Sosua Reports

[Mr Enternational]

Last night I noticed more chicks than before are wearing braces on their teeth. Many of them only had them on the top row and many were missing the long piece of metal that goes across. I asked one what happened to hers and she said she was eating chicken and they broke. Surely the girls are not the ones paying for braces or they would take better care of them. Either that or they make some cheap (quality-wise) ass braces in DR.

[Mr Enternational]

Every week in the paper in Thailand you read about a Russian who had his or her gold chain snatched. Sometimes you even read about a Thai chick getting hers snatched. I have never had one snatched because I am not fool enough to wear one in places that I know attract the dregs of society.

Some years back an Italian guy was in Rio to attend his son's wedding to a Brasileira. The guy and one of his other sons were walking in Ipanema which is one of the better neighborhoods of Rio and frequented by tourists. The father had on a nice gold chain. At the time there was a robbing crew called the Bicycle Gang. A youngster rode by on a bicycle and snatched the father's chain and rode across the street. The son gave chase. As soon as he stepped into the street he was hit by a bus and died. I'm sure the father never thought that attending one son's wedding would mean another son's funeral. If you do decide to carry whatever item and you get got, just chalk it up as a loss.
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/cot...2011200708.htm

[Phuquer]

I am neither rich nor poor. But I live in a city where few people need to sell their bodies in order to make money to eat and take care of their families. The fact that the number of chicas is up tells me that it is very difficult to make a living in the DR. The things we take for granted (iPhones, iPads, fancy watches, and expensive clothes) are much more difficult for the average Dominican to get.

The waitress at the place I have breakfast at in Sosua sat down with me when she saw my iphone 5s and we started calculating. She said she would have to work 4 months without buying so much as a piece if chewing gum it be able to buy the 5s.

Years back, I was married to a Dominican and every time we visited her family in Santiago her brother would beg and plead endlessly for me to leave him my sneakers, my jeans, my watch, my underwear, everything. My wife (at the time) asked me to leave as much as I could to him because it was easy for me to get the stuff back home, but it was difficult to impossible for him to get them in the DR. So I always returned home with an empty suitcase.

These two people are people I trust won't steal from me. I grew up among Dominicans and I know they are really hard working, friendly, and trustworthy. I also know that there are some that can be lying, manipulating, crafty, and creative thieves. But you can run into these kind of people anywhere in the world.

Whenever I am in a place with a high rate of poverty and crime (usually where pussy is for sale at reasonable prices) , I try to keep a low profile. I don't rub my wealth in anybody's face. I let the guys with the iPads and iPhones and Rolex watches become the targets.

I have travelled the world and have never been robbed. The girls don't care if I wear a tuxedo or shorts. They don't care if I have an iphone or two cans and some string. They don't care when I don't spring for the motoconcho and make them walk three blocks in high heels through potholes, mud, or donkey shit. They don't care if I take them to the Hilton, or if I fuck them in an alley. All they care about is getting paid. All I care about is fucking girls.

My advice is sound and it works well for me. I don't suffer, I dress casual, and I don't feel any inconvenience when I travel. I advise people who are new to ANY area to leave the luxury gadgets (yes an iphone is a luxury gadget as 10 years ago there were no iPads or iPhones yet business still took place) at home or locked in the hotel safe until they are comfortable with the area and can take a few more liberties. Any other advise would be reckless.

[Orgasmico]

I live in Santo Domingo. I still have residence in the states, so I am not technically an ex-pat. I'm here 3-4 weeks at a time and leave for a few day to conduct business face to face with clients. Most of the time I work remotely, all I need is internet access a computer and phone. I make a very comfortable living and am in my mid 40's. Very gringo looking, I speak dominican spanish fluently (now).

Are you considering doing SDQ full-time and giving up your place in the states?

[Oakie]

On a brighter note I'm headed back down to Sosua next week.

My last trip was to re-connect and take care of some social obligations.

This time I hope to be free as a bird.

For the first time I'm treating myself to a week at the Terra Linda, so we'll see how that works out.

It'll be the week before Easter, and the flights are good value right now.

The chica who was calling and texting non stop since I got back has now got the message. She wanted to meet me at the airport. It was only a question of time before she complained she had no dinero fro credita. I assume she meant to top up her phone card. No way Jose!

Sure I'll see her down there, because she's good in the sack, and anyway that's what they all do.

Unless anything unusual happens down there I don't intend to bore you with a blow by blow account.

Phuker said it all for me in his last Report.

[Mr Enternational]

Y'all won't be happy until this thread goes the way that the Colombia thread went a few years back; meaning Jackson will fully moderate it and all posts will be on delay.

[Wrx2005]

I think you are taking this a bit too literally. What he means is probably that things that seem entirely normal if you are coming from the US might easily attract the attention of predators in the DR, and it seems plausible that some individuals may come to Sosua precisely because there are rich pickings. Paying for a small item with a 2000 peso bill is not significant in itself, but other people in the bar might take note and deduce that there are likely to be other 2000 bills in the person's wallet.

It is fairly rare to run into problems getting change in the US, but it is more common in the DR. In the US these days most people can make relatively small purchases using a debit card in almost any business, especially if it is a corporate chain or franchise, which is nearly everything in a state like Florida. In the DR cash payments are more common.

I asked for some specific feedback. Therefore I prefer to get that specific feedback from the individual I was asking it from. I tend to do that, ask for feedback moreso than consistently assuming how people think (thinking in somebody elses head) in their posts. And then end up being wrong and stubbornly refuse to accept being corrected. Moreover, adding insult to injury, ignoring the key issues and start deflecting and making up irrelevant shit that has nothing to do with the original discussion/argument. I've had more than enough of that don't you think? So, let me have a fresh perspective with someone else for a change. I can always address your particulars later.

[TomJackin]

Out with Mr E tonight, we both agree; talent and numbers were off the fucking hook!

[Frannie]

Exactly what do you mean by not rubbing your so called wealth in their faces? When you mentioned you don't dress fancy, don't wear expensive watches, don't use expensive phones, don't wear big gold chains, don't use your ipad outside of your hotel, and don't pay for beers with $2000 peso notes. Were those supposed to be examples of how you don't rub wealth "in their faces"?

I think you are taking this a bit too literally. What he means is probably that things that seem entirely normal if you are coming from the US might easily attract the attention of predators in the DR, and it seems plausible that some individuals may come to Sosua precisely because there are rich pickings. Paying for a small item with a 2000 peso bill is not significant in itself, but other people in the bar might take note and deduce that there are likely to be other 2000 bills in the person's wallet.

It is fairly rare to run into problems getting change in the US, but it is more common in the DR. In the US these days most people can make relatively small purchases using a debit card in almost any business, especially if it is a corporate chain or franchise, which is nearly everything in a state like Florida. In the DR cash payments are more common.

[Frannie]

In Charamicos proper, there's not much to steal, so I don't see iron bars on any windows.

People often have fridges and TVs in even the humblest dwellings, (plus their iPhone 5's of course, some would say) , but maybe iron bars are not in vogue in Charamicos, though you will see them on the buildings along the highway in Charamicos. My amigo's house was actually at Puerto Chiquito, so outside the town in a subdivision type setting, or a gated community with no gate.

This page has several photos of a mission in Maranatha, near Charamicos, and some of the pictures appear to be typical homes with iron bars.

http://www.thesamaritanfoundationdr....la-maranatha/#

[Frannie]

When I go to DR I always dress down.

Compared to Florida, Dominicans tend to dress quite well. For example women cannot go into government offices wearing low cut tops or short skirts, nor men wearing shorts. I saw a very comic thing once at the office of the family court judge in Puerto Plata (not a courtroom).

A man had come in to sign custody papers for his child, accompanied by his lawyer. He was wearing below-the-knee jeans type shorts. He was allowed in the reception area, but not allowed to enter the judge's office to swear and sign. So his attorney went out the back door and took off his black suit pants and gave them to the client to wear so he could sign the documents while the attorney hovered at the back door clad in black jacket, white shirt, tie, boxer shorts, socks, and shoes. Fortunately he had decent legs. After the signing was over he got his pants back and gave his client a ride in his car to the parada.

No wonder lawyers are expensive.

I just arrived at my girl's house where she is cooking it up for your boy.

Note the iron bars on the kitchen windows.

[Oakie]

This might be a factor.

I knew a guy who married a Blackbeards girl and built a house near Charamicos and was plagued by home invasion robberies FIVE times. (Imagine what that does to your property's resale value.)

On the other hand, there are lots of ordinary Dominicans living in the area who are not particularly in fear of crime, other than having wrought iron cages over their windows, of course. The fact that hotels are legally obliged to have armed night watchmen is something of an indicator that the presence of dollars may attract predators. We don't seem to have the same thing at motels in the US.

I have lived more than 2 years in the DR and made about 50 trips and never had much of a problem, but then for the most part I don't hang out in prostitution circles, for example I have never had chats with the owners of various chica bars or the owner of Passions, which some people do on their first visit. It does not surprise me that they have many tales of evil doing, moving in the circles that they do. Talk to night club owners in the UK and I think you will find the same thing.

I guess you feel safe until something happens to you, and then you don't. The worst thing that even happened to me in England was a home invasion by two guy in my apartment in Liverpool, England who held a knife to my throat. It was a case of mistaken identity and they were looking for the guy who lived downstairs who had some teenage runaway staying with him who these guys were trying to pimp. So this might indicate that even innocent students (as I was) who are geographically close to people engaged in prostitution and / or crime may be more at risk of being victims of crime themselves. Could this also apply in Sosua?

In Charamicos proper, there's not much to steal, so I don't see iron bars on any windows. The old lady who makes my special coffee lives in a house full of kids, and it only has a curtain for a door.

But if you wanted to live in N. A. Style, with all the conveniences we take for granted, then yeah, it would be a problem.

[Oakie]

I see I've stirred up more conversation.

Mr. E, you are correct I have a somewhat normal life. Not normal by US standards but I live quite well down here. Right now I'm in my air conditioned office with my 2 cell phones, one with Skype and a US number the other my local DR number.

I conduct business on a world wide scale, right now dealing with companies in Canada, US, UK. I am a home worker and everyone thinks I'm in NJ.

I have a housekeeper making my lunch. Woke up to a BJ and fuck from my live in novia, who right now is at the university. Tonight I'm going to the Casino, dinner and my 3 some (I hope).

Tomorrow probably the beach, probably palenque, no chicas no touts not many vendors. Sunday to my friends for drinking and dominoes. All very cool and relaxed.

All my friends here are true friends in every sense of the word. They give without expecting anything in return. The most they've asked from me is to bring something from the states that they either can't get here or is too expensive, they always pay me back. I'm included in most family functions, I know their relatives, their kids.

The truth is there are good people, and bad, everywhere.

That's the truth!

You sound like you are really organized down there.

I've stayed in Abajo and Charamicos with locals and it's free of street hustlers, with the exception of of a local chica who tries to grab me when I go to the store for beer and wants to dance, but it's all in good fun. She wants me to go to the banios with her where she'd give me a free BJ (or so she says).

But I'd feel cramped living in a place like that for more than a few days.

But I may think hard again about making the move. Thanks for the post.

[Frannie]

Cage, you have built a regular life so things will be different for you than for the typical monger who says he wants to live in DR. You have an "everyday life" routine. Most guys just want to come and chase women.

This might be a factor.

I knew a guy who married a Blackbeards girl and built a house near Charamicos and was plagued by home invasion robberies FIVE times. (Imagine what that does to your property's resale value.)

On the other hand, there are lots of ordinary Dominicans living in the area who are not particularly in fear of crime, other than having wrought iron cages over their windows, of course. The fact that hotels are legally obliged to have armed night watchmen is something of an indicator that the presence of dollars may attract predators. We don't seem to have the same thing at motels in the US.

I have lived more than 2 years in the DR and made about 50 trips and never had much of a problem, but then for the most part I don't hang out in prostitution circles, for example I have never had chats with the owners of various chica bars or the owner of Passions, which some people do on their first visit. It does not surprise me that they have many tales of evil doing, moving in the circles that they do. Talk to night club owners in the UK and I think you will find the same thing.

I guess you feel safe until something happens to you, and then you don't. The worst thing that even happened to me in England was a home invasion by two guy in my apartment in Liverpool, England who held a knife to my throat. It was a case of mistaken identity and they were looking for the guy who lived downstairs who had some teenage runaway staying with him who these guys were trying to pimp. So this might indicate that even innocent students (as I was) who are geographically close to people engaged in prostitution and / or crime may be more at risk of being victims of crime themselves. Could this also apply in Sosua?

[Mr Enternational]

When I go to DR I always dress down. Even still, my attitude is always to the extreme. Yesterday me and my girl were at the mall getting ice cream. The cashier rung it up and said it would be 150 pesos or whatever. I pulled my crocodile wallet out and tossed it across the counter to her and told her to take out what I owed.

I just took the new Santiago bypass up to Puerto Plata. I just wanted to check it out. I didn't know it was a toll road. I had to pay 100 pesos at the end. They had a sign up that said "No 2000 peso bills." If you are already in Santiago then I don't recommend taking the road because you have to backtrack to get to it. It took me 59 minutes from the beginning of the new road until my arrival at the La Sirena in Puerto Plata. I do drive fast anyway though.

I passed where they are building the cruise ship port. I still can't see people from the ships going to Sosua because it is damn far. Right past the location there is a sign that says 9km to Puerto Plata. I just arrived at my girl's house where she is cooking it up for your boy.