Many a moons ago in Santiago!

Pavan

Member
Jan 18, 2002
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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.
 
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Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
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FYI

Ah, the way it was. FYI, the Molino has fallen on hard times and will be purchased by Mr. Compr?s, who owns the Cafeto, just a bit mor up the same road.

Francifol has changed hands and is now run by some young studs...still the bomb. Now we also have Baha, and a few more.
That disco down town was in the basement, right? With balck and white decoration.? Good bar...

the old lady at Bader's passed on this fall...

Good memories of an ol' Santiago...

HB
 

andy a

Bronze
Feb 23, 2002
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The hotel was called Camino Real. Today it's Hodelpa (Central?).

The disco was a great pickup place. The entrance was through the lobby. Guys could sit there and watch as the girls arrived, or left, and see whether they were unattached. Girls usually took the elevator the single floor down to the disco. If a guy watching from a couch in the lobby saw one that he liked, he could hurry down the stairs and see which way she went to sit in the dark disco. The admission was only about 20 pesos, which included a drink.

It had a restaurant on the top floor that gave a nice view of the city.

There was an American woman who worked at the hotel. She was good for occasional conversation, emergency translation, and maybe even advice.

Ah..., the good ole days.
 

Pavan

Member
Jan 18, 2002
512
2
18
Camino Real it was!

Yes Andy, it was the Camino Real. Remember where the palacio de justicia now stands there were houses with streets and street lights.

I was driving one morning to work and saw all kinds of military who were pulling people out of their homes and the bulldozers were standing by to knock the houses over......development I guess.

HillBilly as soon as you hear that the El Molino has opened and I can actually order the fresh orange juice, coffee, and later on Surf and Turf please drop me a line. Did I mention the Bloody Marys!

Not to be forgotten was the old airport and the Liat flight twice a day to San Juan.
 

burmellW

New member
Dec 22, 2003
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Your posts about Santiago a few years ago reminded me of may happy times living there thirteen years ago. Remember the big 7up can at Central and Estella Sadalah. You would almost never see a Semi on the road except for those hauling gas, and since there was no gas, you didn't see many of those.

I have not been in the DR for more than two years, am planning to spend a week back in Santiago the fisrt of Feb. I can hardly wait to see so many friends while I am there.
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
18,948
514
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La Lata

It is now a KFC huddled under the overpass, across the street from a Mickye D and a Texaco

The Cine Doble is long gone.

Kakay is now where Mezzaluna used to be, and quite nice store...

Burnell: Welcome to call at the HB Hovel.....

HB