I swore off posting on threads awhile back but after reading 26 pages about a topic that is so dear to my heart, I couldnt resist not throwing my 2 and a half pesos into the well , even if its at yesderdays exchange rate.
When I moved here 16 years ago and opened my own short lived version of the American dream on Playa Sosua , I recall the same rumors being circulated about the path of progress eventually bull dozing the casitas and future plans to make an elite sancocho out of a mongers meatloaf.
Unfortunatly , the devil may be getting his due this time and one needs to only wake up and look at this disturbing trend that has been rapidly accelerated under the latest administration in its quest to make the D.R a Disney style " upscale " destination and finally put thier man on the moon...
2 weeks ago I went to my favorite beach in the country , El Valle near Samana and I was in shock when I arrived and was greeted by a milatary police trailer instead of the 7 little bar restaurants that were recently knocked down and cleared out without a moments notice to the poor owners . " Squatters" of course but just the same , they pulled this stunt on Playa Macao and Cabeza de Toro near Bavaro as well as Las Terrenas and soon Miches with its second all inc under way is the next jewel to be pawned..
Staying in context , it was only a matter of time before the cracked dominoe in Sosua fell but I find it interesting that no one has remarked about other in corresponding changes ( once unthinkable) that have all but spelled death for the town as we know it , such as the opening of Marriot next to Sosua by the sea ,and the new " entertainment " red light plaza by High Caribbean which is ready to house atleast 20 new bars..
Does anyone really think Marriott would invest in a town that looks like gangstas paradise with repulsive , profane grafity being regurgitated from every other bar on the beach at deafining volumes along with Walmart caliber street gals covered in Mamis Avon and homemade rat tats.?
This plan has been a long time on the burner and this current President and his sidekick Collado are cutting ribbons and pouring concrete at light speed and the latest visit with land title transfer should convince the nay sayers that " this time they mean business ".
Personally I believe all the hype and concern over protest and unrest is merely a green boogey man under the bed , as this scenario did NOT happen in any of the other beach towns that Ive mentioned above ( even when they were forced out )..
True , as I learned back when I had my short tenor on the beach, not one vendor owns nor has any right to that land . At best he may own the shack on the land and may even sub lease it but when push comes to shovel he can take his wood pile home when the curtain closes...
I also do find it curious how oblivious some of these present day business owners are to the status quo as most seem to be more interested in being pop culture you tube stars with cult followings than selling beer.
Another overlooked factor is that out of those 130 or so " operational " shanty shacks , atleast half are ran or owned by Haitians and we know how much right or voice they have in this fight and incidentaley ,many which are illegal and just a bunch of street hustling tigueres .
However to conclude this diary , I for the record will miss Sosua as we know it. Kill the beach and declaw the kitty.
And although most Dominicans wont articulate it , its so much more about economics , as most of these establishments barely make ends meet , but rather about preserving a culture and a way if life that is familiar and all most of them have ever known.
Does Sosua need a face lift ? Well , maybe a few shots of botox will suffice , and although I personally think atleast a few weeds should be pulled , the garden should be left to flourish..
Sosua is like no other place in the DR or on earth.
Maybe playa Magante or Ensenada have great local vibes and Dominican authenticity but Sosua beach is a cultural melting pot offering some of the best free entertainment one can get on a Sunday afternoon as they sip a cold drink and just watch the perpetual freak show procession stagger by lol.
Whatever Sosuas future may hold, Im just grateful for all the fond nostalgic moments and memories God has blessed me with . I will miss it.