Sosua Reports

[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.

[Tempoecorto]

Here is the two-day side trip I took to Haiti.

I'll write part 2 later.

Lovely story although I am not sure I am going to try it (I was in Dajabon and looked across the bridge that crosses the river you write of) despite the fact that I too, like Haitians. Their body is taut, all those carrying stuff and walking keeps them lithe and muscular. 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.

[Xpartan]

I'll write part 2 later.

Holy shit, what a story! Looking forward to the next part!

[IronQuinn]

Here is the two-day side trip I took to Haiti. As I mentioned in my last report this was an idea born out of a night drinking rum with my Haitian buddy on the beach. He needed to renew his visa. I was going to help him pay the late fee and in return he'the take me into Haiti. My girl (who at the time I had just met) was coming with us. As a side note, I wouldn't attempt this without the company of an inside man. Because my buddy was Haitian, he could speak both French and Creole (neither of which I know), he knew the route, the ins and outs at the border, and how to safely navigate once inside the country. Southern Haiti is basically a war zone right now controlled by gangs with automatic weapons. This violence has not yet reached the north, which was where we crossed.

First, we had to get to the border. I had the idea of renting a car. So, we met the next morning at one of the rental places in Sosua. Unfortunately, there was a catch: they needed me to leave my passport there. Obviously, I needed that to get into Haiti, and I couldn't tell the guy I was taking one of his rental cars there, or it would be a definite no. I offered any other compensation, but this guy was firm on the passport, so there would be no rental car.

My buddy said we could take public transport. It would take all day, but we'the get there. The journey would consist of two shared taxis and a bus. In the second taxi, about half an hour into the ride, I heard a faint thumping sound, and the car began to vibrate. Soon after, the car dropped sharply, and sparks showered against the driver's side of the car. The car swerved into oncoming traffic, which forced other vehicles to swerve out of the way, and then shot back over to our side of the road before stopping next to a ditch. After putting my heart back in my chest, I got out of the car to see what the hell happened. The front driver's side tire had flown off and was sitting in the ditch behind us about 200 feet back. I included a picture.

Between not being able to get a rental car and this tire incident, I wondered if the travel gods were trying to tell me something about traveling to Haiti. The driver of the taxi called back to his station to send another vehicle to get us. In total, this mishap set us back an hour. We continued to the bus station, catching the bus to the border, which was thankfully uneventful.

It was just getting dark when we arrived at the Ouanaminthe-Dajaband border crossing. This was pure chaos. There was a form to fill out (bring your own pen and use the wall for a desk), along with official and "unofficial" fees thanks to the color of my skin (they would hold my passport behind steel bars until I paid this unofficial fee). There were two immigration offices to go through, one on each side of the border. Actually crossing the bridge over the Massacre River (that's really its name) I had to show my passport at least half a dozen times. There was also a group of guys that stood in our way. My buddy looked down, not even daring to look them in the eye. He said, "You need to give them a little money. " When your inside man is scared, it's best to take his advice. I gave the lead guy 200 pesos, which I guess was enough to appease him, since they nodded and walked away.

Going across the bridge into Haiti was in stark contrast to the DR side: people in tattered clothes, garbage scattered around, and just a general rundown appearance in the condition of everything. But it was the people I kept my eyes on. They stared at me (since I stuck out like a sore thumb) with dead eyes and followed us. Have you ever had one of those moments where you think, "What the fuck did I just do?" This was one of those times.

As the people crowded around us in a 360-degree circle, everyone was speaking at once in Creole. My buddy and my girl hung onto each one of my arms and were yelling back at the people as we pushed through them. We caught two motorbikes and drove out of there into the center of town. Thankfully, once we got into town the attitudes of people seemed to ease. Yes, I was still stared at constantly, but it wasn't with those dead eyes. Some people just started following me around out of curiosity. By now it was completely dark and there weren't many lights on in the street. The first order of business was to change some money into Haitian Gourdes and find a place to stay for the night.

I'll write part 2 later.

[SubCmdr]

The only thing I'm missing is a good guide / connect if anyone would be willing to hook a brother up. Also, I won't ask a bunch of questions that have already been asked but if anyone has a link to a useful part of the thread that would be helpful for a newbie that would be awesome.

Ask brother. An experienced traveler can answer you question quickly and you avoid having to wade through the piles of shit they litter the forum with here.

The best information on Sosua is not found in Sosua Reports.

I've been in this game for years. It made me an animal. There's rules to this shit. I wrote me a manual. A step-by-step booklet for you to get your two balls drained while many pesos remain.

That and I'm fluent in Spanish. I'll be reading through the forums, but if anyone wants to DM any advice I'll read that, too.

Hit me via PM and I will give you my Whatsapp number. The fact that you speak fluent Spanish tells me you will be fine. Keep your head on a swivel and don't be led around by anyone. Have the girls keep their hands off you until you get into your room. And if the facility you are staying does not take a girls cedula, take a picture of it while she is holding it next to her head. This is a business transaction. Don't get caught up in this GFE bullshit right off the bat. It takes time to develop those types of contacts.

People helped me. I help people. That is how I pay if forward. I never forgot the idiots posting in this forum that jumped me when I was new. Some are still posting here. And don't you know, two of the original idiots from the Dominican Republic forum jumped me first thing when I posted in the Medellin thread. Human nature is wonderfully consistent.

Plan a trip to Puerta Plata. And get off the strip into the regular part of Sosua for a different change of pace. My advice is that pussy is pussy. Stay focused on the deal and not the girl. Keep an abundance mindset. There is a pussy out there at the price point you want to pay if you hold frame and let the negotiation get accomplished with your upper head.