Sosua Reports

[QUOTE=CharlesPooter;2005563]Correct. The Taino genetic input is about 2%. But of course it is not evenly distributed so you do find the occasional Dominican who looks vaguely Native American. However the two Dominicans I have known who looked most Native American turned out to have a grandparent from Colombia and Central America respectively.

The term "creole" is rarely used in the DR. The normal (and official) term is "indio", despite the previous paragraph. This derives from the efforts of the Dominican ruling class (most notably the long-serving dictator Trujillo) to brainwash the population into believing their having darker skins than their Spanish ancestors derived from Native American genetic input rather than from African slaves who contribute 18% of genetic input. There are subdivisions such as "Indio Claro" (light brown) and "Indio Oscuro" (dark brown).

"Creole" is widely used for"mestizo" in Haiti, where Creoles constitute most of the ruling and property-owning class.[/QUOTE]I don't dispute the 2% figure, however there is something in the eyes and expression of the so called" indias dominicanas" that makes them easily identifiables as such. I can walk in the Upper Manhattan or in the Bronx and very rarely confuse a Dominican girl for a Puertorrican just by looking at them. I would not venture the reasons but it is a fact. With the blacks, it is a different story. Some in the San Pedro area look Jamaican and still have their English surnames from ancestors who came to work the sugar cane fields. Others could just be from anywere.

Rumbas reopened today.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;2005634]Rumbas reopened today.[/QUOTE]Not the same women can only enter accompanied by a man. Can not walk in alone.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;2005634]Rumbas reopened today.[/QUOTE]Confirmed. Rumba is definitely open. Looks entirely different inside.

[QUOTE=Revere;2005650]Not the same women can only enter accompanied by a man. Can not walk in alone.[/QUOTE]It was that way prior to closing.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;2005656]It was that way prior to closing.[/QUOTE]No that was never enforced.

I will be on the ground next week and would love the old Rumbas can not figure why they changed their format. Guys don't have dates in Sosua. Dominicans can not stand success.

[QUOTE=OldKool;2005701]I will be on the ground next week and would love the old Rumbas can not figure why they changed their format. Guys don't have dates in Sosua. Dominicans can not stand success...[/QUOTE]Technically they are opening as a restaurant, that's why they have regular tables and chairs and tablecloths, the bar furniture has been removed. They would have never been allowed to open otherwise.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;2005703]Technically they are opening as a restaurant, that's why they have regular tables and chairs and tablecloths, the bar furniture has been removed. They would have never been allowed to open otherwise.[/QUOTE]You mean like this?

[QUOTE=Manizales911;2005703]Technically they are opening as a restaurant, that's why they have regular tables and chairs and tablecloths, the bar furniture has been removed. They would have never been allowed to open otherwise.[/QUOTE]I wonder how long it will stay open this time, clearly they do not want rumbas. We shall see!

[QUOTE=Frannie;2005601]Possibly one reason the term 'Creole' is not used much in the DR is that Kreyol is the name of the Haitian language used by most of the population of Haiti /.[/QUOTE]Isn't the term criollo / criolla related to Creole? Or is it only used to describe food, as in comida criolla?

[QUOTE=Parkinsons;2005983]Isn't the term criollo / criolla related to Creole? Or is it only used to describe food, as in comida criolla?[/QUOTE]Same word in Spanish and French. It originally meant "Europeans" born and raised in the colonies of those (and other) colonial powers. Over the decades such families would soon gain some black or indigenous genes so it also came to mean of mixed blood as the original pure white colonial families dwindled in percentage.

Similarly, Creole cooking was originally an attempt to produce dishes Europeans were used to, but substituting tropical ingredients and techniques where necessary or cheaper. (An early form of "fusion" cuisine).

Similarly, creole patois were European languages increasingly "corrupted" by black or indigenous vocabulary, grammar and phrasing. Given enough time and a sizable population these could become distinct languages in their own right, as in the case of Haitian Kreyol, which is a language and not a patois or dialect. Louisiana Creole and Cajun may be languages too.

It is 1920hrs Saturday evening and Rumba is currently closed. A friend sitting in BS said its been closed the hour he's been there. I do not know the reason why its closed right now, but their chica escort policy that is being enforced seems to be the death of Rumba. This escort policy is not listed/posted outside, it is being verbally conveyed to chicas at the door.

[QUOTE=Wrx2005;2006399]It is 1920hrs Saturday evening and Rumba is currently closed. A friend sitting in BS said its been closed the hour he's been there. I do not know the reason why its closed right now, but their chica escort policy that is being enforced seems to be the death of Rumba. This escort policy is not listed/posted outside, it is being verbally conveyed to chicas at the door.[/QUOTE]How can a restaurant have a chica escort policy? So bad for business. I glad I now have Cuba in my Arsenal. The Sue has some bad weather to get through.

[QUOTE=GrownMan1;2006620]How can a restaurant have a chica escort policy? So bad for business. I glad I now have Cuba in my Arsenal. The Sue has some bad weather to get through.[/QUOTE]Some guys I have talked to feel, certain powers that be really didn't want the joint to re-open in the 1st place. And the delays and hoops they had to jump through to get to re- open suggests just that.

I'm not sure if the escort policy was a condition imposed from officials or Rumba enforcing it themselves. Security at the door, as well as another staff member claim that Rumba has a probationary period imposed on them. So they could be doing it because they have to comply with an order, or because they choose to, to keep a low profile (for now) ?? And like I said earlier, I do not know why they are currently closed. I was out Saturday night until 12 am and it stayed closed.

Now as far as the rest of Sosua? Sosua is and has been moving right along. For the infrequent visitors that have developed a distaste or outlook on Sosua, and have decided to seek elsewhere? It's not a problem. Any and all departures have no impact on what Sosua is offering and has offered to those that continue to come back, as well as those who do travel to other places, but also come back to Sosua whenever they get the urge.

I'm talking about all of the guys that regularly go to Colombia, Thailand, The Philippines, and anywhere else. They obviously find value in Sosua ( for whatever reason ) and keep coming back. More visits can mean some have a greater ability to adapt? It also may mean, more visits they get to see more new talent come to the scene, thereby reducing their odds of duds and other BS. That might make a significant difference from the twice a year monger that comes to Sosua and swears his experiences encompasses all that Sosua has / had to offer, forever and ever for everybody else. LOL.

Some other things going on in Sosua I like. I see some construction going on around town. A few buildings coming up. The new hotel down by the Sosua Family Gym is still under construction. They still have other buildings and a swimming pool yet to finish. I still don't know how they will justify getting $150 and up a night to stay there. For the most part, many of the guests were relocated there when Victorian House closed down. They were booked for Victorian House, but when they arrived, were put up in the new hotel. Can't say for sure, which guests actually booked to stay there? I'm sure any stunning photos seen online must have captured some attention. I had the opportunity to walk around the complex. A huge section of buildings doesn't look like they have started yet, as well as a huge swimming pool. So they have a ways to go.

There have been road crews going around Sosua filling and paving a shitload of potholes. Repairing curbs and installing water channels at various intersections. You do not know how happy I am for that. Even if it's only because the President of the DR may be coming to town soon?

Gorditos Mexican Style restaurant opened in Sosua with a bar next to it. The restaurant formally called Lazy Dog, LOS Gringos, and later Havana reopened. Not sure it's current name.

Random chicas are still being picked up, but lately I've been seeing more new to Sosua chicas showing up, trying to earn some money. More Haitianas too. But of course I have observed a lot of new faces in guys showing up in Sosua. Many of them just started coming, and those that have never been to Sosua, young, older and in between.