Santo Domingo

[QUOTE=Jaosousa; 1406358]Thanks for the report.

I have never been there during Semana Santa (Easter week). Hotel Plaza de Sol I have never seen.

On the weekends usually much less traffic in Santo Domingo.

Would you recommend Mitre?[/QUOTE]The city was DEAD essentially for Good Friday / Long weekend with people leaving the city. I thought I posted a separate report on Playa Palenque I visited on Saturday, I. E, the day after Good Friday which was over-crowded but I do not see it posted. May be I did not post after all.

Re Mitre, I am not going to go back. I looked at the Menu and asked the waiter if it was Italian owned. As the pasta choices were quite classy Italian and close to the real thing having tasted the left over from the woman who chose the pasta dish. The man said it was Italian-Domenican owned. Given that they did not have the Angus hamburger, I chose a steak and cheese (fontina) sandwich as a poor substitute, with the fries but I thought fries were too salty for my liking (and the steak dry) but then I am finicky about food and the pasta was good. I also did not like the fact that the chocolate mousse was way too frozen for my liking. A good mousse has to be at the right temp so it melts in you mouth quickly plus quality of dessert is a good indicator for a restaurant quality, for me.

Having said that, the woman I was with, liked the attention, the ambiance and the presentation so it might be okay to impress people and for a taste of good Italian food if one is into it. I liked the outdoor setting (they also have an indoor place but I was not keen about sitting inside on a lovely evening. Not sure if I would go and choose a steak there but again, my thoughts might be a gross over-generalization.

[QUOTE=BigLongBeach;1406291]FYI, when your walking up or down those steps at GBP don't hold the rail, They are sharp. It sounds stupid but those old building have old steel railings and I got a nasty cut. It was dark, I was tired and held the rail to steady myself then I got a deep cut.[/QUOTE]Sorry to hear that.

Thanks for giving the heads up.

GBP is but one of numerous tenants in that building, next time I go there, I will tell the bartender (she could pose for a Botero statue or painting). Anyone else who goes there, could do the same.

Clinica Abreu Medical Clinic on Avenida Independencia, near the big hotels on the Malecon, has been in business for a long time, open 24/7 for any medical emergencies: [url]http://www.clinicaabreu.com.do/[/url]

There are other Medical Clinics in the same area with slightly lower prices, some might be open 24/7. A walk in doctor visit at some clinics the price might start at 1000 pesos (about $25US). Numerous pharmacies in that area, with at least one open 24/7.

Some US Citizens study medicine in Santo Domingo.

[quote=jaosousa; 1406479]good site with many photos of santo domingo and other places:

[url]http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=802680[/url]

(page 5 has a few photos of dominicanas in public locations).

will a hotel prado be opened on the malecon near plaza guibia?

thanks.[/quote]some of these are outstanding inside as a few baseball players are buying these, other on differing blocks and really going at renovating them.

[QUOTE=Red Rex;1406297]Jao. An old pro[/QUOTE]Excellent Profile Name yours, love it.

[QUOTE=Alex Deuce;1406586]Some of these are outstanding inside as a few baseball players are buying these, other on differing blocks and really going at renovating them.[/QUOTE]Traffic can suck sometimes in Santo Domingo (lol), [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zt0fdLkSK4[/url], Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic 2013 celebration.

[QUOTE=Cagep1967; 1406180]I've been in DR for over 4 years now, living more there than here for the last 3+. I grew up in Brooklyn, in the projects. I've been robbed as a teenager, I've been scammed in NYC by Times Square hustlers. All of these things have happened once and only once. I learn from my mistakes and always have my eyes open. My girl always warns me when I go to different neighborhoods, I've never been in any place more dangerous than were I grew up. Gangs, Crack, AIDS, and STD's where rampant, every Friday night and Saturday I was woken by gunshots.

I've never experienced anything close to that in DR. Not to say it's totally safe, but I've never had an issue. I've had guys try and tout their services, looking for tips for nothing, I don't use the shoe shine guys, I don't let the window washers wash my windows unless it's necessary. I've not had the pro girls try and rob me (I've had bad service) , I've not had problems with maids stealing my stuff. I travel all over the world and the most trouble I've had with people are in the states.

The crowd of my dominican friends are not money grubbers, they are all middle class to upper middle class people. In fact, when hanging out they usually pay. If someone was down there and wanted to see the real DR not what you see in the tourist areas, I would be willing to open my door for a visit.[/QUOTE]Thanks for sharing your personal stories!

[QUOTE=Jaosousa; 1406608]Traffic can suck sometimes in Santo Domingo (LOL) ,

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zt0fdLkSK4[/url]

, Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic 2013 celebration.[/QUOTE]My boy that owns the Range that I have when I'm in town says that the competition is harder in DR than any minor league and some major team he has played on. I road with him to pick his brother up from practice and it was like somebody dumped every raggedy piece of shit in the Caribbean on 25th. You want to see some nice Chic's, go to a Dominican Professional game.

[QUOTE=Alex Deuce;1406641]My boy that owns the Range that I have when I'm in town says that the competition is harder in DR than any minor league and some major team he has played on. I road with him to pick his brother up from practice and it was like somebody dumped every raggedy piece of shit in the Caribbean on 25th. You want to see some nice Chic's, go to a Dominican Professional game.[/QUOTE]Primo there, Primo.

[QUOTE=Tempoecorto; 1406521]The city was DEAD essentially for Good Friday / Long weekend with people leaving the city. I thought I posted a separate report on Playa Palenque I visited on Saturday, I. E, the day after Good Friday which was over-crowded but I do not see it posted. May be I did not post after all.

Re Mitre, I am not going to go back. I looked at the Menu and asked the waiter if it was Italian owned. As the pasta choices were quite classy Italian and close to the real thing having tasted the left over from the woman who chose the pasta dish. The man said it was Italian-Domenican owned. Given that they did not have the Angus hamburger, I chose a steak and cheese (fontina) sandwich as a poor substitute, with the fries but I thought fries were too salty for my liking (and the steak dry) but then I am finicky about food and the pasta was good. I also did not like the fact that the chocolate mousse was way too frozen for my liking. A good mousse has to be at the right temp so it melts in you mouth quickly plus quality of dessert is a good indicator for a restaurant quality, for me.

Having said that, the woman I was with, liked the attention, the ambiance and the presentation so it might be okay to impress people and for a taste of good Italian food if one is into it. I liked the outdoor setting (they also have an indoor place but I was not keen about sitting inside on a lovely evening. Not sure if I would go and choose a steak there but again, my thoughts might be a gross over-generalization.[/QUOTE]Thanks. Supposedly there is also a cigar lounge / wine bar in Mitre, which could be a place to visit at night (not sure if you saw that part of the restaurant).

You say the city was Dead, how were the roads to drive on?

[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;1406521]As the pasta choices were quite classy Italian[/QUOTE]One of the best meals that I have had was a pasta dish in Plaza España in zona colonial. I don't remember the name of the place (when facing the group of restaurants in plaza espana, that restaurant was one of the first to the right). Sat outside for the meal. The DR woman I was with is studying be a Dr. and a DR friend who was in the PN for over ten years. The woman ordered a pasta dish with a cream sauce, which I sampled, it was good. I was a little drunk and hungry that night before the meal. (An excellent piece of meat I had many years ago was on Continental or Delta, flying out of SDQ).

I have had good happy hour (2 x 1 price) Mojitos while sitting outside at Plaza de España, with another ISG member and two Dominicanas. Those Mojitos were good. [url]http://www.gogobot.com/plaza-espana-santo-domingo-attraction[/url]

[QUOTE=Alex Deuce;1406641]My boy that owns the Range[/QUOTE]I hope you didn't do any of those Nuns on page 5, [url]http://www.lingeriediva.com/sexy-nun-costumes[/url], Sexy Nun Costumes.

[QUOTE=Alex Deuce;1406641]You want to see some nice Chic's, go to a Dominican Professional game.[/QUOTE]El pelotero (the Player) by Vakero, [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV8NSw3I72w[/url], the Guloyas (dancers inspired by their African roots) can be seen in the video.

Longtime Amiga in San Pedro de Macoris goes to the games. She sees Robinson Cano (named after the American baseball player Jackie Robinson) at the games in San Pedro de Macoris. Cano just sign with Roc Nation a Jay-Z company.

[QUOTE=Alex Deuce;1406641]My boy that owns the Range that I have when I'm in town says that the competition is harder in DR than any minor league and some major team he has played on. I road with him to pick his brother up from practice and it was like somebody dumped every raggedy piece of shit in the Caribbean on 25th. You want to see some nice Chic's, go to a Dominican Professional game.[/QUOTE]The Licey Tigers use Colombian girls for cheerleaders.

[url]http://youtu.be/9ulShJuZ2PQ[/url]

[QUOTE=Manizales911; 1406876]The Licey Tigers use Colombian girls for cheerleaders.

[url]http://youtu.be/9ulShJuZ2PQ[/url][/QUOTE]Nice. Do they play baseball in Colombia?

[QUOTE=Jaosousa; 1406794]Thanks. Supposedly there is also a cigar lounge / wine bar in Mitre, which could be a place to visit at night (not sure if you saw that part of the restaurant).

You say the city was Dead, how were the roads to drive on?[/QUOTE]No, I did not visit nor did I know or ask about cigar bar. The waiter asked us if we wanted to go in. I mean come on, I am from Boston, it is rare to be sitting outside so why would I go inside the A / C pod while the temperature out in the open was pleasant with a slight breeze. The street noise was low too given low traffic.

I tried the hookah.because the girl wanted it. A first time for me. 600 pesos.at the Lovera bar in Santiago but I coughed way too much, much to the bemusement of the two women I was with.

The Santo Domingo roads of that Friday night? I think it was Borges who wrote " streets were so quiet that you wonder if you were dreaming". The roads belonged to you. Literally and figuratively. Saturday morning was already different.