them. The food disappeared in a matter of seconds.

That night the three of us went out to a "dance club". I use that term loosely. My girl was wearing a little dress she had picked out from a street vendor that cost me around 5 bucks, well worth it to see how much she liked it, and how good she looked in it. Dodging the mud puddles in the light drizzle we arrived at a little dilapidated building off the main road. There were a couple speakers playing the typical fare for the area, no door to the establishment, a bar the size of a shower stall (with three stools), three plastic tables, six plastic chairs (three of which were broken), and a large mud puddle in the entranceway. There were about ten people hanging around, some sitting. The three of us sat down at one of the tables with drinks. There was one light on in the front of the place and a little disco light in the back that shot out multiple-colored lights on the 8'x8' dance floor. There was nobody dancing, so I took my girl by the hand, and we had the whole back of the place to ourselves. My buddy took pics of us with my phone (all of which were blurry since he was already drunk from the rum at dinner). You know, even in that shitty little dive, the two of us got lost in the music, dancing with smiles from ear to ear.

Leaving my buddy, my girl and I made it back to the hotel in the rain. I turned on the fan, since it felt about a hundred degrees in that hot box of a room. All that dirty dancing had riled both of us up. The clothes came off, and we attacked each other like a couple of super magnets. Then, about ten minutes into it, the power cut off. No electricity. I'm in pitch blackness, I've got her in doggy balls deep, and looked up into the darkness as the fan made its last rotations. You've got to be kidding me. I shrugged and kept going, sweating my ass off, while I worked on hers. Afterward, we felt our way to the shower. All we had was cold water, but I was okay with that. We just rinsed off, and then climbed back into bed. I lay on my back sweating profusely. She curled up next to me, put her arm around me and her head on my chest (that's how she likes to fall asleep). Body heat was the last thing I needed, but I just smiled and shook my head. Hey, I was in a new country sleeping next to a naked Haitian goddess. Eventually, exhaustion got the best of me.

I'll conclude the trip report later in part 3.

[IronQuinn]

Question: I presume you got to Santiago and caught a Caribe Express bus to Dajabon. What about the two shared taxis, where to where? Thanks.

Sosua to Puerto Plata, and Puerto Plata to Santiago.