First off I will start off by saying that I have been travelling to the DR for the past five years and have stayed at a number of resorts and have recently started renting apartments or houses instead of resorts. I have gained a ton of knowledge through this website. I have not posted much but have been a lurker for awhile. I usually take a two week vacation every three months. This year I decided to try something different. Although I had rented a house in Costambar for two weeks(Jan - Feb) and had a great time and I went back for six days(mar) to Bavaro and stayed in an apartment in El Cortecito. I recently did five weeks. My first 5 days were in Bavaro and I rented the same apartment( as I had in mar). I got to celebrate my birthday at the new bar which used to be News( I cant remember the name) partied til 7am then had a beer and swam in the ocean. I the flew with Take off Airlines to Puerto Plata ( recommend it if you can afford it) went to IIC school for spanish lessons in Sosua for three weeks. I highly recommend this school - I had a great time. I had a few meals a Rocky's and enjoyed everything I had ( no complaints) Tried a number of other restuarants - not going to comment on them as I found a few overpriced. Did go to Sea Crets to sit at the outside bar before going dancing at X Club. Did a few day trips to Cabarete and went surfing at Encuentro beach. After my three weeks were over, my boyfriend took me to see his family in Bonao for 6 days - got to use my new spanish skills - did ok. I love Bonao. Went fishing and swimming ( love the mountains and the rivers) but got eaten alive by mosquitos. I did take the bus for the trip to Bonao and then back to Bavaro. I rented a different apartment this time for the last eight days. It is a new apartment on the second road near Los Corales( I think thats the name) it is before Villa Princessa( which I did see and they are really nice) -on the same road. Pretty much un eventful - just time to unwind and relax. Hung on the beach , went to Mangu a few times. Then the second last day came and my vacation was turned up side down. I got up early and went to the beach, went back to my apartment to relax and watch a movie on my laptop. I was in my bedroom, had the curtians drawn ( which had been drawn the whole time I was there) there was only a sliver of an opening. I had never opened the window and it was locked. I felt like someone was watching me. I kept turning around but never saw anyone. So I shut my computer down and went in the living to make a phone call cause I was meeting my boyfriend for lunch. For some reason I went back into my bedroom and there was a guy climbing into my window.( he had pulled the window out of the track) I screamed my head off and ran out( I did startle him ) he backed out a little as I ran out to get help. For some reason I ran back into my room to grab my computer because knew that was what he was after. When I went back into my room the guy was pretty much in my room and when he saw me he pulled a knife out of his pants. I high tailed it out of my room as fast as I can. I figured if he had the balls to pull it out, he probably had the balls to use it. So I am screaming at the top of my lungs and the rest of the apartment renters come out, the workers working on the roof came down, the security guard called the owner right away.( the one thing that ****ed me off was that the security guard from the apartment next door saw the guy climb in and out of my room but didnt do anything) With in minutes the owner ( he was awesome )came and I was too shaken so I had him call my boyfriend who is a Politur officer and within minutes they were there. They checked the only escape route this guy could have taken. there was no sign. So down to the Politur station I go and file a report with the help of my boyfriend. For the rest of the day I had an escort every where I went until I went to another friends house. I did nt stay at the apartment that night as I was a little freaked out. I stayed at a hotel and the next morning I had another escort back to my apartment to finish packing and then to the aeroport. The good news is that I got word that my computer was found in la Romana and was retrieved. It is now at the Politur station in Bavaro. I wont be able to get it til probably oct but I do know that nothing was erased. Had I left my apartment like I had planned the robber would probably have gotten my purse and digital camera too. I did do two day trips - four wheeling and the Kontiki catamaran - had a blast on both. I have to say the whole robbery has shaken me but I will be back because I do love the country.