General Info

[QUOTE=Charles Pooter;1235188]And the "pure-blooded European" Dominicans who like to hype up the nation's Spanish roots and downplay the African connection are in an awkward situation. On the one hand they try to explain Dominican skin color by saying they are descended from Indians and romanticising their (largely bogus) Taino past, but on the other hand they want to make a hero of Columbus for introducing Spanish culture, conveniently downplaying the fact that he and his followers virtually exterminated the Tainos within three generations.[/QUOTE]What do these same Dominicans say happened to the Taino with whom they romanticize their connection? Do they admit that their European ancestors killed off their native ancestors? Or do they have some other way of explaining it?

[i]"Specifically, the DHS announced the NCO and its Office of Operations Coordination and Planning (OPS) can collect personal information from news anchors, journalists, reporters [b]or anyone who may use 'traditional and / or social media in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed[/b]. '"[/i]

[url]http://rt.com/usa/news/homeland-security-journalists-monitoring-321/[/url]

So, I'm wondering does this also apply to this site (a form of social media) as well as the folks who continuously post info and trip reports "in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed"?

I swear, the US is transforming into something I don't even recognize on a daily basis. This shit would make Joseph Stalin blush!

[i]"Previously established guidelines within the administration say that data could only be collected under authorization set forth by written code, but the new provisions in the NOC’s write-up means that any reporter, whether someone along the lines of Walter Cronkite [b]or a budding blogger[/b], can be victimized by the agency."[/i]

"...or a budding blogger...": read "internet forum poster".

[QUOTE=SavePros321; 1235995][i]

I swear, the US is transforming into something I don't even recognize on a daily basis. This shit would make Joseph Stalin blush![/QUOTE]The Govt. Tells us they are trying to "protect" us and we are so f. Ing afraid. The interesting thing is, this is a good ruse for anyone (dems or gop) to use it to extend control. Fast forward to 1984!

I'm trying to go to Santo Domingo from blackbeards / Puerto plata area. Is it possible to show up at the bus stop or do I need to make an online reservation?

[QUOTE=Amb832;1236155]I'm trying to go to Santo Domingo from blackbeards / Puerto plata area. Is it possible to show up at the bus stop or do I need to make an online reservation?[/QUOTE]Just show up but get there a little early because the buses going to SDQ will fill up sometimes.

[QUOTE=Charles Pooter; 1235188]Probably she just wasn't interested. As I said below they are not usually interested in anything beyond money, food, and the latest trashy street fashion from the US, though a few may fake interest.

But another issue is that Columbus is no hero to many Dominicans and even less so to Haitians. Those that have some slave ancestry (85% of Dominicans and 99% of Haitians) will know that he was responsible for introducing slavery to the island. And the "pure-blooded European" Dominicans who like to hype up the nation's Spanish roots and downplay the African connection are in an awkward situation. On the one hand they try to explain Dominican skin color by saying they are descended from Indians and romanticising their (largely bogus) Taino past, but on the other hand they want to make a hero of Columbus for introducing Spanish culture, conveniently downplaying the fact that he and his followers virtually exterminated the Tainos within three generations.

Many Dominicans cannot bring themselves to speak Columbus' name. They cross themselves to ward off the devil and call him simply "The Admiral". For more about this read the opening chapter of Junot Diaz novel "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" published in 2007 which won a Pulitzer and also American Book Critics prize.[/QUOTE]Mr Pooter I am reading through this book "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" at the moment. Seems quite stirring. I am going to be in DR Jan 13-20 by the way.

[QUOTE=Amb832;1236155]I'm trying to go to Santo Domingo from blackbeards / Puerto plata area. Is it possible to show up at the bus stop or do I need to make an online reservation?[/QUOTE]Metro Bus Company and Caribe Tours Bus Company have bus stations in Puerto Plata. Caribe Tours might be a little easier to find in Puerto Plata. If you are heading to Santo Domingo on a weekend in Febrero, you may want to think about stopping in La Vega for Carnival (carnaval vegano). Santiago has some events for carnaval, but from what I have been told Carnaval Vegano (carnival in la vega) is the best in DR (chicas from different parts of the DR visit la vega for carnaval). The journey on caribe tours and metro buses from puerto plata to santo domingo, will pass santiago, la vega and bonao. Problem is you will be traveling with luggage (you could get a room in santiago for a weekend night and then commute the 20 minutes or so to la vega).

Is johnny walker cheap in Santo Domingo? I have been seeing pics of Johnny walker, even Blue label which retails from 180-200+ USD. Somehow I can't see the avg dominican paying 6000-7000 pesos for Blue.

The final series for the Dominican Winter League Baseball begun this weekend with the Aguilas del Cibao (Santiago) playing against Leones del Escogido (Santo Domingo). If you are in the city going to a game is a must do (if you get tickets of course, every game is usually a soldout). Most of the players are in MLB so you will also enjoy quality baseball. The Caribbean Series began February 2 until February 7 in Santo Domingo, some major hotels are fully booked for these days. Melia is going to be the home of Puerto Rico baseball players, Venezuela in Barcelo Lina, Mexico in Occidental Embajador and Dominican Republic in Dominican Fiesta. I will try to get a ticket for day 1 or 5. I will be in SDQ Feb 2 to 3 and 6 to 7.

[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline;1240275]The final series for the Dominican Winter League Baseball begun this weekend with the Aguilas del Cibao (Santiago) playing against Leones del Escogido (Santo Domingo). If you are in the city going to a game is a must do (if you get tickets of course, every game is usually a soldout). Most of the players are in MLB so you will also enjoy quality baseball. The Caribbean Series began February 2 until February 7 in Santo Domingo, some major hotels are fully booked for these days. Melia is going to be the home of Puerto Rico baseball players, Venezuela in Barcelo Lina, Mexico in Occidental Embajador and Dominican Republic in Dominican Fiesta. I will try to get a ticket for day 1 or 5. I will be in SDQ Feb 2 to 3 and 6 to 7.[/QUOTE]Do you know if there are going to be any games at the stadium during jan 28-feb1?

[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline;1240275]The final series for the Dominican Winter League Baseball begun this weekend with the Aguilas del Cibao (Santiago) playing against Leones del Escogido (Santo Domingo). If you are in the city going to a game is a must do (if you get tickets of course, every game is usually a soldout). Most of the players are in MLB so you will also enjoy quality baseball. The Caribbean Series began February 2 until February 7 in Santo Domingo, some major hotels are fully booked for these days. Melia is going to be the home of Puerto Rico baseball players, Venezuela in Barcelo Lina, Mexico in Occidental Embajador and Dominican Republic in Dominican Fiesta. I will try to get a ticket for day 1 or 5. I will be in SDQ Feb 2 to 3 and 6 to 7.[/QUOTE]Never once had a problem getting tickets outside Quisqueya & Cibao on day of any game- don't pay extra.

[QUOTE=Grandnash84;1240403]Do you know if there are going to be any games at the stadium during jan 28-feb1?[/QUOTE]Check the calendar here:

[url]http://www.lidom.com.do/calendarios.htm[/url]

I went to my first Patronali (spelling) in San Jose De Ocoa, it's an annual festival for the patron saints or the town. This fiesta was off the hook, the town square had kiosks all around that sold all sorts of liquor, food and trinkets. You could barely walk there were so many people, Music at every corner. And the women, OMG. Every girl is dressed to impress.

Every town supposedly has one and I suggest if you get the chance find out where one is and go. The chicas are incredibly easy to get, I picked up 2 girls and went to the local hotel (el Barcon) but the hotel price was super inflated 3k per night, it was comfortable but nothing to write home about. The girls were locals non pros 20 something, gave them each 1k the next morning and had breakfast with them. Hung out the rest of the day with Nury (don't remember the other girls name) she took me to her uncle's house which was a little north of the town, had lunch of roast chicken with rice and guandules, drank some more with him (his nickname was boracho) , his wife and nieces and nephews. Had a great time. Will be back next year. It is for one week every year in January. I think it is the 3rd week of the month, with Friday and Saturday being the big nights.

Hi everybody,

Traveld a lot and knew places arround the world. So my first trip to DR in August this year.

1. Need a place on the beach.

2. Need cheep sex LT ST. Easy to hunt.

3. Safe location.

Had a super time in the phillipines, Cuba, kenia, Cambodia, vietnam, ethiopia, gambia, myanmar, etc. Etc.

Any recomendet place in the DR?. There are so many places here and I prefer a quite mongering place. Daytime on the beach. At night a local bar.

Thanks a lot

[QUOTE=Claudio; 1245973]Any recomendet place in the DR. There are so many places here and I prefer a quite mongering place. Daytime on the beach. At night a local bar.

Thanks a lot[/QUOTE]Some guys like boca chica (beach town. 10 minutes from santo domingo airport). Supposedly lots of Italians in boca chica. Many guys like Sosua (beach town, ten minutes from puerto plata airport). Boca Chica and Sosua have freelancers, with whom you negotiate the price and those towns also have places that have set prices (massage houses or casa de citas in boca chica and Passions, CMP in Sosua).

Blackbeard Resort on the beach in Costambar, Puerto Plata (about 45 minutes from Puerto Plata Airport, POP) , has set prices for ST and LT, in a safe, secure environment.

Bavaro and Punta Cana has many all inclusive hotels and new condo and villa rentals on a nice beach. Chica prices tend to be high in bavaro and punta cana.

Casa de Campo is on the beach in la romana, expensive place to stay (hotel and villa rentals) , there is p4p in la romana. Bayahibe is a small beach town about 15 minutes la romana, that has a small amount of pros.

There are other beach towns that will probably have some small amount of pros.

The two beach-towns with the most pros would be Sosua and Boca Chica.