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[QUOTE=Manizales911;1847590]There are parts of that route where there is NOTHING for a distance that I would not want to walk and leave my car behind. I guess if you want to get fucking technical as you always do then maybe you are correct but there sure as hell some parts of that route that I for one would NOT want to break down at, Frannie, do you even own a car here? What would you do at 9 o'clock at night, flag down a publico and abandon your car on the side of the road, hahaha, there would be nothing left of it in short order. I don't know why I bother, Manizales over and out.[/QUOTE]Yes, I would put the car at the side of the road, lock it up, then flag down a taxi if I was not calling someone immediately. Possibly I would pay someone to watch the car. I always have a cell phone. Very likely the taxi driver would know someone who could help out. Or someone at the gas station at Montellano, or coming into Puerto Plata. There is always someone in the DR who knows someone with a tow truck or who will repair the tire or whatever you need. What would you do in the US if your car broke down 10 miles from home at night? To be honest, I would rather break down in the DR. Now if you were talking about breaking down at night on the back road over the mountains from Santiago out of cell phone range, then you might have a good point!

But was it you or someone else who posted that you had been fucked in the ass by a taxi driver?

My Uncles would always eat fish from that nasty corner in Boca Chica, but I would always pass because the fish in big bowls never seemed healthy without ice. Well my last couple trips to Boca I found a spot off the other side of the beach that had great fish for 300 pesos. They fry the fish with the lines in them so they come off in big rectangular chunks on the fork. With fries it costs 300 pesos.

Well one day I tried to be slick and figured I would arrive early in the morning and pick my fish right off the boat. To my surprise their wasn't any boat and all the fish they put out were frozen solid.

My question is; where in the DR can you get fresh fish straight off the boat as it comes in? I've heard Miaimon has a warf, but not sure. Also is all the fish frozen for transportation to other spots or could this just be from the previous day that didn't sell? And are the guys you see walking the beach with spear guns and fresh fish legit? Or is it a hustler to make people think they are getting something fresh?

Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE]My question is; where in the DR can you get fresh fish straight off the boat as it comes in? I've heard Miaimon has a warf, but not sure.[/QUOTE]Maimon is known for fish and there are a few fish restaurants there, but whether the fish are fresh caught is a whole other question.

One time I wanted some fresh fish, so my chica drove me to a place in Charamicos where you went down a steep hill, and then drove half a mile over a rutted track to a beach where there were fishing boats, and guys gutting fish that were stored in coolers on a bloc. It was all pure theater. One of the items on offer was a small whole yellowfin tuna that looked too small to catch to me. I asked them where the tuna came from and they said it was from the Pacific ocean.

I have not investigated further, but my suspicion is that Japanese trawlers catch fish and freeze the fish whole, then show up in Dominican ports and sell the frozen fish to "fishermen" who sell the fish to tourists and toursit restaurants. I don't know if Dominicans eat a lot of fish, because in Puerto Plata it is difficult to find fish anywhere in a restaurant or take out, unless you go to Maimon, although there is one restaurant on the dock road, and a fish shop near the pulga that has fish in freezers. You can either buy it whole or gutted and filleted.

I did once buy a whole bag full of lobsters in Puerto Plata for 1500 pesos from a taxista I knew, and I think they were probably fresh.

I would say if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

[QUOTE]Government Works to Increase Aquaculture to Reduce Import Dependence
15 November 2013

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Each year the Dominican Republic imports an average of 50,000 tonnes of fish and average consumption is 3.5 kilos, representing a fifth of the world average. The Dominican Aquaculture Association (ADOA) therefore states that there is a great potential of aquaculture.

Maximum Nicholas, president of ADOA, said that the government will support a RD $200 million three year programme that the organisation has designed which will increase fish production to about 5000 tons, reports ElCaribe.

Currently, fish farmers are producing between 250 and 275 tons per year, which is a very minimal percentage. The country is therefore having to import 50,000 tons of whole fresh fish to meet the country's demand for 64 000 tons per year.

"It takes not only desire, preparation, but also the private sector training and knowledge. But this is not enough if there are no funding possibilities. If there is no government support in this regard it will not develop. You must remove financial barriers," said Mr Nicholas.

Miguel Silva, vice president of Nature Environment and Development Foundation, said that aquaculture production is a matter of public policy, because it must be a state-led effort but not necessarily executed by the state.
- See more at: http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/21786/government-works-to-increase-aquaculture-to-reduce-import-dependence/#sthash.7JxmNUFt.dpuf[/QUOTE]

Thank you Sir. How did you keep a straight face when they said the fish came from the Pacific Ocean?

[QUOTE=MrGogo;1849679]My Uncles would always eat fish from that nasty corner in Boca Chica, but I would always pass because the fish in big bowls never seemed healthy without ice. Well my last couple trips to Boca I found a spot off the other side of the beach that had great fish for 300 pesos. They fry the fish with the lines in them so they come off in big rectangular chunks on the fork. With fries it costs 300 pesos.

Well one day I tried to be slick and figured I would arrive early in the morning and pick my fish right off the boat. To my surprise their wasn't any boat and all the fish they put out were frozen solid.[/QUOTE]LOL. See you could have been eating my prized Boca Chica blue booth fish all along. They all come from the same place. Those fish are farmed, not caught from the ocean. Where do you ever see real fishing boats in the DR? Sure they have tourist fishing trips and people fishing off the floating bridge in Santo Domingo, but that is about it.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1847603]Yes, I would put the car at the side of the road, lock it up, then flag down a taxi if I was not calling someone immediately. Possibly I would pay someone to watch the car. I always have a cell phone. Very likely the taxi driver would know someone who could help out. Or someone at the gas station at Montellano, or coming into Puerto Plata. There is always someone in the DR who knows someone with a tow truck or who will repair the tire or whatever you need. What would you do in the US if your car broke down 10 miles from home at night? To be honest, I would rather break down in the DR. Now if you were talking about breaking down at night on the back road over the mountains from Santiago out of cell phone range, then you might have a good point!

But was it you or someone else who posted that you had been fucked in the ass by a taxi driver?[/QUOTE]Only one time out of many trips to DR I had a flat tire after hitting a big pot hole at night. Luckily when I stopped two local guys came and changed the tire and to my amazement refused a propina.

I have driven all over including many times on the mountain route and never had a problem. As I heard in DR stolen cars and stripped cars are not common. Usually I have a local girl with me and she said people knock on any doors for help if any problems and she said Dominican people are friendly and will help or call the police for help.

[QUOTE=Sammon;1849811]Only one time out of many trips to DR I had a flat tire after hitting a big pot hole at night. Luckily when I stopped two local guys came and changed the tire and to my amazement refused a propina.

I have driven all over including many times on the mountain route and never had a problem. As I heard in DR stolen cars and stripped cars are not common. Usually I have a local girl with me and she said people knock on any doors for help if any problems and she said Dominican people are friendly and will help or call the police for help.[/QUOTE]Quite so. I have heard it said that a common cause of cars not starting in the DR is having the batteries stolen overnight for use in inversors, but it is just chit-chat and I don't know how often this occurs.

[QUOTE=MrGogo;1849679]My question is; where in the DR can you get fresh fish straight off the boat as it comes in? I've heard Miaimon has a warf, but not sure. Also is all the fish frozen for transportation to other spots or could this just be from the previous day that didn't sell? And are the guys you see walking the beach with spear guns and fresh fish legit? Or is it a hustler to make people think they are getting something fresh?[/QUOTE]Dominicans only know how to cook fish one way -- deep fried. I quite enjoy eating it, had a good one in Maimon last year, but to me if all the fish were fried to a crisp, then don't matter if fresh or frozen. To really taste the freshness, one should eat it steamed a la Chinese style. Therefore I would recommend you to look in the Chinatown in SD. I remember there's at least one restaurant where they have their own tank with live fish swimming in it, and you can pick the one you want. Actually, you may even ask them to deep fry that thing.

Pictured is the fried fish place in Maimon.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1849815]Quite so. I have heard it said that a common cause of cars not starting in the DR is having the batteries stolen overnight for use in inversors, but it is just chit-chat and I don't know how often this occurs.[/QUOTE]And that is the reason my girl in Santo Domingo's Gazcue area tells me not to park in front of her building when I stay overnight. I have to park the car across the street at the 24 hour clinic and pay the security guard 100 pesos to watch it.

Thanks bro, now I got to put Miamon and Chinatown in SD on my bucket list.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1849815]Quite so. I have heard it said that a common cause of cars not starting in the DR is having the batteries stolen overnight for use in inversors, but it is just chit-chat and I don't know how often this occurs.[/QUOTE]I'm sure car batteries are stolen. No doubt. But for that purpose, dubious. The way a car battery is designed is quite different from a inverter battery. Car batteries are good for short bursts of current. Inverter batteries are deep cycle batteries designed to be discharged down to a 20% level or more then recharged. Now if you maintain a car battery well you can do the same thing and use it in a inverter. But they will not torate and last as long as a deep cycle battery would under identical conditions. You would need to avoid bringing the car battery down below 50%.

But hey if you steal the batteries for your inverter what do you care. ? Just steal some more when they wear out. LOL.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1849821]And that is the reason my girl in Santo Domingo's Gazcue area tells me not to park in front of her building when I stay overnight. I have to park the car across the street at the 24 hour clinic and pay the security guard 100 pesos to watch it.[/QUOTE]In Santo Domingo it is always a wise policy to pay someone to watch your car overnight if not in a secure area. Almost anything that can be stolen off of your car is worth more than 100 pesos. And Gazcue is consider to be a nice area of Santo Domingo. LOL.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1849780]... in Puerto Plata it is difficult to find fish anywhere in a restaurant or take out[/QUOTE]Frannie, for years I have respected your posts, but recently someone suggested you are getting senile. Maybe so, as that is one of the most absurd statements I have read here.

I do not eat meat or bird so I very often eat fish. In three years of visiting Pto Pta and seven years of living here, I cannot hardly remember any restaurant that did not offer at least one fish option. Where sourced and how fresh is another matter, though I have had few disappointments and no stomach problems.

Incidentally, for those familiar with the Aguaceros / Tam Tam stretch of the Malecon, there is a spot (with a notice board) where a rowing boat lands fish, normally twice a day depending on tides. There is usually a huddle of guys waiting to buy, some from restaurants. Maybe the rowboat loads the fish off a Japanese trawler just over the horizon, but I do not think so, because sometimes they come in almost empty-handed and, even when they have a lot, it usually comprises a few fish of many different varieties. All have tasted good.

I do not go that way much anymore and my favorite fish is now frozen robalo steaks from La Sirena. Three good meals for 200 pesos but watch out for the bones!

[QUOTE=CharlesPooter;1849981]Frannie, for years I have respected your posts, but recently someone suggested you are getting senile. Maybe so, as that is one of the most absurd statements I have read here.

I do not eat meat or bird so I very often eat fish. In three years of visiting Pto Pta and seven years of living here, I cannot hardly remember any restaurant that did not offer at least one fish option. Where sourced and how fresh is another matter, though I have had few disappointments and no stomach problems.

Incidentally, for those familiar with the Aguaceros / Tam Tam stretch of the Malecon, there is a spot (with a notice board) where a rowing boat lands fish, normally twice a day depending on tides. There is usually a huddle of guys waiting to buy, some from restaurants. Maybe the rowboat loads the fish off a Japanese trawler just over the horizon, but I do not think so, because sometimes they come in almost empty-handed and, even when they have a lot, it usually comprises a few fish of many different varieties. All have tasted good.

I do not go that way much anymore and my favorite fish is now frozen robalo steaks from La Sirena. Three good meals for 200 pesos but watch out for the bones![/QUOTE]Charles, my man. So where did the yellow fin tuna I saw on the beach at Charamicos come from? The fish guy said from the Pacific. And if you look at the article I quoted two posts ago, you will see that it states that three quarters of the fish eaten in the DR is imported, so where exactly does it come from? Some of it is no doubt fish farmed, but tuna is not a species that is fish farmed as far as I know. I don't really know if the imported fish is delivered by the trawlers that catch it and freeze it, or transferred and shipped to the DR in containers, my point about Japanese trawlers was just a guess.

[QUOTE=Parkinsons;1849817] To really taste the freshness, one should eat it steamed a la Chinese style. [/QUOTE]Truer words have never been spoken, especially coming from someone whose cooking style (Cantonese), to me, is the best China has to offer, from vegetables to fish / sea food. Having said that, I would have to put quality sashimi, on top of the pile, even on top of say, steamed "soon hock", with chopped scallion, cilantro and shredded ginger dressing.