Hi I'm a new member to the DR1 forum. My name's Paul and I live just outside London (UK) with my Dominican wife 'Daysi' and 2 children 'Ana 6yrs' and 'George 4yrs'. I'll introduce myself with a brief summary of my DR experiences. Don't all fall off to sleep at once.
I first visited the DR in January 1995 with my sister. It was an ALL INC at the Montemar hotel in POP. This was where I met my wife who was working in the Salon. It took me a few days to persuade her it was ok to date a guest and we met at a night-club on the malecon. I was smitten immediately. She was very worried that she'd get the sack if the hotel manager found out so I had to refrain from hanging around her at the hotel looking like a love-sick puppy.
At the end of the 2 weeks it was 'buckets of tears' time. I went back to London, and booked another 2 weeks at the Montemar immediately. I flew back 2 weeks later, again with my sis and we stunned everyone as we strolled into reception. This next 2 weeks for me were marvellous. I spent all day soaking up the sun around the pool and as soon as Daysi was finished in the salon I dashed out to meet her. During this time I met a lot of her friends and discovered that generally the Dominican people are really quite special. She came from a poor family but they would put on a spread when you visited that was beyond belief. It was a culture shock to meet people so kind and happy with their lot in life.
The end of the holiday found us doing an all night stint at 'La Barika' night club, where it's so dark you tend to spend a lot of time crashing into tables and knocking drinks over. The merenge favourites had us both in tears again at the prospect of being apart.
Well this time when I got home, it was all of 6 weeks before I managed to get back again. Another ALL INC, this time at Playa Dorada, Playa Naco hotel. Don't get me wrong I'm in no way loaded, I just piled it all onto the old Visa card.
When I visited the Montemar for the 3rd time in 2 months the staff were convinced I was either a millionaire or completely mad.
This 3rd holiday I actually spent at Daysi's appartment just off of Avenida Cincumbalacion by Scarletts Farmancia.
By the way this was where a good friend of mine lived. His name is Alberto Reyes. He was working on the Jet-ski's on Playa Dorada beach at that time. I'm sorry to say when I went back last year he had moved. I was told he was working for Sea-Pro as a diving instructor at Sosua. Anyone know him ?
Don't worry I'm nearly finished. I decided to come back to England, pack up work and come back to DR to live. I actually came back in the beginning of Sept 95. Daysi & me got wed in October in Santo Domingo. I wanted to get a watersports company going but hit all sorts of problems, mainly getting the jet-skis out of customs. I called it a day and we both moved back to the UK just before Christmas 95.
Since then we have settled down and have 2 lovely kids. They both look like angels but have the most ferocious latin tempers.
We have bought a place in Santo Domingo which we let out. Daysi's family are all based around the capital. We've been back three times over the last 7 years, not nearly enough.
I love the country with a passion. We intend, if all goes to plan, to move back to DR in 5 years time. I know it means taking the kids out of a state funded education into I suppose an expensive private one, but I honestly think they will benefit in the long run from simply living in a country where the family & neighbours are still important. You walk down the street here, and poeple will avoid eye contact with you, in the DR you get a smile and a Hola from most people you pass in the street.
I just hope I can stay sane for the next 5 years thats all.
Well If anyone managed to stay with me all through that lot then I guess you you've got the benefit of sitting on a breeze cooled veranda with an ice cold Presidente to keep you company.
Here's looking forward to my next visit to my real home.
Bye for now.....
I first visited the DR in January 1995 with my sister. It was an ALL INC at the Montemar hotel in POP. This was where I met my wife who was working in the Salon. It took me a few days to persuade her it was ok to date a guest and we met at a night-club on the malecon. I was smitten immediately. She was very worried that she'd get the sack if the hotel manager found out so I had to refrain from hanging around her at the hotel looking like a love-sick puppy.
At the end of the 2 weeks it was 'buckets of tears' time. I went back to London, and booked another 2 weeks at the Montemar immediately. I flew back 2 weeks later, again with my sis and we stunned everyone as we strolled into reception. This next 2 weeks for me were marvellous. I spent all day soaking up the sun around the pool and as soon as Daysi was finished in the salon I dashed out to meet her. During this time I met a lot of her friends and discovered that generally the Dominican people are really quite special. She came from a poor family but they would put on a spread when you visited that was beyond belief. It was a culture shock to meet people so kind and happy with their lot in life.
The end of the holiday found us doing an all night stint at 'La Barika' night club, where it's so dark you tend to spend a lot of time crashing into tables and knocking drinks over. The merenge favourites had us both in tears again at the prospect of being apart.
Well this time when I got home, it was all of 6 weeks before I managed to get back again. Another ALL INC, this time at Playa Dorada, Playa Naco hotel. Don't get me wrong I'm in no way loaded, I just piled it all onto the old Visa card.
When I visited the Montemar for the 3rd time in 2 months the staff were convinced I was either a millionaire or completely mad.
This 3rd holiday I actually spent at Daysi's appartment just off of Avenida Cincumbalacion by Scarletts Farmancia.
By the way this was where a good friend of mine lived. His name is Alberto Reyes. He was working on the Jet-ski's on Playa Dorada beach at that time. I'm sorry to say when I went back last year he had moved. I was told he was working for Sea-Pro as a diving instructor at Sosua. Anyone know him ?
Don't worry I'm nearly finished. I decided to come back to England, pack up work and come back to DR to live. I actually came back in the beginning of Sept 95. Daysi & me got wed in October in Santo Domingo. I wanted to get a watersports company going but hit all sorts of problems, mainly getting the jet-skis out of customs. I called it a day and we both moved back to the UK just before Christmas 95.
Since then we have settled down and have 2 lovely kids. They both look like angels but have the most ferocious latin tempers.
We have bought a place in Santo Domingo which we let out. Daysi's family are all based around the capital. We've been back three times over the last 7 years, not nearly enough.
I love the country with a passion. We intend, if all goes to plan, to move back to DR in 5 years time. I know it means taking the kids out of a state funded education into I suppose an expensive private one, but I honestly think they will benefit in the long run from simply living in a country where the family & neighbours are still important. You walk down the street here, and poeple will avoid eye contact with you, in the DR you get a smile and a Hola from most people you pass in the street.
I just hope I can stay sane for the next 5 years thats all.
Well If anyone managed to stay with me all through that lot then I guess you you've got the benefit of sitting on a breeze cooled veranda with an ice cold Presidente to keep you company.
Here's looking forward to my next visit to my real home.
Bye for now.....
