I first arrived in puerto plata when i first moved to this island. I soon realized, POP life was not for me. I hated bachata music and its listeners from the very beginning. I got disgusted by the fact, so many women in coastal area of north coast simply look for men for money. So many expats with hooker wives, girlfriends etc. just didn't get it. How is it a man goes out with a 500 pesos hooker and then marries her later? I hated the cuba-libre drinking culture of expats and the lack of any dominican culture in puerto plata area. I new after the first month, puerto plata was not for me. I still stayed there for 2 yrs, looking around, trying to make sense of my choice. I saw so many good people become part of this filthiness, and hollow dead-end lifestyle with the locals and expats (alike). Good girls dating street guys, calling them their fiance and good men falling for hookers, having babies with them etc. just didn't get it. I refused to be part of that. This is the difference, either you accept it, become part of the circus or you decide to part from it. I had decided to part from it. I knew I was not cut out for this and I didn't belong there. Now that i live in santiago, i feel much better and feel like I belong here. So it all depends, how a person feels and where they think they belong. This is why many people feel more comfortable living in santo donmingo & santiago, vs sosua and cabarete. I like sosua beach but I would never live there unless I am making a ton of money there.
AZB