:nervous: Hi,
We're staying at the El Candil, the husband and I, for one month! We've had it up to our ears with Boca Chica, but I must say it's convenient and comfortable at the hotel. The owners are wonderful to us and Giuseppe speaks 5 languages! Certainly, if you want to tour Santo Domingo you should do it on a tour (Caribe Tours, e.g.) as you will NOT want to drive in the city. The bus will have a/c and will bring you to the highlights. There are lots of good restaurants in BC and the beach is okay for little ones as there is virtually no surf, but you will grow sick of it and perhaps one day will jump on the gua-gua (bus) and take the 5 min. ride to Playa Caribe, a beach with waves and a decent restaurant and beach chairs to rent. The bus is 50 pesos or less and no charge for the baby.
As for the chicas who will only approach you when not with your wife, a simple "Non, gracias" will turn them away. Same phrase for the dozens of beach vendors who will try to sell you crap even if you're reading/sleeping/talking to someone on the beach. If you are in one of the restaurants (they are totally open to the street) the vendors will walk in and approach your table. I think I've said "Non, gracias" about ten million times in 2 1/2 weeks! We are not interested in buying cigars, viagara, coconut, shrimp, beads, clothing or cashews on the beach. When we are interested in shopping we go to a SHOP!!! We are famous here already because we are always walking with our little Welsh Corgi, Foxy, and mostly people either are afraid of her or want to pet her, but quite a few people have teased her terribly until we pull her along and get away from the offender. At this point not many people approach - I guess we are the ugly americans by now! If you want to PM me I'll fill you in on our favorite restaurants, markets, etc. The milk here is quite similar to home when purchased from the refrigerated section. The alternative is a Parmelat type product which the little one may not accustom to easily. But you'll have an easy time buying fresh organic veggies and fruit, and probably eat a lot of chicken with rice and beans (not the lovely spiced variety you'd find in Jamaica!) and lots of Italian food. Pizza here is wonderful almost anywhere.
Things I wish I brought with me: a roll of scotch tape, more comfortable shoes, an extra battery for my laptop, and a long lighter for lighting the cooktop in our apartment. Most valuable item I did bring: Burts' Bees Herbal LEmon Insect repellent. Moscas (mosquitos) are brutal if you're on their hit list. They don't bite Rick but the LOVE me! This product isn't poison to the little one and won't even force an extra bath as the smell is heavenly.
If you need to use the laptop haul it down to Playa Vista - a bar on the beach - and for the price of a beer you can access their WiFi. Peter and Fleming are great hosts there, and the wife and baby will enjoy sitting at the beach or in the sea. You can use the laptop on the beach, too, but be sure you're spending a few pesos in the bar. Within a few weeks El Candil will have high-speed internet but the wireless could take months. That's paradise for you!
Hope you're not too put off about coming here. You'll do fine as long as you're forewarned that the most common tourist here is a 60+ gentleman looking for an 18 yr old chica for the evening. Quite funny , really. I'm sure you'll be back at the hotel after dinner most evenings and the street doesn't come alive until 10 or so.
Send any questions you may have.
Janice & RIck from Cape Cod
