Sosua Reports

[QUOTE=IAmGine;1905669]My friend and I are staying at Blackbeards (2 deluxe rooms), it seemed an easy safe place for a couple noobs like us. ... Any experienced mongers that can offer advice in finding sweet little senoritas to comfort my pains will be very appreciated.[/QUOTE]I agree that Blackbeards is a good place for a first trip but do not understand your closing sentence. The whole point of staying at Blackbeards is that you have chicas instantly available onsite. You will be paying a small premium for your rooms, food and drink in exchange for this facility. There will be more than enough chicas for you and your friend for nine nights.

There are plenty of options for outings. Taxis are expensive but at least there are two of you to share. If you want a cheaper option, take a moto to the entrance gate of Costambar and catch the JC publico (public shared taxi) from there into Puerto Plata. For comfort, you and your friend could buy four seats so you have the whole back seat to yourself for about US $4. A private taxi from Blackbeards is about US $15. Once in Puerto Plata it is cheap and easy to get to anywhere else such as Sosua or Cabarete. But you need to get back to Blackbeards before dark if using the JC service It is like Cinderella's pumpkin coach. It vanishes after a certain hour. But that is OK as it is the daytime when you will feel the need to take a break away from campus.

I am not sure what sort of dental treatment you are undertaking. If it is radical, you may not feel up to partying every day when you are not being treated. If it is comparatively minor, it seems hardly worth going to Santiago. There are many very competent specialists in Puerto Plata, such as the one I recommended. If you are having your face seriously re-arranged, then I agree Santiago would be the safest option, but you may not want to do much muff-diving while the work is ongoing.

If you have a local phone I would be pleased to meet you in Puerto Plata during the daytime and show you a few places, if this is set up in advance. I live there.

By the way, is your friend having treatment too. If not, what will he be up to while you are in Santiago? He won't want to waste two days out of a nine day trip.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1905986]So they arrested 200+ girls on Saturday night? If that is true, that is pretty amazing news!

http://www.hobotraveler.com/travel-journal/100-300-sosua-girls-affects-offshore-investments.html

This is a link that appears to be a report of this incident, but the report is undated.[/QUOTE]Thats the same link somebody posted on DR1. Claiming it was undated. Almost word for word. Was that you too? Why is the YT video with Andy the Hobo Traveler in that webpage (you provided) dated 2011? If the video is 2011, the content in that link you provided is probably 2011.

[QUOTE=SavePros321;1906058]I would say the main difference is Dominican Citizen vs. Tourists. From most of what I've learned about the DR over the years, it seems like they have no problem shitting on their own people (like throwing chicas in jail for no reason). Most guys travel there in packs. If a group of 10 guys decided they are not going to show the police their cell phone, I'm going to safely say they are not taking all of them to jail.

If EVERY guy in Sosua decided they are not going to show the Police their cell phones, that's a hell of a lot of guys getting put in jail. That's going to bring a lot of unwanted attention, especially for a place heavily dependent on tourism. All it will take is for a few guys who are not there for sex tourism getting thrown in jail by the police and it turns out they are well connected on the island and back in their home country for heads to start to roll.

Normally I agree with you Mani, but on this one I will call BS. But if and when the first story pops up here about it happening, I will be the first to admit I was wrong.[/QUOTE]Recently I drove to Canada to conduct some business and was stopped for secondary inspection by the Canadian Border Patrol. They grabbed my Iphone and Ipad and when they could not access it they asked me to unlock them. I asked what they would do if I refused and they told me that they would confiscate both devices and arrest me for hindering an investigation. I was brought into a holding area, cuffed, searched and detained. I unlocked them both as I really had nothing to hide and they spent 2 hours going through all my FB stuff, Whatsapp, my photos etc. ,asked me a thousand questions etc. After going through it all they refused to let me enter the country and I had to drive 6 hours home. When I calmed down a little I called my Canadian lawyer and told him what happened as I could not believe they had the right to do it and my lawyer sent me a link to the law that specifically says that they can confiscate your electronic devices for up to 60 days basically just for the fuck of it. So me thinks if the Canadian authorities have the legal balls to do it the Dominicans certainly do. All the Dominican authorities have to do is grab a handful of phones or a handful of guys every day for refusing to give up their phones and word would get around quite rapidly, they don't need to do it to hundreds of guys.

According to my sleuthing the article on the arrests dates back to at least June of 2011, when an archive of the website was downloaded:

[URL]http://web.archive.org/web/20110621010834/http://www.hobotraveler.com/travel-journal/100-300-sosua-girls-affects-offshore-investments.html[/URL]

That's my small contribution for today. I'm traveling to Sosua in about 2. 5 weeks. If all the clubs have really closed and the chicas stopped showing up, I may just stay at Blackbeards because hunting on Tinder / Badoo / Facebook is time consuming and very uncertain. If the cute girls are still coming to whatever is open on the weekends, I will stay in Sosua.

So I'll ask a small favor of those who are on the ground: please let us know if the clubs are open and the girls are there next weekend.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;1906150]Recently I drove to Canada to conduct some business and was stopped for secondary inspection by the Canadian Border Patrol. They grabbed my Iphone and Ipad and when they could not access it they asked me to unlock them. I asked what they would do if I refused and they told me that they would confiscate both devices and arrest me for hindering an investigation. I was brought into a holding area, cuffed, searched and detained. I unlocked them both as I really had nothing to hide and they spent 2 hours going through all my FB stuff, Whatsapp, my photos etc. ,asked me a thousand questions etc. After going through it all they refused to let me enter the country and I had to drive 6 hours home. s.[/QUOTE]I don't have auto login on any of my electronic devices (Precaution against the girlfriend snooping, so even if she gets my passcode to my phone, she isn't getting anything incriminating). I wonder if the police would have made you give them your password to facebook too.

[QUOTE=Bravo;1906173]I don't have auto login on any of my electronic devices (Precaution against the girlfriend snooping, so even if she gets my passcode to my phone, she isn't getting anything incriminating). I wonder if the police would have made you give them your password to facebook too.[/QUOTE]I admittedly was not prepared when this happened but again, I have nothing to hide. I returned to Canada two weeks ago and this time I just removed all my apps from my Iphone and Ipad and reinstalled them once in Canada, they did not ask to see my phone this time, I flew this time around and they did not search me although I still went through secondary.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;1906150]Recently I drove to Canada to conduct some business and was stopped for secondary inspection by the Canadian Border Patrol. They grabbed my Iphone and Ipad and when they could not access it they asked me to unlock them. I asked what they would do if I refused and they told me that they would confiscate both devices and arrest me for hindering an investigation. I was brought into a holding area, cuffed, searched and detained. I unlocked them both as I really had nothing to hide and they spent 2 hours going through all my FB stuff, Whatsapp, my photos etc. ,asked me a thousand questions etc. After going through it all they refused to let me enter the country and I had to drive 6 hours home. When I calmed down a little I called my Canadian lawyer and told him what happened as I could not believe they had the right to do it and my lawyer sent me a link to the law that specifically says that they can confiscate your electronic devices for up to 60 days basically just for the fuck of it. So me thinks if the Canadian authorities have the legal balls to do it the Dominicans certainly do. All the Dominican authorities have to do is grab a handful of phones or a handful of guys every day for refusing to give up their phones and word would get around quite rapidly, they don't need to do it to hundreds of guys.[/QUOTE]That's what you get for following the rules.

Next time, hide your passport and Visa, walk across the river, and tell 'em you're a refugee, running from, say Trump, or the Tea Party, or the draft, and they'll give you a hot drink, warm clothes, and put you up at one of our waterfront hotels for an indefinite period and start locating and bringing your family in for you.

Then you can walk a block or so and use your food allowance for a couple table dances at Filmore's.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;1906150]I unlocked them both as I really had nothing to hide and they spent 2 hours going through all my FB stuff, Whatsapp, my photos etc. ,asked me a thousand questions etc.[/QUOTE]There are apps that can hide your files and provide a false front that gives the impression you have unlocked the phone and are viewing the full contents of the data. Or travel with a clean phone that you just use to communicate. You could have an inexpensive BLU for when you are on the street and leave your main one in your room safe.

[QUOTE=Wrx2005;1906144]Thats the same link somebody posted on DR1. Claiming it was undated. Almost word for word. Was that you too? Why is the YT video with Andy the Hobo Traveler in that webpage (you provided) dated 2011? If the video is 2011, the content in that link you provided is probably 2011.[/QUOTE]This Hobo guy tweeted a link to this article on June 18,2011. [URL]https://mobile.twitter.com/hobotraveler/status/82121809385893888[/URL].

[QUOTE=Wrx2005;1906144]Thats the same link somebody posted on DR1. Claiming it was undated. Almost word for word. Was that you too? Why is the YT video with Andy the Hobo Traveler in that webpage (you provided) dated 2011? If the video is 2011, the content in that link you provided is probably 2011.[/QUOTE]No, I didn't post anything on DR1. I still don't see any dateline on that report, which I found on Google, but I mentioned that it was undated as a warning that it might not be current news. At the bottom it says copyright 2011 to 2016. I did not play the video.

I looked for news on the Sosua arrests, because it was hard to believe that there would be no reports in any media of 200 women being arrested in Sosua, but now the person who made the original report here on ISG has retracted that claim. This report was the closest thing I could find, and I suspected it might not be current.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1906200]I looked for news on the Sosua arrests, because it was hard to believe that there would be no reports in any media of 200 women being arrested in Sosua, but now the person who made the original report here on ISG has retracted that claim. [/QUOTE]You were not alone, reading that post, I too thought the police have bagged all 200 girls, which certainly would be very odd, compared to the usual 10-15 pick ups that happen nightly. I guess I am not the only one here with English as a second language. LOL.

Here is an update of what I know. I am always sensitive about saying things because do not want people to think I am just putting down Sosua.

First, let me say this I really like Sosua. I am sure many of you know that the beach is very popular with the tour operators with the resorts in puerta plata. In fact, that is where they take there tourists to go snorkeling in the back area of Sosua.

Now what I do know. There have been presentations that have been made to make sosua similar to playa del carmen in mexico. A former run down town that is now very popular with tourists. It started with the anchor tenant the Gansevoort Hotel. They are a big supporter of this plan along with other real estate investors. For those of you who say you get off the strip, then you would know if you take a right after the police station there is a huge new development going up. Please stop focusing on the strip focus what is taking place off the strip that will tell you what is really happening. Secondly, I have said before if you really got off the strip the back of Sosua has multimillion dollar homes that have a lot of influence on what is taking place. Take your girl back there and go swimming if you say you get off the block. Once the Gansevoort starting getting negative reviews on the prostitution issues from there clients they were not happy. Along with real estate developers, they are now not tolerant of the prostitution issue and have told the tourism minister fix it now. They want it stopped. Your money is not important to them and they could care less about some women not making money and bars who cater to you and them. Will it work do not know, but it might. Time will tell.

[QUOTE=Revere;1906216]Once the Gansevoort starting getting negative reviews on the prostitution issues from there clients they were not happy. Along with real estate developers, they are now not tolerant of the prostitution issue and have told the tourism minister fix it now. They want it stopped. Your money is not important to them and they could care less about some women not making money and bars who cater to you and them. Will it work do not know, but it might. Time will tell.[/QUOTE]Now this will be very interesting! Foreign interests coming in and telling Dominicans what to do and when to do it! Especially since the local Dominican in no way benefit from any of this development taking place. I understand the guys at the top will receive money for towing the line, but what about everyone else? Are these developers going to drive down the street tossing pesos out the window while begging everyone to just please go away?

It seems like you are in a very good spot if you are a bar, restaurant, or hotel owner in Sosua right now. The more they want your place closed to drive away prostitution, the more valuable your business becomes. You can ask for the sky and receive it.

I hate to say it, but I agree with Oakie. We've been down this road many time before. Short of them using threats, physical violence, or bulldozing down establishments, I don't see anything changing. We will know they are serious when hotels there will not allow you to bring a chica back to your room. Until then:

[QUOTE=Oakie;1906110]
But the stuff that goes on is petty politics. A show of the flag to placate some of the more demanding citizens who don't make a living off prostitution. I've seen the on again and off again crackdowns on covering the bar windows, chicas entering a bar alone, strolling alone, not wearing a moto helmet, and the monthly round up of hookers, especially the Haitians. Bars are closed and then re-opened as if nothing happened.

Fact is Sosua runs on prostitution, and without it, it would be just another La Union, Abajo or Charamichos barrio.

The folks who really run Sosua won't let all that dinero disappear.

If they really wanted change they could simply declare Sosua a "Re-development Zone", and pass a bylaw against prostitution. Throw a couple mongers in jail and Bingo! Cuba here we come!

[b]So relax, we'll all be having this conversation again next year like we had it last year, and the year before.[/b][/QUOTE]

I can recall the first BIG crackdown happening in 2011. Here we are 5 years later...

[QUOTE=SavePros321;1906230]Now this will be very interesting! Foreign interests coming in and telling Dominicans what to do and when to do it! Especially since the local Dominican in no way benefit from any of this development taking place. I understand the guys at the top will receive money for towing the line, but what about everyone else? Are these developers going to drive down the street tossing pesos out the window while begging everyone to just please go awa

It seems like you are in a very good spot if you are a bar, restaurant, or hotel owner in Sosua right now. The more they want your place closed to drive away prostitution, the more valuable your business becomes. You can ask for the sky and receive it.

I hate to say it, but I agree with Oakie. We've been down this road many time before. Short of them using physical violence or bulldozing down establishments, I don't see anything changing. We will know they are serious when hotels there will not allow you to bring a chica back to your room. Until then:[/QUOTE]I do not disagree with your comments. But you did not have a Gansevoort and new new real estate development happening. It was just all talk the tourists are coming but not now. You have one of the most expensive hotels in all of the Dominican Republic leading the charge.

[QUOTE=SavePros321;1906230]Short of them using threats, physical violence, or bulldozing down establishments, I don't see anything changing. We will know they are serious when hotels there will not allow you to bring a chica back to your room. Until then:

...[/QUOTE]That is exactly what they did with the prostitution bars around the west end of the Malecon in Puerto Plata several years ago. The small prostitution bars and short stay hotel were all bulldozed and only Cristal's club remained plus one massage place.