It is amusing how people see things differently.
[QUOTE=Save Pros 321; 1306693]I agree, but I sure do miss all of the (good looking) chicas that would "harass" me from sun up to sun down. That was the main draw for me. Now the place is like a ghost town during the day. The beach is hit or miss. It was "miss" everyday for me when I was there.
If you can sleep until 6pm every day, then nothing has changed for you. Classicos is still the bomb; Rumba bar has overtaken Merengue Bar as the main attraction for late evening play; but just way too many damn policemen hanging around during the day (and night) scaring off all of the talent.
I remember standing around in front of Classicos on one of those nights I decided to not go in and play the strategy of catching chicas before then went inside. A group of (mostly unattractive) chicas were standing around me trying to get my attention. A group of policemen started to walk towards my way and all the chicas started to shudder and huddle closely around me. They were scared shitless!
Don't know the reason for the heavy police presence around now, but it is really does fuck with the mood and ambiance of the town.
But I do agree with you; not once was I asked to buy a damn painting or fucking trinkets that you can but from a cheap hobby shop.
BUT:
The shoe shine boys were still around, but just not in great numbers. The hustlers are still there too reminding you that "hey man, it's my birthday". The Rosetta Stone guy is still around there peddling the Spanish book he wrote (that's his line; not mine). So is the guy with the gimpy foot on crutches.
The only thing that has seemed to change is less chicas out during the day and more policemen around.[/QUOTE]"Like a ghost town" I would disagree, I go every 6-8 weeks for the past 2 years. Every day all day there are dozens of girls available, maybe hundreds. I would say that at least 20 % are 7-8's on a 1. 10 scale. If you move around town you can't miss them. As far as the police, they are a positive. There presence keeps everyone in check including us. If is safer by far. If you are acting the fool you should be concerned. If we did 1/2 the things in the US that we do in Sosua, we would be locked up every time we left the house.
The people hawking their wares (trinkints & shoe shine boys) are trying to survive if you do not want to contribute don't. It is rare that they give anyone a hard time for not buying or giving them a few bucks. At least they are not robing & piliging like our folks here in the US. Break them off something it will make you feel better. Not trying to be confrontational, that is only my opinion & you know what they say about opinions.
Good times!