My 2cents!
For the guy commenting on Crime in CR:
Crime has been going up in all countries in the world lately, but I did not knew it was that bad in CR. Too bad since I like it there too, I don't like it more than the DR, but I like it. There have been some crime in the DR by foreigners (mostly Colombians with drugs and money laundering and there was a group of Mexicans kidnapping people about a year ago), all of that seem to have stop recently. There are some Haitians stealing cars here and there, but the worst (I hate to say it, but its the truth) are the Dominicans, especially those that have been deported. But, crime in the DR doesn't exist compare to how you described Costa Rica's problem!
But, look how lucky you are to live in the DR which is relatively safe because in Mexico City there are an average of 5 kidnappings per day and in Buenos Aires there is an average of 7 killings per day! Brazil has a pretty high crime rate in its big cities. I've heard of incidents of a couple from the States that were rob at gun point (supposedly an uzi!) by an 8 year old kid!! 8 year old!!! I'm sure that if you average the crime in Brazil on a per capita basis, it's still quite safe, but that 8 year old kid is still on the lose! I don't think I want to be near any kid in Brazil, and I LOOOVVVEEEE Brazil!
I've also heard that in Ecuador they have the "Moving Theft Gang". Supposedly these gangs break into a house (usually a house where the owners are on vacation somewhere or left for some reason) and the robbers go into the house as if they own it, very calm and normal and they begin to move everything into a truck!! When the owners gets home, the only things left are the walls and the windows!!!
Also in Panama there have been a rise in kidnapping (mostly from Colombian drug dealers) where guys on jeeps block a car in front and in the back at an intersection and at gun point hijack the car and kidnaps the person.
Again, there is some crime in the DR and even kidnappings came to the island during the crime wave which appears to have ended in March of this year. But compared to what happens in other places, the DR still seems like a safe haven. I guess that if crime gets bad in the DR than the rest of the world must be living a real hell.
For the guy referring to the girls:
Listen, the DR has all types. Big ones, small ones, white ones, black ones, mixed ones, blonde ones, brunnete, sincere, sexy, reserved, educated, uneducated, Japanese, Jewish, Middle Eastern, Haitians, British, you name it they are here. You just need to come and search around or just sit at a cafe in Calle el Conde and wait for the right one to pass you by. People watching is so fun and interesting in the DR since there are some really stunning women and even the ones that lack beauty on their faces have a body to make it all up 100%!! In addition they always carry a smile or are in a good mood that sometimes it feels too easy to start a conversation with a hottie. But like all countries, some are going to be rude and such, but be secure that for the most part its pure beauties inside and out that you will get!
For the one looking to move to the DR:
In the DR you can live yourlife as simple or as complicated as you want or your wallet allows. Nobody bothers you here when it comes to your lifestyle. If you want to live under a Ceiba Tree, nobody will tell you no and there are no laws that prohibits that. If you want to live in a shack made of cardboard, again go right ahead. If you want to live in a moderate house, mansion, penthouse, or even in a palace the size of Montana, nobody would care. The general attitude in the DR is do what you can afford and makes you happy! Even if you have a taste for rock ugly square houses in the middle of a fashionable neighborhood, again nobody will put up anything with you. People simply look the other way. You paint your house silver with the shine and all, nobody would care. People would just say to themselves "who ever lives in that house probably lost his mind" but that's it, no petitions to force you to change your house, no insults, no nothing even from your neighbors. You might have to put up with people listening to music way to high, but since people here have a respect for the happiness of others, nobody complaints about the high music even if it is at 3am! It's the way Dominicans are!
If you want to live a life of stress in the DR, you can certainly do that! If you want the simple life, you can do that also. The DR has it all and can offer it all to whomever wants it. No restrictions, no adjustments, just whatever makes you happy!! The DR is a modern country with mega supermarkets that carry everything from Heinz Ketchup to Ballpark Hot Dogs and stuff you probably didn't know existed. There are shopping malls to remind you of your homecountry, there are movie theaters with first run movies, there is high speed internet access, satelite TV, Taco Bells, Mc. Donalds, Office Buildings, Highrises, luxury hotels, in short, everything that you are used to exist in the DR. But you can also live the simple life out in the countryside somewhere, coming to civilization for the essentials if that's your wish. The DR is a GREAT country, if you decide to move have the best of luck!!!
