A lot of you chimed in to my previous thread. It is now closed. Here are some thought after 24 hours in the DR.
First, I commented in the last thread that I look Dominican. Well, it is confirmed. They are surprised when the find out I am American. I do speak decent Spanish, but being here tells me to keep pushing to get better.
-There is a lot to like and a lot to dislike
--Like
---Cheap Transportation From City To City
---Perople Friendly (So Far)
---Generally cheap - so far
---People like to have fun. Went to the Malecon the first night. Had fun, felt perfectly safe. They had kareoke, people were really getting into it. Little kids riding around on power wheels. Was nice.
--Dislike
---All my contacts have to worry about using up their cell minutes
---Cant drink the water from the tap
---Apparently not safe. I havent felt danger - but all the warnings from EVERYONE is a bit much
---Trash in the streets
---The poverty that is apparent.
---Cant use my credit card nearly as much as in the states.
--Still Deciding
---Traffic patterns. Not Sure if this is good or bad
---Dogs in the streets, I hate to see dogs in cages. The dogs on the streets dont seem to bother anyone
Those are some initial thoughts. Today is New Year's Eve. We will see what the day brings! Thanks all for the support and commentary.
Btw. Arrived 12/29 to Santo Domingo about 6pm. Went to the Malecon about 8pm - back to the hotel about 10.30pm. Day 2 went to Santiago early. Got there at 11am. Stayed till about 4pm. Back at hotel in Santo Domingo about 6.30pm. Stayed in last night.
First, I commented in the last thread that I look Dominican. Well, it is confirmed. They are surprised when the find out I am American. I do speak decent Spanish, but being here tells me to keep pushing to get better.
-There is a lot to like and a lot to dislike
--Like
---Cheap Transportation From City To City
---Perople Friendly (So Far)
---Generally cheap - so far
---People like to have fun. Went to the Malecon the first night. Had fun, felt perfectly safe. They had kareoke, people were really getting into it. Little kids riding around on power wheels. Was nice.
--Dislike
---All my contacts have to worry about using up their cell minutes
---Cant drink the water from the tap
---Apparently not safe. I havent felt danger - but all the warnings from EVERYONE is a bit much
---Trash in the streets
---The poverty that is apparent.
---Cant use my credit card nearly as much as in the states.
--Still Deciding
---Traffic patterns. Not Sure if this is good or bad
---Dogs in the streets, I hate to see dogs in cages. The dogs on the streets dont seem to bother anyone
Those are some initial thoughts. Today is New Year's Eve. We will see what the day brings! Thanks all for the support and commentary.
Btw. Arrived 12/29 to Santo Domingo about 6pm. Went to the Malecon about 8pm - back to the hotel about 10.30pm. Day 2 went to Santiago early. Got there at 11am. Stayed till about 4pm. Back at hotel in Santo Domingo about 6.30pm. Stayed in last night.