C
Charlie
Guest
re: just returned from Santo Domingo - 2nd Segment
Hi once more DR lovers.. thought I'd give another segment on my recent visit to Santo Domingo, 9/21 - 9/27th.
Santo Domingo:
New construction abounds. I counted 9 new hi-rise buildings under construction, while sitting at an intersection on the way to Plaza Central. Noticed only 1 building using a crane to speed construction. The others had groups of 6 - 8 men, hoisting steel rods up the sides of buildings. Very dangerous. I was told most of the men doing such grunt work were Haitians. The traffic in Santo Domingo is heavy anytime of day. Try imagining New York City without a subway. That is the traffic level in Santo Domingo. The streets are predominantly dark at night. Even on main drags like Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln Ave, and so on - Most street lights are poor. Do not hail down a street taxi at night. Call an established taxi company.
Chic nightspot:
Peperoni's at the corner of Sarasota Ave. and Winston Churchill Ave. is quite popular in mid-town. Although, it tends to draw a conclave of nuevo rica Italians that line the curb with their Mercedes and Porches. Italian food is deliciously prepared and service is good. Saturday night you can expect a 30 minute wait for a table. Cost is reasonable. Rey's Taco is across the street and also popular. Plus there is another Italian restaurant, next door down from Peperoni's.
Interesting conversations:
I overheard American engineers contracted by Dominican power companies to help supply more electricity to the country complain about having vital pumps and other important items sandbagged at customs for days at a time, because bureaucrats demanded duties be paid. They deemed this as ineptness, when the country is struggling to provide enough electricity on a daily basis to its people and industries.
Talked to 2 businessmen from Minneapolis that were opening a garment factory in San Pedro. They will produce caps for L.L. Bean , Eddie Bauer. Workers get paid 800 pesos a week. U.S. cut goods are not taxed coming into the country if assembled goods by Dominican labor are exported out. Apparel companies are springing up left and right in the country since tariff laws have been relaxed for export.
Met U.S. porn star, Ginger Lee (70s- 80s)who was staying at the Hispaniola. Ginger said she had a bad liver and doesn't have that much time left.
Santo Domingo Hotel:
Beautiful lobby. You need a security gaurd to allow you access to the 3rd floor business center. The Marrakesh bar and cafe was getting a paint job. It looks sharp. In fact, all the parking spaces, parking lot curbs, everything outside the Santo Domingo Hotel is freshly painted and looks sharp. Their buffet is very good and will run you $15 -$16. Which is better deal than the over-priced $26. Jaragua buffet.
Using Visa in Santo Domingo:
Upon making multiple multiple purchases at Plaza Central, I was cut-off with Visa, even though I had thousands in credit left on my card. Visa thought someone had stolen my card. Cost 2 hours of my vacation to straigthen out with VISA. Good reason for using American Express.
Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Ford Modeling Agency held an International Supermodel Competition at the Renaissance Jaragua. It was a big production with live band, professional dance troupes, singers..equal to anything in Las Vegas. Plus 30 of the most incredibly beautiful women I have ever seen in my life. After the show, the models spilled out onto the Jaragua casino floor with men going ga-ga, in disbelief at seeing such beauties milling about.
The Jaragua hotel:
They have built a Hagen Daz ice cream and coffee bar over the summer in the shop promenade across from their 24 hour cafe. Champions is still best sports bar around, with very friendly staff. Jaragua has more security and gaurds per square inch than any city hotel. Made me slightly uncomfortable just walking to their gift shop.
Hispaniola poolside restaurant:
Food is expensive, but not Jaragua, Santo Domingo, or Inter Continental quality. Probably explains why patrons are sparse. Overall atmosphere is nice with the adjacent pool.
Weather:
Rainy season has began. It rained hard for many hours during several evenings.
Overall, a relaxing laidback vacation. Any questions, I will be glad to answer.
Charlie W.
Hi once more DR lovers.. thought I'd give another segment on my recent visit to Santo Domingo, 9/21 - 9/27th.
Santo Domingo:
New construction abounds. I counted 9 new hi-rise buildings under construction, while sitting at an intersection on the way to Plaza Central. Noticed only 1 building using a crane to speed construction. The others had groups of 6 - 8 men, hoisting steel rods up the sides of buildings. Very dangerous. I was told most of the men doing such grunt work were Haitians. The traffic in Santo Domingo is heavy anytime of day. Try imagining New York City without a subway. That is the traffic level in Santo Domingo. The streets are predominantly dark at night. Even on main drags like Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln Ave, and so on - Most street lights are poor. Do not hail down a street taxi at night. Call an established taxi company.
Chic nightspot:
Peperoni's at the corner of Sarasota Ave. and Winston Churchill Ave. is quite popular in mid-town. Although, it tends to draw a conclave of nuevo rica Italians that line the curb with their Mercedes and Porches. Italian food is deliciously prepared and service is good. Saturday night you can expect a 30 minute wait for a table. Cost is reasonable. Rey's Taco is across the street and also popular. Plus there is another Italian restaurant, next door down from Peperoni's.
Interesting conversations:
I overheard American engineers contracted by Dominican power companies to help supply more electricity to the country complain about having vital pumps and other important items sandbagged at customs for days at a time, because bureaucrats demanded duties be paid. They deemed this as ineptness, when the country is struggling to provide enough electricity on a daily basis to its people and industries.
Talked to 2 businessmen from Minneapolis that were opening a garment factory in San Pedro. They will produce caps for L.L. Bean , Eddie Bauer. Workers get paid 800 pesos a week. U.S. cut goods are not taxed coming into the country if assembled goods by Dominican labor are exported out. Apparel companies are springing up left and right in the country since tariff laws have been relaxed for export.
Met U.S. porn star, Ginger Lee (70s- 80s)who was staying at the Hispaniola. Ginger said she had a bad liver and doesn't have that much time left.
Santo Domingo Hotel:
Beautiful lobby. You need a security gaurd to allow you access to the 3rd floor business center. The Marrakesh bar and cafe was getting a paint job. It looks sharp. In fact, all the parking spaces, parking lot curbs, everything outside the Santo Domingo Hotel is freshly painted and looks sharp. Their buffet is very good and will run you $15 -$16. Which is better deal than the over-priced $26. Jaragua buffet.
Using Visa in Santo Domingo:
Upon making multiple multiple purchases at Plaza Central, I was cut-off with Visa, even though I had thousands in credit left on my card. Visa thought someone had stolen my card. Cost 2 hours of my vacation to straigthen out with VISA. Good reason for using American Express.
Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Ford Modeling Agency held an International Supermodel Competition at the Renaissance Jaragua. It was a big production with live band, professional dance troupes, singers..equal to anything in Las Vegas. Plus 30 of the most incredibly beautiful women I have ever seen in my life. After the show, the models spilled out onto the Jaragua casino floor with men going ga-ga, in disbelief at seeing such beauties milling about.
The Jaragua hotel:
They have built a Hagen Daz ice cream and coffee bar over the summer in the shop promenade across from their 24 hour cafe. Champions is still best sports bar around, with very friendly staff. Jaragua has more security and gaurds per square inch than any city hotel. Made me slightly uncomfortable just walking to their gift shop.
Hispaniola poolside restaurant:
Food is expensive, but not Jaragua, Santo Domingo, or Inter Continental quality. Probably explains why patrons are sparse. Overall atmosphere is nice with the adjacent pool.
Weather:
Rainy season has began. It rained hard for many hours during several evenings.
Overall, a relaxing laidback vacation. Any questions, I will be glad to answer.
Charlie W.
take you back to an era (40', 50', 60'ties) before the advent of the 'mega all inclusive', in a time when 'a coat and tie' were the rule, not the exception, for air travel. One can eezly conjure up a "Buena Vista Social Club" experience, (Havana pre Castro) and certainly Santo Domingo (Ciudad Trujillo) when airliners sported four "BIG HOONK'N" radial recips., engines that made a defiant "power" statement (either loping at idle or set at full mixture, 'power' for the "clime").