I visit Samana every 12 - 18 months. It's lovely. I enjoy it. I was there for a few days in Oct. 2006. What happened?
1. There were stories in the local press 2 - 3 years ago @ how some Arab $ - US $50 million - 150 million - 150 million - was going to dredge the entire harbor & finance a huge [200 - 400 - 600 boat] marina. What marina? Where is the marina? The harbor has evidently been dredged [ie my supposition].
2. The Malecon is beautiful! Well designed & well executed! Nicer than the Malecons in Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata - in my subjective opinion. But, . . it's empty.
3. The portion of "downtown" Samana opposite the Malecon looks like Baghdad! Burned out buildings, deserted buildings, abandoned shops & restaurants. Few pedestrians. 4 - 5 years ago most of this space was relatively occupied & open! What happened? The local businesss community appears to have fled to Iraq?
4. Most of the locals I spoke to complained that there was no $ on the street & no tourists - in downtown Samana at least. The retail shops near the 2 rotaries appeared active.
5. Somebody [foreign $ probably] is building a large strip shopping center ["plaza"] near the 2nd rotary. Where will the tenants come from?
6. Will the opening of the Nagua airport work a miracle for Samana? Can downtown Samana rise from the dead. Is this 'Atlantica' [cf Luperon] all over again?
7. Las Terrenas? The exact opposite circumstances. Why? Where art thou. Samana? I'm lost. Thank you.
1. There were stories in the local press 2 - 3 years ago @ how some Arab $ - US $50 million - 150 million - 150 million - was going to dredge the entire harbor & finance a huge [200 - 400 - 600 boat] marina. What marina? Where is the marina? The harbor has evidently been dredged [ie my supposition].
2. The Malecon is beautiful! Well designed & well executed! Nicer than the Malecons in Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata - in my subjective opinion. But, . . it's empty.
3. The portion of "downtown" Samana opposite the Malecon looks like Baghdad! Burned out buildings, deserted buildings, abandoned shops & restaurants. Few pedestrians. 4 - 5 years ago most of this space was relatively occupied & open! What happened? The local businesss community appears to have fled to Iraq?
4. Most of the locals I spoke to complained that there was no $ on the street & no tourists - in downtown Samana at least. The retail shops near the 2 rotaries appeared active.
5. Somebody [foreign $ probably] is building a large strip shopping center ["plaza"] near the 2nd rotary. Where will the tenants come from?
6. Will the opening of the Nagua airport work a miracle for Samana? Can downtown Samana rise from the dead. Is this 'Atlantica' [cf Luperon] all over again?
7. Las Terrenas? The exact opposite circumstances. Why? Where art thou. Samana? I'm lost. Thank you.