Other Areas

[BrasilSoccer0]

Hi Camaro,

As always great info of what the real DR looks like. At least on paper. LOL.

You ought to seriously consider making YouTube videos about "Living in the DR" Especially since you sound like you want to live there and look at the whole picture vs the narrow mongering perspective.

I am one who is looking forward to living their and honestly I haven't found any expat vloggers out there in YouTube. It's always some tourists or an actual expat who is just in it to promote his kite-surfing business.

It would be nice to have DR vloggers like the American expat in Thailand: JC from retirecheapjc vlog channel.

[Frannie]

Camaro in Jarabacoa Synopsis August 2014.

Gentleman I just completed the Jarabacoa segment of my Sosua-Jarabacoa excursion. This trip is a continuation of my travel odyssey throughout the Dominican Republic, it is my intention to see as much of the island as possible. This synopsis Jarabacoa trip report will cut to the meat of my experience in Jarabacoa and is a companion to my Sosua trip report. I spent 2 days Friday and Saturday in Jarabacoa which was not enough time to experience the town in its entirety but it was sufficient for me to get a taste of what Jarabacoa has to offer.

Jarabacoa.

Jarabacoa is in La Vega province outside Santiago. It has a Tropical rainforest climate at over 500 feet above sea level. It is noted for its warm days and mild nights during most of the year. Jarabacoa has been called "The City of Everlasting Spring" because of its mild temperatures. It is the Medellin of the Dominican Republic with the exception of the fact that it is in the mountains and has the small town feel. One of the main touristic attractions is the mountains and rivers that provide a landscape for the area. The local economy is based on tourism and agriculture.

Most of my travels have included destinations that were close to the beach such as Cabarette, Monti Cristi, Las Terrenas, Nagua, La Romana & Bavaro-Punta Cana. I have spent time in the major cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago however this time I have experienced something different by traveling to the mountains of the Dominican Republic and witnessed the beautiful landscape. One of the things I like about the Island is there is something there for everyone. Unless you like shoveling snow and skiing.

Transportation to Jarabacoa.

I decided to walk from New Garden to the Metro Station and of course I was flagged down by several hungry taxistas, first I heard "oye amigo eighty dollars to Santiago" How he knew I was going to Santiago and not Puerto Plata is beyond me. But the second one almost made me stop in my tracks "50 dollars to Santiago. " I know the taxi fare from Santiago to Sosua starts at $100.00 so to hear an offer of $50.00 was quite surprising but still couldn't beat the 200 pesos Metro fare.

The Metro ride to Santiago went smooth and I arrived safe.

I have an acquaintance who lives in Santiago and operates a private taxi so I met him in Santiago and took the hour ride to Jarabacoa. The ride to Jaraboca was interesting because the city is over 500 feet above sea level so the hills are brutal so brutal in fact my ears popped as we were ascending up the long windy roads.

The normal public transportation route from Sosua to Jarabacoa would be to take the Caribe Tours bus in Charamicos to Le Vega and either take a taxi or gua gua to Jarabacoa. There is also a Carribe Tours station in Jarabacoa.

Hotel Gran Jimanoa.

The hotel grounds are well maintained. The hotel has a feel of a rustic mountain retreat combined with a mid-luxury hotel. My room faced a river that provides a tranquil ambiance. The room has a balcony that faced the river and I accidently left the balcony sliding door open and the mosquitoes came in and ate their lunch. Conyo!

The room was neat and clean with a sitting area and 2 queen beds. There is a digital safe with a mini fridge. The air-conditioning worked well. My primary criticsm would be WIFI was not available in the rooms but only in the common areas and the rooms did not have ceiling fans. There were several power outages during my stay however after a few moments the auxiliary generator kicked in to restore power.

The staff was very accommodating and no one speaks English Ohhh snapp!

This is a great place to clear your mind. This was not the Hotel Sinai in Naugua with its small town urban feel nor was it the Albachairia Hotel in Las Terrenas with its beach front Caribbean feel. There were no 30 foot boats out in front of my room on Sosua Bay like I experience at the Victoria House in Sousa. My room had a river outside within 20 feet walking distance. 24/7 I can hear the water running over the rocks it sounds like it is raining but it is the most tranquilizing sounds I have ever heard. This is a welcome contrast in my most recent hotel experiences. These hotels are not just places to stay but they are reflections of the personality and character of the Dominican Republic.

Resturante Piedras del Rio.

The Restaurant at Stones River is the Hotel Gran Jimanoa's restaurant on the property. It is an open air venue with a scenic view of El Rio Piedras. The sound of the water crashing over the rocks adds to the ambiance of the restaurant. Breakfast is included and is self serve buffet style.

The restaurant has a bar that serves whatever beverages that you like. I only ate breakfast there I took the rest of my meals in town because I was on the go since my stay was so short.

Parque Pablo Duarte.

Parque Pablo Duarte is on Calle Pablo Duarte in the center of town. Nagua has a park in the center of town just like Jarabacoa and it is the center of the social scene there. Parque Central in Nagua is electric on the weekends almost like a mini Dominican mardi gras. I would describe Parque Pablo Duarte as Parque Central lite. It has a similar energy but not as intense. There was street food and different clubs all within steps of the park. There seemed to be more men than women but there were groups of single women that were obviously available if you know what I mean?

Across the street from the park is Caribe Express casa de cambio where I received 43.35 DOP-1 US.

Jarabacoa Regular Night Life.

Jarabacoa has no shortage on venues that support an active night life. There are small bars, drinks and clubs all over the town. Jarabacoa in a way is set up like Nagua where there are night life venues that are set up around the towns central park. Below I have listed only a few of the venues:

AK Bar- Pablo Duarte (park area).

This is an open air venue with a bar inside and tables and chairs that face inside and outside the club. This a regular bar with music but no dance floor. It is a good spot to people watch because it sits at the corner and you can see Parque Pablo Duarte from inside the venue.

Palobar Drink. Pablo Duarte (park area).

This is an indoor venue with a bar inside and outside so that you can get your drinks before you enter the club. It is on the same street as Parque Pablo Duarte and you can walk to the park in less than 50 yards. This venue has a dance floor and seats that surround the wall.

V Venue -La Avenida.

This is an indoor venue that is about 10 minutes by car from the aforementioned venues. The inside was very classy with a bar large dance floor an several VIP areas that surrounded the walls. The venue reminded me of the Gaia Disco in Las Terrenas in term of the indoor layout.

All of the venues have a local feel and are not touristy. The above listed venues only scratch the surface of what is available in Jarabacoa. Thus far my impression is that this is a better destination for a date than for a single traveler.

Jarabacoa Sex Venues.

Jarabacoa is the typical Dominican town that has car washes and casa de citas as sex venues. The car washes double as actual car washes and venues were drinks are served music is playing and the chicas are available for what you can negotiate. I was unable to locate a freelance venue like Classicos and the other venues were mediocre at best. Below I have listed the venues I visited:

Super Cafeteria Juniors. Calle Libertad.

This venue is a casa de cita that has a bar dance floor and rooms in the back. They do not serve food so do not ask me why they included "cafeteria" in the name unless they consider the chicas to be food. There were a half dozen chicas there no more than 6's and absolutely nothing to brag about. The chicas were available for in house and take out.

San Miguel Car Wash- Calle Cinco de la Colonia.

This venue was a car wash that had chicas serving drinks that were available for takeout. It was an open air venue down stairs with a second floor with pool tables. I only saw 3 chicas available none better than a 6.

Chachi Car Wash- Calle Principal.

This venue was a car wash that had chicas serving drinks that were available for takeout but it could have been closed because there was no one there other than 2 chicas behind the bar. It was an open air venue down stairs with a second floor with pool tables.

Franks Car Wash- Catera Ato Viejo.

This venue was a car wash that had chicas serving drinks that were available for takeout and it was the best of all the venues as the woman were more alive and interesting. There were a half dozen chicas behind the bar and a couple were good 7's. They were blancas just like Hugrad likes them. I thought about staying because 1 of the blancas was staring at me but it was getting late and I was tired from a long day.

Based on what I saw I would not recommend Jarabacoa to the monger to travel solo.

My anecdotal experience.

My intent was to take a date to Jarabacoa because it is a better date location than PFP location but my plans failed and I am glad they did because I was afforded one of my better experiences in the Dominican Republic. My driver made a personal introduction of a friend of his youth he grew up with. She was presented not as a PFP opportunity but as a meet and greet with potential going forward. I spent a little less than 2 hours speaking with her over a virgin pina colada and water and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had with a woman in the Dominican Republic. I say that because most of my experiences with Dominicanas has been PFP. I have met other civilian women but she was the best to date.

This woman was a part-time model and supervised other models in a modeling agency along with being a full time medical student. I cannot tell you how refreshing it was to hear a woman talk about her desire to travel internationally so she can help children as a pediatrician. What a refreshing experience that didn't include "dame tu leche!

Perhaps other mongers will give me the side eye but I would willing spend money to see this woman again sin sexo and not think twice. I can knock down 3 PFP Sosua chicas a day but the experience I had with this woman could not be purchased. To show you how intense it was I met several women after her some of which who were 8's and I was not interested because I was still high from the experience. Honestly recently I have been spending too much damn time with PFP chicas and I need something different. Forgive me for saying so but IMHO every monger needs to date a true civilian chica just once and add some flavor to the mix.

Jarabacoa closing thoughts.

I did not get to do everything on the ground I had planned because my driver's car broke down and was out of service for the better part of a whole day. In addition it rained off and on my entire stay and many of the things I wanted to experience were outdoor activities. I am confident I will try to return to Jarabacoa in the future to finish what I started.

You definitely need wheels in Jarabacoa because everything is so spread out. If you choose not to rent a car you can work a deal with a local taxista that is mutually beneficial for both. While my driver's car was down I rented a taxi for a 200 pesos and hour to run some errands.

Jarabacoa is a diverse community. There are natural activities to do during the day such as zip-lining, horseback riding, hiking and rafting. The night life with clubs and bars is abundant. In addition there is PFP available albeit mediocre at best.

Jarbacoa has a central park like Nagua where everybody gathers on Saturday & Sunday nights. The area is festive with music, food carts along with motos and Jeeptahs everywhere in typical Dominican fashion. There were couples and singles walking to and from the different clubs. Some of the chicas appeared to be available for PFP and others not so much.

With the exception of the rain I experienced the climate was very pleasant. It was maybe about 80 degrees during the day and about 68 degrees at night. The climate was a lot more comfortable than the beach towns I am accustomed to visiting.

When I was in La Romana I noticed more dark complexioned (los negros) Dominicans (not Haitians but Dominicans) than any other part of the Island. Conversely, in Jarabacoa I noticed more light complexioned (los blancos) Dominicans, (some looked very European) than any other part of the Island I have visited.

Jarabacoa cannot compete with Santo Domingo or Santiago as far as women are concerned but there were a few bonitas out and about. However as far as small Dominican towns that I have visited Nagua has Jarabacoa beat hands down.

Conclusion.

In 2 days I had no sex but I had an incredible experience instead and I look forward to returning to Jarabacoa. I will return to Sosua to do what mongers do in Sosua but my Jarabacoa experience will remain in the back of my mind.

I highly recommend Jarabacoa to anyone who enjoys the culture of the Dominican Republic it will leave you with a unique experience that you are not likely to forget.

I have 2 more excursions planned before the end of the year one in October and the other in November. I have not decided between Villa Altagracia, La Vega, Banao or Mao I will keep you posted going forward.

Excellent report that I read with interest.

I think the Spanish word "cafeteria" is best translated into English as "cafe" or "coffee shop", so if they had some coffee available, I suppose the brothel might have qualified. In Amsterdam the places that sell marijuana are called coffee shops.

Also be aware that "cafetera" means coffee-pot or coffee maker. Sometimes these words get mixed up.

[Camaro1257]

Camaro in Jarabacoa Synopsis August 2014.

Gentleman I just completed the Jarabacoa segment of my Sosua-Jarabacoa excursion. This trip is a continuation of my travel odyssey throughout the Dominican Republic, it is my intention to see as much of the island as possible. This synopsis Jarabacoa trip report will cut to the meat of my experience in Jarabacoa and is a companion to my Sosua trip report. I spent 2 days Friday and Saturday in Jarabacoa which was not enough time to experience the town in its entirety but it was sufficient for me to get a taste of what Jarabacoa has to offer.

Jarabacoa.

Jarabacoa is in La Vega province outside Santiago. It has a Tropical rainforest climate at over 500 feet above sea level. It is noted for its warm days and mild nights during most of the year. Jarabacoa has been called "The City of Everlasting Spring" because of its mild temperatures. It is the Medellin of the Dominican Republic with the exception of the fact that it is in the mountains and has the small town feel. One of the main touristic attractions is the mountains and rivers that provide a landscape for the area. The local economy is based on tourism and agriculture.

Most of my travels have included destinations that were close to the beach such as Cabarette, Monti Cristi, Las Terrenas, Nagua, La Romana & Bavaro-Punta Cana. I have spent time in the major cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago however this time I have experienced something different by traveling to the mountains of the Dominican Republic and witnessed the beautiful landscape. One of the things I like about the Island is there is something there for everyone. Unless you like shoveling snow and skiing.

Transportation to Jarabacoa.

I decided to walk from New Garden to the Metro Station and of course I was flagged down by several hungry taxistas, first I heard "oye amigo eighty dollars to Santiago" How he knew I was going to Santiago and not Puerto Plata is beyond me. But the second one almost made me stop in my tracks "50 dollars to Santiago. " I know the taxi fare from Santiago to Sosua starts at $100.00 so to hear an offer of $50.00 was quite surprising but still couldn't beat the 200 pesos Metro fare.

The Metro ride to Santiago went smooth and I arrived safe.

I have an acquaintance who lives in Santiago and operates a private taxi so I met him in Santiago and took the hour ride to Jarabacoa. The ride to Jaraboca was interesting because the city is over 500 feet above sea level so the hills are brutal so brutal in fact my ears popped as we were ascending up the long windy roads.

The normal public transportation route from Sosua to Jarabacoa would be to take the Caribe Tours bus in Charamicos to Le Vega and either take a taxi or gua gua to Jarabacoa. There is also a Carribe Tours station in Jarabacoa.

Hotel Gran Jimanoa.

The hotel grounds are well maintained. The hotel has a feel of a rustic mountain retreat combined with a mid-luxury hotel. My room faced a river that provides a tranquil ambiance. The room has a balcony that faced the river and I accidently left the balcony sliding door open and the mosquitoes came in and ate their lunch. Conyo!

The room was neat and clean with a sitting area and 2 queen beds. There is a digital safe with a mini fridge. The air-conditioning worked well. My primary criticsm would be WIFI was not available in the rooms but only in the common areas and the rooms did not have ceiling fans. There were several power outages during my stay however after a few moments the auxiliary generator kicked in to restore power.

The staff was very accommodating and no one speaks English Ohhh snapp!

This is a great place to clear your mind. This was not the Hotel Sinai in Naugua with its small town urban feel nor was it the Albachairia Hotel in Las Terrenas with its beach front Caribbean feel. There were no 30 foot boats out in front of my room on Sosua Bay like I experience at the Victoria House in Sousa. My room had a river outside within 20 feet walking distance. 24/7 I can hear the water running over the rocks it sounds like it is raining but it is the most tranquilizing sounds I have ever heard. This is a welcome contrast in my most recent hotel experiences. These hotels are not just places to stay but they are reflections of the personality and character of the Dominican Republic.

Resturante Piedras del Rio.

The Restaurant at Stones River is the Hotel Gran Jimanoa's restaurant on the property. It is an open air venue with a scenic view of El Rio Piedras. The sound of the water crashing over the rocks adds to the ambiance of the restaurant. Breakfast is included and is self serve buffet style.

The restaurant has a bar that serves whatever beverages that you like. I only ate breakfast there I took the rest of my meals in town because I was on the go since my stay was so short.

Parque Pablo Duarte.

Parque Pablo Duarte is on Calle Pablo Duarte in the center of town. Nagua has a park in the center of town just like Jarabacoa and it is the center of the social scene there. Parque Central in Nagua is electric on the weekends almost like a mini Dominican mardi gras. I would describe Parque Pablo Duarte as Parque Central lite. It has a similar energy but not as intense. There was street food and different clubs all within steps of the park. There seemed to be more men than women but there were groups of single women that were obviously available if you know what I mean?

Across the street from the park is Caribe Express casa de cambio where I received 43.35 DOP-1 US.

Jarabacoa Regular Night Life.

Jarabacoa has no shortage on venues that support an active night life. There are small bars, drinks and clubs all over the town. Jarabacoa in a way is set up like Nagua where there are night life venues that are set up around the towns central park. Below I have listed only a few of the venues:

AK Bar- Pablo Duarte (park area).

This is an open air venue with a bar inside and tables and chairs that face inside and outside the club. This a regular bar with music but no dance floor. It is a good spot to people watch because it sits at the corner and you can see Parque Pablo Duarte from inside the venue.

Palobar Drink. Pablo Duarte (park area).

This is an indoor venue with a bar inside and outside so that you can get your drinks before you enter the club. It is on the same street as Parque Pablo Duarte and you can walk to the park in less than 50 yards. This venue has a dance floor and seats that surround the wall.

V Venue -La Avenida.

This is an indoor venue that is about 10 minutes by car from the aforementioned venues. The inside was very classy with a bar large dance floor an several VIP areas that surrounded the walls. The venue reminded me of the Gaia Disco in Las Terrenas in term of the indoor layout.

All of the venues have a local feel and are not touristy. The above listed venues only scratch the surface of what is available in Jarabacoa. Thus far my impression is that this is a better destination for a date than for a single traveler.

Jarabacoa Sex Venues.

Jarabacoa is the typical Dominican town that has car washes and casa de citas as sex venues. The car washes double as actual car washes and venues were drinks are served music is playing and the chicas are available for what you can negotiate. I was unable to locate a freelance venue like Classicos and the other venues were mediocre at best. Below I have listed the venues I visited:

Super Cafeteria Juniors. Calle Libertad.

This venue is a casa de cita that has a bar dance floor and rooms in the back. They do not serve food so do not ask me why they included "cafeteria" in the name unless they consider the chicas to be food. There were a half dozen chicas there no more than 6's and absolutely nothing to brag about. The chicas were available for in house and take out.

San Miguel Car Wash- Calle Cinco de la Colonia.

This venue was a car wash that had chicas serving drinks that were available for takeout. It was an open air venue down stairs with a second floor with pool tables. I only saw 3 chicas available none better than a 6.

Chachi Car Wash- Calle Principal.

This venue was a car wash that had chicas serving drinks that were available for takeout but it could have been closed because there was no one there other than 2 chicas behind the bar. It was an open air venue down stairs with a second floor with pool tables.

Franks Car Wash- Catera Ato Viejo.

This venue was a car wash that had chicas serving drinks that were available for takeout and it was the best of all the venues as the woman were more alive and interesting. There were a half dozen chicas behind the bar and a couple were good 7's. They were blancas just like Hugrad likes them. I thought about staying because 1 of the blancas was staring at me but it was getting late and I was tired from a long day.

Based on what I saw I would not recommend Jarabacoa to the monger to travel solo.

My anecdotal experience.

My intent was to take a date to Jarabacoa because it is a better date location than PFP location but my plans failed and I am glad they did because I was afforded one of my better experiences in the Dominican Republic. My driver made a personal introduction of a friend of his youth he grew up with. She was presented not as a PFP opportunity but as a meet and greet with potential going forward. I spent a little less than 2 hours speaking with her over a virgin pina colada and water and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had with a woman in the Dominican Republic. I say that because most of my experiences with Dominicanas has been PFP. I have met other civilian women but she was the best to date.

This woman was a part-time model and supervised other models in a modeling agency along with being a full time medical student. I cannot tell you how refreshing it was to hear a woman talk about her desire to travel internationally so she can help children as a pediatrician. What a refreshing experience that didn't include "dame tu leche!

Perhaps other mongers will give me the side eye but I would willing spend money to see this woman again sin sexo and not think twice. I can knock down 3 PFP Sosua chicas a day but the experience I had with this woman could not be purchased. To show you how intense it was I met several women after her some of which who were 8's and I was not interested because I was still high from the experience. Honestly recently I have been spending too much damn time with PFP chicas and I need something different. Forgive me for saying so but IMHO every monger needs to date a true civilian chica just once and add some flavor to the mix.

Jarabacoa closing thoughts.

I did not get to do everything on the ground I had planned because my driver's car broke down and was out of service for the better part of a whole day. In addition it rained off and on my entire stay and many of the things I wanted to experience were outdoor activities. I am confident I will try to return to Jarabacoa in the future to finish what I started.

You definitely need wheels in Jarabacoa because everything is so spread out. If you choose not to rent a car you can work a deal with a local taxista that is mutually beneficial for both. While my driver's car was down I rented a taxi for a 200 pesos and hour to run some errands.

Jarabacoa is a diverse community. There are natural activities to do during the day such as zip-lining, horseback riding, hiking and rafting. The night life with clubs and bars is abundant. In addition there is PFP available albeit mediocre at best.

Jarbacoa has a central park like Nagua where everybody gathers on Saturday & Sunday nights. The area is festive with music, food carts along with motos and Jeeptahs everywhere in typical Dominican fashion. There were couples and singles walking to and from the different clubs. Some of the chicas appeared to be available for PFP and others not so much.

With the exception of the rain I experienced the climate was very pleasant. It was maybe about 80 degrees during the day and about 68 degrees at night. The climate was a lot more comfortable than the beach towns I am accustomed to visiting.

When I was in La Romana I noticed more dark complexioned (los negros) Dominicans (not Haitians but Dominicans) than any other part of the Island. Conversely, in Jarabacoa I noticed more light complexioned (los blancos) Dominicans, (some looked very European) than any other part of the Island I have visited.

Jarabacoa cannot compete with Santo Domingo or Santiago as far as women are concerned but there were a few bonitas out and about. However as far as small Dominican towns that I have visited Nagua has Jarabacoa beat hands down.

Conclusion.

In 2 days I had no sex but I had an incredible experience instead and I look forward to returning to Jarabacoa. I will return to Sosua to do what mongers do in Sosua but my Jarabacoa experience will remain in the back of my mind.

I highly recommend Jarabacoa to anyone who enjoys the culture of the Dominican Republic it will leave you with a unique experience that you are not likely to forget.

I have 2 more excursions planned before the end of the year one in October and the other in November. I have not decided between Villa Altagracia, La Vega, Banao or Mao I will keep you posted going forward.

[Camaro1257]

Camaro,

I looked up the hotel's website. It says the rates are in the 130-300 USD per night! Is that right? And do you have to pay extra for females spending the night?

As always, useful and smart info.

Thanks.

BrasilSoccer I don't remember the price menu but I spent about $125.00 per night. It was high but the property was a good spot geographically and well maintained. It was girl friendly sometimes security checked cedulas and sometimes they didn't. One of mine didn't have hers and security let her through. He was an old guy maybe in his 70's I had been chopping it up with him previously not knowing I would need the favor. I later gave him 200 DOP for the waiver.

[BrasilSoccer0]

Camaro,

I looked up the hotel's website. It says the rates are in the 130-300 USD per night! Is that right? And do you have to pay extra for females spending the night?

As always, useful and smart info.

Thanks.

[Camaro1257]

Introduction:

Gentleman I just completed the Las Terrenas segment of my Sosua-Las Terrenas excursion. This trip is a continuation of my travel odyssey throughout the Dominican Republic, it is my intention to see as much of the island as possible. This synopsis Las Terrenas trip report will cut to the meat of my experience in Las Terrenas and is a companion to my Sosua trip report.

Las Terrenas:

I have a colleague who was born in the Dominican Republic, I was telling him that I was going to visit Las Terrenas. He looked at me with a puzzled expression and said "what?" I repeated Las Terrenas and pointed to the location on a map of the Dominican Republic and he laughed at me saying "ohhhhhhhhhhh La Terrena" and we both got a good laugh out of it. Dominicans often do not pronounce the "s" in many of their words and in this case the "s" made the difference between his understanding and misunderstanding. That was a valuable lesson for me going forward as I continue to speak Spanish in the Dominican Republic.

Las Terrenas is a small town of approximately 10,000 people on the north east coast of the Dominican Republic in-between Nagua and Samana in the Samana province. Las Terrenas is not only a retirement destination for European expats it is also a vacation spot for Dominicans who live in Santo Doming and surrounding areas. Las Terrenas offers miles of protected beaches that make.

Transportation to Las Terrenas:

I caught the gua gua to Las Terrenas in Charamicos the ride was 300 DOP. Times are as follows:

Depart: Charamicos- 1:30 pm.

Arrive: Nagua- 4 pm.

Arrive: Las Terrenas- 5:30.

This gua gua was a little more comfortable than the Nagua gua gua because it was air-conditioned. We started with 15 people and ended up with 22 at the high point. They had to put our luggage on the roof. There were times when I didn't think we were going to make it up some of the long steep hills. I felt comfortable when I saw the palm trees on the shore of Nagua since I was just there last month. We stopped at the restaurant in Nagua and took a 15 minute break then hit the road again. My big mistake was not sitting in the window seat when I first got on, you get squeezed seriously if you are not sitting on one of the window seats, lesson learned.

I arrived in Las Terrenace safe. Of course I am lost and don't know where I am so I take a taxi to the Albachiara Hotel and I paid 200 DOP to go 2 minutes I could have walked DAMMIT!

For my return to Sosua I had to rise early but this time I walked to the bus stop.

Depart: Las Terrenas-6:30 am.

Arrive: Nagua -0815 am.

Arrive: Sosua- 11:30 am.

The trip both ways was safe and inexpensive but 5 hours in a crowded gua gua squeezed like sardines can be brutal.

Albacharia Hotel:

I picked this spot based on what turned out to be an excellent recommendation. The staff greeted me taking my bags and with a glass of lemonade. Wurr dey do datt at? Everybody was welcoming with a smile.

Then I got to my room now let me say there is no Jacuzzi like Hotel Sinai in Nagua but this room is off the chain! It faces the pool with a balcony, then you enter the kitchenette and dining area and then the bedroom with a king size bed. All I could think is this is not a mongering hotel I need a novia to really appreciate the vibe in this spot.

The air-conditioning worked well but the WIFI was intermittent. Free breakfast was served every morning but there were no other meals served at the hotel.

The hotel is a beach front property that is absolutely beautiful with well kept grounds. Everything you need is within walking distance from La Bodega to several restaurants serving different types of cuisine.

The Ron Factory liquor store and the Mini Market Los Principes are within walking distance of the hotel. Both locations had women in front of them at different times of the day that I suspect may have been PFP. In short the hotel is one of the best pieces of real estate for a monger not only because it is girl friendly but because of its location.

Casa de Cambio Fort Knox:

Casa de Cambio Fort Knox is inside the Plaza el Paseo shopping complex within a 5 minute walk from the hotel. They were closing at the time and I got 42.5 DOP-1 US and the cashier gave me all 2 k notes and said she had no change. CONO!

La Bodega (Calle Duarte).

This is the primary night club in Las Terrenace. La Bodega is a multi-layered location that far transcends a simple PFP venue such as Classicos in Sosua. For example a stunning chica negra asked me to dance after which I got my mack on and discovered that she was a "animatora" who dances with the clubs clients and gives professional dance lessons on the side. When I asked her out after work she said "cuando estoy libre estoy cansada gracias por la invatacion" she was very professional and pleasant, only a egomaniac would be offended.

There was a birthday celebration on one of the evenings I was there and differnt couples spread throughout the venue. It was not always easily discernable who was PFP and who wasn't because all the women in attendance were not dressed provocatively. The crowd consisted of local Dominicans, PFP workers, Hatians and tourist. It was truely a mixed bag of nuts.

On some nights the club has live entertainment and when I went there were what looked like impromptu dance contest everything from salsa to group synchronized dancing that had the crowd captivated.

Some of the PFP talent was local and I met chicas from Santo Domingo, San Pedro de Marcios and Monte Plata. I saw no stunners and a few 8's but most women were average. Regardless I thoroughly enjoyed the vibe of the place due to the heavy security the variety of entertainment and the fact you didn't have to go home alone if you didn't want to.

Gaia Disco (Calle Francisco Caamano).

Gaia Disco is an indoor venue that has a sushi restaurant on the second floor. It is next door to Clandestino Bar. It is a small venue inside maybe less than 100 person occupancy. There is one bar a dance floor and a strip pole. The music is mostly American and Regetton and the clientele were primarily tourist although I did see a couple of chcias that appeared to be PFP. Small Presidente Lites were 200 DOP. Yeah I didn't stutter.

Clandestino Bar (Calle Francisco Caamano).

Clandestino Bar is across from Gaia Disco and is a partially indoor and partially open air, the rear of the venue faces the beach with an incredible soft breeze at night. The front part is crowded with standing room only but the rear has tables and chairs. The crowd was mixed between locals, tourist and a few PFP chicas but there didn't seem to be that many. The occupancy was less than 100. The music was almost all Regatton while I was there and there was no dance floor. I really liked the vibe especially sitting in the rear facing the beach.

I Biz Bar (Calle Sanchez).

This is a strictly PFP venue. It is an open air bar with a strip pole inside on the dance floor. The house charges 500 DOP for salida and you negotiate the tarifa with the chicas. I saw 2 chicas no more than 6. I never saw it crowded anytime I walked by.

Las Terrenas Car Washes & Cabanas:

Like many Dominican communities car washes serve not only as places to wash your car but social meeting venues. Some are open air venues with pool tables and others have closed buildings attached that serve as discos and bars. These venues have a few chicas who are available for takeout once you pay the salida to the house and negotiate the tarifa with the chica separately.

La Bomba Car Wash (Calle Bolivar).

This venue had an outdoor bar and a building for a disco attached.

El Patio Tropical Car Wash (Calle Sanchez).

This venue had an open air bar and several pool tables.

Son Latino Car Wash (Calle Carmen).

This venue had an open air bar.

Fantastic Hotel (Calle Bomba).

This cabana was within 2 minutes walking distance of La Bomba Car Wash.

*It should be noted all of the above venues were within 10 minutes of one another. There was another cabana in the vicinity however I did not get the name. I did not partake of any of the car washes or cabanas because they were on the other side of town from my hotel and I did not have transportation. In addition I found it unnecessary because there was plenty of PFP within minutes of my hotel.

La Playa Las Terrenas:

The hotel faced the beach and I could walk along the beach at my leisure. The beach was in use frequently for swimming as well as socializing you could see people there throughout different times during the day. There was some PFP action there which could be discernable by the eye contact and greetings. Most of the women I saw were average however I saw 1 or 2 that could have made an audition. Unfortunately this trip there simply was not enough time to sample the talent.

La Playa Cason:

Playa Cason is about 20 minutes from Las Terrenace and a popular weekend destination for locals. It is good for swimming, eating and of course people watching.

Luis Restaurant en Playa Cason:

The primary eating venue on Playa Cason is Luis Restaurant. You pick whatever type of seafood you like and they grill or fry it from red snapper to Lobster. I had the Red Snapper, habichueles why arroz why enselada for 450 DOP. The food was delicious while enjoying the beach.

Chicas en Las Terrenas:

First let me state my comments are strictly my anecdotal experiences and not a reflection of the experiences of others as always YMMV. I didn't get into the chica scene like I do in Sosua. I got the run-a-around from some chicas as well as a chica trying to change the terms of our agreement. I saw more chicas smoking in Las Terrenas than in Sosua which is a turn off to me. I was warned by one chica that the PFP chicas will steal from you without blinking an eye. I did not get a good vibe from many of the obviously PFP chicas it was if they had been hardened by the game.

I had one good PFP experience and she was a referral from another monger other than that my mongering experience in Las Terrenas was a bust.

You can expect to pay the same as most markets in the Dominican Republic 1000-2000 DOP for ST and 2000-3000 DOP for TLN.

Danger in the Dominican Republic:

The below listed comments are intended especially for newbies as DR veterans are quite aware of the facts listed below. My travels thus far throughout the Dominican Republic in general have been very safe. While I was in Las Terrenas at no time did I feel any sense of danger, in fact I felt quite secure and when I got why bearings I walked around freely day and night. However, for those who desire to experience the island and its culture we should not sleep on the potential dangers which are as follows:

Public transportation includes Caribe Tours & Metro buses that have been reported to have had major accidents. Traditional taxis, Carro Publicos (route taxis) Gua Guas (inexpensive route buses) and moto-concho (motocycle taxis) make up the other components of the public transport system. Some drivers that do not obey traffic laws and will take you on what feels like a roller coaster ride at 6 Flags. Although traffic laws exist they are not consistently and judiciously enforced therefore driving in the Dominican Republic can be quite dangerous.

A criminal justice system where the rule of law is how much money you have and who you know. Transparency International reported in its 2013 Corruption Index that the government of the Dominican Republic is "highly corrupt" in comparison with countries like Canada and Finland that were considered to be "very clean. " It is not uncommon for El Policia Nacional to either ask or demand a bribe for an alleged or real violation of the law, each person should let their conscience be their guide in these matters.

The State Department rates the crime threat in the Dominican Republic as high especially in large urban areas such as Santo Domingo and Santiago. The obvious causes being high unemployment and drug trafficking. One of the greatest challenges for tourist is credit card fraud where credit cards are compromised and duplicated so that fraud can be perpetrated.

Political violence is common in the Dominican Republic. For example there is currently a water shortage in some parts of the country and the way locals protests through varying forms of violence to include burning tires shutting down roads and in extreme cases rioting.

Closing thoughts on Las Terrenas.

This trip had multiple purposes in that I continue to explore the Dominican Republic as a place to retire as well as satisfying my curiosity because I have heard so much about the place. Mongering was an interest as always but not the end all be all of my trip. From a retirement perspective I found most everything that was close to the beach more expensive than things further away from the beach. In my opinion geographically the location of Las Terrenas is not convenient because it is not a major transportation hub therefore it could be more difficult to explore the island from there.

I have been to Cabarette several times and if I had to compare Las Terrenas I would say it is the Cabarette of the eastern north coast. Las Terrenas is similar to Cabarette because of its tourism infrastructure however it is different because it is a larger community and the entertainment venues are more spread out. In Cabarette most of the entertainment venues are on the beach however in Las Terrenas the entertainment venues are in different parts of town. Although you can get around Las Terrenas without transportation because of the layout you can experience more with transportation. Las Terrenas is a different community in that you just don't see cars and motos you see quite a few quads and ATV's in town. In short, IMHO Las Terrenas is a nicer more expensive version of Cabarette.

My last excursion was Nagua really wasn't a PFP destination however to the contrary in Las Terrenas it is the exact opposite. Not only do you have the typical car washes and cabanas that are a part of Dominican life and culture but you have a very strong PFP scene in the tourist areas. I did extensive walking around the tourist areas gleaning intel for this report and I was propositioned more than once. There is action on the beach in the street and in the clubs. However, don't get it twisted Las Terrenas is no Sosua in terms of quantity and quality. From my observations 8's do exist however they are few and far between.

While I was in town I was only one of maybe 2 other Afro Americans it was interesting to me to listen to hip hop music in venues where I was the only Afro American present which speaks to the pervasiveness of the hip hop culture.

Conclusion:

There is plenty of PFP action to be had in Las Terrenas but for me it would be a better date location because there is so much to do from the beaches to the waterfalls to clubbing at night that I would like to share. I feel any woman would be able to appreciate that type of excursion and if she didn't she would need to be on life support. I could definitely see myself returning, more than likely with a companion than being solo.

Another option for my return is to study Spanish and take some dance classes so I can get a better feel for the community in balance and not just from the PFP perspective.

I thoroughly enjoyed Las Terrenas it is vibrant and full of energy, it would be difficult to enjoy this place without making multiple trips or one extended trip. This is definitely not a day trip location.

Next up Sosua-Jarabacoa at the end of August I will keep you posted.

[Tempoecorto]

So it panned out pretty well. SD to Piedra Blanca, on to Cotui (saw the entry to mine- I think owned by Rio Tinto), then on to Pimentel yesterday. This morning, wanted a cup of coffee at breakfast. Went to a colmado in Pimentel and asked the woman if she knows a cafeteria. Pimentel has no restaurant to speak of. I had pica pollo last night and a shitty one even for a Chinese place. Anyway, the lady was so nice, she arranged for real cafe con leche, with milk and coffee in two separate porcelain pots. I was so pleasantly surprised by the old world presentation that I left her with a bag of chocolates that I carry with me. As some of you mentioned, DR is immensely reachable at a people to people level.

Left Pimentel at 1030 and used google map. Went through places like Castillo, Villa Riva and Arenas. Beautiful views that of the rice paddies and white herons feeding. Made a silly mistake: Off the Nagua-SD highway, they have built a new highway that takes one to Las Terrenas. To my shock, the rate I paid was 507 pesos. The SUVs are like 1000+. I asked the woman if it was a "broma". In a place where people make 6000 pesos per month, it is obscene. I am going back to Sosua tomorrow, via Nagua for a couple of days but will go via Sanchz. No stupid highway.

Las Terrenas is full of Italians I noticed. I asked one I met at a comedor to recommend a place close to the water. The evening dinner too was a fantastic panino with tuna and eggs. The bread made by an Italian, I was told on inquiry. No women today / tonight. For the next three days, I should have a good line up of visitors at my private house. With overnight stays. Jee, I should buy some toothbrushes as gifts.

[Grub1]

Once again I am thoroughly aware that the Dominican Republic is NO Utopia but in all the countries I have travelled to I have yet to have as diverse experiences. After a career and life full of drama I yearn for something more simple therefore it is the simple things that I have experienced that make my travel worthwhile.

I am glad you have a good time in the DR.

[Camaro1257]

I noticed that the girls from Moca look really pretty. I have a lot who are friends on FB.

What is your opinion of the girls there compared to other places. Non pro!

I see it doesn't have beaches unfortuantly.

I have not been to Moca as of yet perhaps next year. I think it would be error to judge Dominican women as a group regardless as to where they are from because while they share the same culture they are not all the same. The biggest thing will be learning Spanish so you can communicate with them. Experience has taught me that more often than not people tell and show you everything you need to know about them.

[BrasilSoccer0]

I noticed that the girls from Moca look really pretty. I have a lot who are friends on FB.

What is your opinion of the girls there compared to other places. Non pro!

I see it doesn't have beaches unfortuantly.

Brethern of the board! I've decided to break up my 3/22 to 3/31 trip to Sosua with side trips to Samana and Moca. Moca to visit a chica I met on online, Samana just to see the Penisula. My questions are. 1. I'd like to see Las Terranas, Las Galeras, and Samana Bay. Is LT close enough to the others for me to use it as a base and do the other two as a day trip? 2. Should I leave from Santiago, which is near Moca. Or is it easier to go to Samana from Sosua? I'll be taking a Caribe tours bus. Thanks in advance!

[Camaro1257]

A few other thoughts.

Now that I am back home I have had time to reflect. I have lived in a big pretentious city for the past 28 years and quite frankly I am sick of the fakeness. I know the Dominican Republic is a place where a gringo can get jacked up in a heartbeat where the rule of law is really the rule of who you know and how much money you have but the below listed things endear me to this country:

•I met several people in Nagua they greeted me warmly. I sensed sincerity and no one had their hand out.

•I got lost while walking around Nagua as there were no street signs. I flagged a moto and he takes me back to the hotel waits then takes me to the casa de cambio for change and back to the hotel. I gave him 200 pesos his face lit up like I gave him a million dollars saying "muchas gracias!" I thought to myself "really?

•There is plenty a street food in Parque Central on the weekends. There is this young dude with a cart must be in his early 20's. Dude humps on the grill! I tell him what I want what does he do? He clears off some milk carts so I can sit down while he cooks. The food was great maybe 150 pesos I gave him 200 pesos again I get this look like I gave him a million dollars! I repeat go back the next day same thing he sees me his face lites up again he humps on the grill and I repeat giving him something extra when I pay. How am I supposed to have anything but respect for this dude who is working his ass off?

•I get invited to a guys house everybody gives me a warm greeting smiles and says have a seat. The vibe of hospitality was very welcoming.

•I met 3 chicas in the park. 1 was bored I had to crack a joke to make her smile, the other had sunglasses on she was mad kool and the 3rd was friendly bouncing off the walls doing all the talking. I liked the kool chic she was sexy but I was trying to figure out how I was going to get at her when a car pulls up with tinited windows and they ran off. I don't know it they were novios or familia but the experience of talking to those who were obviously not pros was priceless.

•The highlight was the gua gua conductor handling at times 20+ passengers in a 15 passenger bus. Dude was sooooooo suave hitting on the chicas he had me rolling. I thought "this is what Hanzo sounds like!

•I like Colombia also but in all my trips to Cartagena, Cali and Medellin I have never had the experiences I am having as I travel throughout the Dominican Republic. I can buy sex anywhere on the planet but these other experiences I am having cannot be bought.

Once again I am thoroughly aware that the Dominican Republic is NO Utopia but in all the countries I have travelled to I have yet to have as diverse experiences. After a career and life full of drama I yearn for something more simple therefore it is the simple things that I have experienced that make my travel worthwhile.

[Camaro1257]

Unfucking believed. You guys were flying dude! Sosua is about 110 mile from Nagua.

I will never forget reaching for the seatbelt and after not finding one saying. OH SHIT. LOL.

[GrownMan1]

we left sosua at 1245 hrs and arrived in nagua at 1405 hrs. i could best describe the ride as a roller coaster. dude drove like a bat out of hell and he only slowed down for the few towns were there were speed bumps. i reached for my seatbelt and guess what? yes sir not! this guy would swerve and weave like it was in the indy 500. every time he would cross the center line to pass i regretted not saying my prayers before i left. anyways i arrived safe in one piece.
.

unfucking believed. you guys were flying dude! sosua is about 110 mile from nagua.

[Camaro1257]

Enjoyed the bus ride part enormously. Also the spirit of going beyond the usual, despite the handicap of the language. Kudos! BTW, You may have another career ahead of you. Being the chronicler of your journeys. I mean you obviously must be taking down notes of places and their names along with your thoughts. Much appreciated.

I am enjoying the journey as much as the sex. LOL.

[Tempoecorto]

Camaro's synopsis of Nagua.

Enjoyed the bus ride part enormously. Also the spirit of going beyond the usual, despite the handicap of the language. Kudos! BTW, You may have another career ahead of you. Being the chronicler of your journeys. I mean you obviously must be taking down notes of places and their names along with your thoughts. Much appreciated.