Eleven times the rains have come and eleven times the rains have gone since I first set foot on DR. Santiago was my city (or that time - town) to live in be.
Remember when the power used to be gone for 18 hours and it was not a problem, you just got used to it. Traffic lights were few and far between and most of the cars were held together using, rope, wire or bondo.
When you had the urge to taste some pizza you drove on 27 to a place called Pala Pizza. Movies were on the "Doble" or the down town theater which was eventually shut for showing X-rated flicks to school kids.
El Gran Almirante was just finished in 1992 even their telephone number's last four digits are 1992. Their disco was always loaded with rich kids and hardly any vulguraty shown. The parking was where the Casino now imposes itself to anyone passing on the Estrella Sadhala and there was only one building with about 50 rooms. That was a nice hanging out place.
Other places were the never dying Franci Fal Cafe on the starting bit of Calle de Sol, the long gone Tin Marin which ran from a 40 foot container where the old Codetel used to be. El Jarro Cafe, La Embajada were the only two decent bars in the Monument back street areas. Some old establishments like Casa Bader where you found real cold beer and authentic quipes were also part of the favourite spots to hit.
There was no Theater Nacional in those days. All the Chimi Churi stands which now flock the 'malecon' were strewn all over where the Theater now stands. It was so nice to be able to have a 'Sanwich de Pierna con todo' while looking at the monument.
Hardly any cars on the road. I used to drive from Villa Olga in the South to the Free Zona in 12 minutes and not even think about it.
I remember the La Pista restaurant where you went Saturday afternoons and had cold beer overlooking the Monument and had those delicious pinchos.
Some other places were the Camp David when they were really small, the food was good, and all those cars were where now they have the garden. That time they did not take credit cards as they were not equipped for it. The Pez Dorado, El Cafe and La Taverna Verde were always there.
I liked going on Sundays to the Moca road take a left turn, go up the hill to a restaurant called El Molino. Boy the surf and turf was great. (Remember that one HillBilly?).
Discos were the never fading Ambis, El Gran Almirante, Las Vegas, and the downtown hotel one (Can't remember the name).
The best hamburgers were at a place very close to my house called Rincon Burger. The guy operated out of a very small cart and now he has a full flegged restaurant.
Supermercados were limited to Monumental, Central and the Victoria. Many more came and went thereafters. The best part was that the pequena was RD$ 6.00 per bottle and the Grande at RD$ 10.00 per bottle.
Remember when the power used to be gone for 18 hours and it was not a problem, you just got used to it. Traffic lights were few and far between and most of the cars were held together using, rope, wire or bondo.
When you had the urge to taste some pizza you drove on 27 to a place called Pala Pizza. Movies were on the "Doble" or the down town theater which was eventually shut for showing X-rated flicks to school kids.
El Gran Almirante was just finished in 1992 even their telephone number's last four digits are 1992. Their disco was always loaded with rich kids and hardly any vulguraty shown. The parking was where the Casino now imposes itself to anyone passing on the Estrella Sadhala and there was only one building with about 50 rooms. That was a nice hanging out place.
Other places were the never dying Franci Fal Cafe on the starting bit of Calle de Sol, the long gone Tin Marin which ran from a 40 foot container where the old Codetel used to be. El Jarro Cafe, La Embajada were the only two decent bars in the Monument back street areas. Some old establishments like Casa Bader where you found real cold beer and authentic quipes were also part of the favourite spots to hit.
There was no Theater Nacional in those days. All the Chimi Churi stands which now flock the 'malecon' were strewn all over where the Theater now stands. It was so nice to be able to have a 'Sanwich de Pierna con todo' while looking at the monument.
Hardly any cars on the road. I used to drive from Villa Olga in the South to the Free Zona in 12 minutes and not even think about it.
I remember the La Pista restaurant where you went Saturday afternoons and had cold beer overlooking the Monument and had those delicious pinchos.
Some other places were the Camp David when they were really small, the food was good, and all those cars were where now they have the garden. That time they did not take credit cards as they were not equipped for it. The Pez Dorado, El Cafe and La Taverna Verde were always there.
I liked going on Sundays to the Moca road take a left turn, go up the hill to a restaurant called El Molino. Boy the surf and turf was great. (Remember that one HillBilly?).
Discos were the never fading Ambis, El Gran Almirante, Las Vegas, and the downtown hotel one (Can't remember the name).
The best hamburgers were at a place very close to my house called Rincon Burger. The guy operated out of a very small cart and now he has a full flegged restaurant.
Supermercados were limited to Monumental, Central and the Victoria. Many more came and went thereafters. The best part was that the pequena was RD$ 6.00 per bottle and the Grande at RD$ 10.00 per bottle.
Last edited: