as the world turns

ok seeing that mikefisher struck a cord thought i would post here and update as I go.

A little about me i am a 34 y/o w/m devoirced.been in construction for last 17 years. Due to the slowing construction market and my devoirce and dreams of a warmer climate. I am looking for a new home.

i have wanted to move to the Caribbean for years now. Thinking I could live down here on what i have made over the last 17 years.(not much but doable according to what i read) have allways loved the people and enviorment I have been in in the caribbean.

ok after reading on dr1 for roughly 3 months now i have come to the DR to check it out and see if i can really make a go of it here.

Flew into DR last week and am in Santo Damingo now dont know how long I will be in the DR i bought a one way ticket.but going to travel to a few diffrent cities and see what my exsperiance is like in the diffrent areas. I am not looking for a true tourest exsperaince but a real life exsperiance. So going to use this site as a personal diary and to share what i see while im here. I will post each city report as i leave it.

So on to my first report from Santo Domingo

Ok got off the plane and was aproached for taxi after telling them i just wanted to smoke and drink my free drink after i got out of customs
(dont know what it was but damn good) after 3 people got involed while i was smoking(and all 3 of them wanted a 5usd tip lol nice try told um to split it)
I tryed to get he cab for 25usd no luck talked um down to 35usd (you guys must be better at haggling than me)the cabby took me to my apartment took
him 5 times around the block and a phone call to Luis to find it LMAO

got here the room was fine nothing special but clean and secure (found off DR1 BTW) right off thinking ok money exchange, phone and some food for my place.
Luis took good care of me telling me were the mall, bank, grocery store and what not.(strong enfisis on were i live now lol GOOD MAN)

as far as exciting thing there not alot i went to western union and changed some money then off to the mall the lady couldnt get my phone to work.
so desided to just walk around and look at things. seen a local motorcoach pushing a vender up the hill on his bike wish i had my camera. so got a cab outside the
mall 200 pesos (found out later 150 was good to most places) got dropped off by the groshry store. picked up the esentals Beer bread beer top raman beer coke rum
(1200 pesos)and off to home. yay the esentials are done

after laying around desided to go out to the casino i seen close by.walked in thinking ok hit some BJ drink some beer then home to bed. no such luck bj weres the bj
and whats with all these rulette tables? ok found 1 BJ table and it was full so sat at a 5 card stud table no not like vegas.the dealer kept putting there money up for
the player wyh is that. dont get payed when i win wth is that. meet a NYC expat that exspalianed ok got it now fun game but no luck so went to BJ (its open now).
no better there diffrent too ended up just doing what the english speaking people told me to do (what fun and did ok broke even) good people good fun.

next day go for a walk about see whats near by head east couse that looks like the busy place. lobster on my mind im at the ocean. ok some kid keeped tryingto sell me
stuff i dont want need or have room to pack around. after he fallowed me telling me i was his friend for 5 min i had to tell him asta lawayago 5 or 6 time to make him
go away. hate to be rude but when im gettin fallowed and there friends start fallowing you can get nervoice. had to stop and just say godby over and over to get him to
leave. But his friend keeped close so went to get a drink to ditch him lol. like to see working kids but know when t give up.walked up the road some more and vendors
were on e as i gt to the tourist area NONONONO is my standard answer but a guy had a necklace i liked. tryed it on and itwas short told him he said no i fix come back
in 20 min. no time to come back on walk about. so told him i would wait. as i did he introdused me to his buddy Mario who could speack some english. little stand offish
on my part but Mario got me comfortable fast. told him I wanted a good lobster he brought up chicas and a massage (we laught about a happy ending)told him grasias
for the info and tryedto go on my way.(no such luck) (damn im being fallowed again) Mario and I walk and talk abit when he takes me into a resturant after telling me he
just ate. he talks to everyone for me tells them im looking for a good lobster and to feed me, they did it GREAT lobster just bought Mario a beer. thinking ok he want
money gave him some 500 pesos and say asta lawaygo he just gives me a pfffff and say lets go down here. next to a place with friendly girls lol no money for that just
ate lobster gotta go (was kinda joking about the happy ending) lol told him about the 100 pesos 22oz presidente he lauhs tells me more grande cevesas for a 100 pesos
we walk for a few more min and walk into a store and get a huge presidente for 100 pesos ( he laughs at me) then off to the park.Mario says lets go sit at the park and
drink these grande beers(a ok hes ok lol) low a behold Mario is known here as a domino player. So they bring the table to us to watch couse i say ya i can play. watch
them play a game then get told im in next game. OK get in with some guy and ya we did good won first 1 they all said i was good LOL (sure sure) had a good time they
invited me back any time. Man was fun i do like Dominos

rest of SD was just local bar and eating in room. danced with some chica who keeped eye balling me even though she was with someone.(no problem) off to juan dolio WEEHAAA

conclusion: SD was fun not really what i want but felt safe no problems and people were great (yes got husled a couple times but who cares) and maybe too much detail but
hey ths IS what it was for me

P.S. in Juan Dolio ATM then off to La Romana next any info apreciated

of to the public bus station in SD to head to Juan Dolio. drew me a map of the intersections were the was was located
and talked with Luis settled my bill Luis called me a cab told him were i wanted to go. was nervous about this trip everyone
talks about it being a dangerous area. cabby took me to the wrong bus stop glad i had me map. told him no up more he laughed
drove me up to the right spot and just pointed to the right bus man that bus stop is a mad house. bought m ticket a beer and
got harassed buy some guy trying to be my friend then begging me for money. nice ride interesting to see how they fill the
bus few stops thew out town yelling out the window were they are going. was pretty cool not to scary. didn't know the hotel
i was staying out and just told the drive Juan Dolio (he booted me off the bus at the second stop) nothing but a few shops
and a bunch of guys on bikes (whats this local biker gangs?) after al i have read about the guys on the bikes are usually
the Rober. LOL kid keep trying to give me a ride told him hell i need a care for my bags NoNO i can carry um I laughed told
him i don't know the hotel need ago in and look it up on my PC. went ingot a beer and was still right there saying lets go
i just sat down got out y laptop and ford my hotel drinking me presidente. More back and forth about the bags and need a
cab. after the presidente i felt adventurous so said with don't see no cabs around here. nice ride gave him 500 pesos (mostly
cause he was honest, we made it fine and he didn't rob me lol)

Juan Dolio was ok stayed at the Barcelo Capella AI was pretty typical AI experience but drank my moneys worth I'm sure.
Only left the hotel for a few hors to look around. right as i got outside the hotel and walking down the street had some
kid on his bike start fallowing me (going against traffic) asking me to get on kept telling him I'm just walking down to
look around he wouldn't go away so stopped at one of the construction sites to watch um pour a foundation (that was a little
different from home) he just sat there talking to go for a ride.I did leave to see if i could find someone to fix or sell
me a new digital camera and check out the town. So asked him how much he just said what ever you give me so said ok but
I'm driving he just said sure no problem.now i have rode a few bikes in my day but never run a 4 down transmission like
that(I thing he got scared a few time LOL) was a blast got to the camera shop(little tiny market with 2 disposable cameras)
ok no i said digital oh ok up the rode lets go.let him drive this time. on the way we stopped and a little beach
(don't know the name)had another beer seen the locals doing beach stuff was nice beach. next shop 5 disposable cameras
LOL ok for get it lets just have a beer he tells me oh no i cant have a beer and drive with you I laughed and told him
i had been drinking all afternoon, so he had 1 with me.back to the hotel cost 200 pesos and 1 presidente well worth the
ride. meet a few people that could talk to vendors on the beach were redicuilay pushy with me. but they were having some
fun with me at 1 point had 6 of um around me as I'm saying NONONONO I stayed off the beach during the day.



standard stuff rest of stay lots of drinking, eating, and looking at hot woman (realizing how rare English is)
probably should have spent this time in Boca Chica or San Pedro but wanted to see what the future south beach looked like
not impressed at all yet. nice little town under lots of construction.

next stop Bayahibe

walked up the road from the hotel to get to the bus stop another guy on a bike fallowed me whole way NONONO again,
Lead him on a bit, at this point learning to tease um a bit after not taking the hint. waited along side the road at
what appeared to be a bus stop. told the driver Bayahibe tells me get on 80 pesos again got to La Romana and no clue
were to get off looking for what looks like a good spot ( um um um ) lol when everyone gets off i figure i should too
miraculously when i step off a guy on a bike say Bayahibe (ok this was a very tuff word for me to pronounce because it
is said WAY different than my English leads me to think) that sounds right (not for sure) ask him how much 500 pesos.
tell him ok but need a beer and smoke first take me to cevesa. get to a little market and get a beer while smoking and
talking to someone else with LITTLE English skills telling me Bayahibe no way on a bike you need a cab for that giving
me a cabby's card very reluctant i am going the right way. try to talk to my cab guy NO English (think ya i need a cab now)
the People in the shop go to street and bring me some guy (drug him in by his wrist) he was from NY (looked like a hoodlum
hate to stereotype) perfect English told me ya the guy I got is talking about bayahibe and it 25 min on a bike long ride,
cool cool i like this guy lets go. He put my bag in front of him and off we went. 10 min into the ride and many speed
wobbles from the wind he pulls over makes me hold my own bag between us. At the back of the seat little freaky. By the
time we got to Bayahibe my a$$ HURT. gets me to hotel bayahibe drops me off check ask price and if they have Internet
in the room. Nope just here on this public PC in the lobby na TY I'm going to Villa Iguana they got Internet. now walk down
the street William sees me and says hi whats going on what you looking for. he tells me lets go walks me right to the gate
rings the bell German lady comes tells me 25 for no ac room tell her thats fine (haven't needed ac so far though it is nice
but too cold most of the time) ask her about Internet (read they had it in lobby) no Internet have to go to caffe. get the
room very friendly tell her i don't know how long I'll be staying tells me i can pay just when i go then. Very nice villa
on of the cleanest and well kept basic places i have seen. no TV or ac no biggie 25 a night could have upgrade but lets
try cheap first. loved my first night there walked down the street found a good bar every friendly Amarosa is local (crazy)
Chic everyone real friendly and fun got pretty lit walked home ran into some locals playing domino's (only 3 of them)
invited myself to game. Lot of Sh$t talking and fun. Guy found use some beers at 500 pesos for 4 (on me of course) from a
closed bar. what fun I had after my beer time for bed. Got to my room HOT as hell open window ( no bars little worried)
slept for a hour woke up sweating up a storm. open my front door oh thats better ( worried but its just too hot) toss turn
asleep awake all night. starts to col off around 4am fall really asleep the hear this chirping from a rooster or something.
off and on for next 3 hours asleep awake GRRRRRRRRRRR. 7:30 rolls around I'm just up. that frickin rooster steered just
wailing none stop I'm hung over not a morning person slept like sh$t. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ok 8:30 i got to get out of here
for a bit (was gonna upgrade to AC room but that rooster is TOO much) walk to Hotel Bayahibe talk to him a bit walk down
and get a drink thinking man i like this place but can take the rooster.( seeing if hotel Bayahibe had any) go back and
checkout go check in Bayahibe. they gave me the best room IMO 307 great view of the ocean, ac TV and tons of pillows.
went out got drunk wandered the 3 bars meet some fun people passed out. ( man i like it here ) third night meet Debbie
from Australia here from Punta cana day trip a decided to stay the night. got drunk again had some fun passed out again.
(man i like it here but time to go) woke up packed and off to see how to get go to Punta cana.

Great place to stay for a few days more if you are into boat excursions

feeling like a long winded bastard enjoy my experience

lol some poor writing skills there will work on that thx for bearing with me lol

well glad some are enjoying lots of views on the post.

hope it might give some out there a different perspective on the safety here too.trip not well planned at all but been a adventure.not that i haven't been more cautious than usual. but really not been any different that other islands i have been to down here.
i assume it will change when im in 1 spot all the time and learn spanish. but definatly a place i like so far.

Think Punta Cana may be my last stop here. Things came up back home may need to leave. will keep posting tell i leave

TOOBER_SDQ said:

Although I cringe everytime I read about the OP handing out 500 pesos in the street so easily, especially when he options for cheap 25 Dollar hotel rooms.:ermm:

Click to expand...

um well I am more eager to toss a hard working guy (not begging for it) a few extra pesos than someone that has realistate and collects rent. im not here to live like a king. and I too hustled the streets were i come from. school wasnt my way not saying my way was the best way but it was my way.

OK report from Punta Cana

posting this one while I'm here cause my mindset has changed and this trip is over.

time to go to back to get to Punta Cana didn't have good access to the net 1 little caffe that didn't really want to hang out in. so go to the bus stop talk to a guy with pretty good English try to get me to take a taxi 70usd was like the 80 pesos so chose the bus. figuring i have this system down pretty good at this point. get to La Romana and at the bus stop. try to talk to someone was very difficult there one guy say there is a express 80 pesos to Punta Cana. Nice bus TV reclining chairs aw nice bus. get to Higuey everyone is getting off what the hell he said Punta Cana there he is with my bag point down the road to another bus stop. OK go there get on next bus. Get to a little village and alot are getting of ask if this is Punta Cana guy says no. OK off we go again driving thew this beautiful area all tree lined roads see a few hotel names i recognize thinking OK I'll just get off in town. Um well we drive by the sign that has all the hotel names i recognized and the driver gets to a spot flips around and stop at the stop heading back tell me here go. um um there is nothing here try to find were town is (we don't understand one another) finally 1 guy understands a little and off we go again. we go done the road I seen all the hotel names thinking OK cool we got it he drops me in front of 1 and down the road he goes.

thinking man this town is way to rich for me all the hotels look like there on ranches. go walking down the long road thinking what this gunna cost me. the security guy at the gate calls for a cart to come get me. go to check in the guy says 125 a night with free wifi OK cool (I'll just stay here tonight and search the web about this town) whats that in pesos tell me like 4400 reach in to my pocket i have 4800 OK cool then he want my card no no i say you don't need my card i payed cash. after a minute i find out that they need my card for other charges in the hotel oh shoot thought it was AI. OK go sit in the lobby search the web for a bit find a hotel that looks OK. go up ask the guy for cab OK sir go out he will be down 40usd (aw man my pocket cash is low and that ridiculous) OK what ever I'm tired lost and I'm in rich mans land.

then some hotel guy specking good English comes and talks to me and now the hotel decided they will drive me for 40 bucks. we talk for a bit and i tell him I'm looking for a city central or what not. he tells me so much i don't understand half of what he says takes me to some marina we walk down its just a place to the super rich to park there yachts. OK OK lets go. now were are haggling on price again cause i wanted to look around a bit tells me 30usd more. NO WAY your crazy it was 70usd from bayahibe. we talk for a bit more he calls his boss a few times or so he say thats who's on the phone 5-10mins of this and discussing the different place in town and his suggestions of were to stay. he calls again and then tells me ya we can go check a few places and its 40usd flat lets go.

after driving back the bus took me all the to that little town i asked if it was Punta Cana.
we pass it heading north we drive by were i was going to stay then we get to a little town area drive threw and stop at some hotel go in (thinking whole time I'm in rich mans land) and right to reception tell um i need rates and he goes to get the book some chica offer me a beer or what ever NONO just need rates she tells me its free I know Iknow (I am VERY annoyed at this by now 6hrs in) 275usd a night no way lets go. next hotel 200usd grrrrrrrrrr tell the driver I'm sick of wasting your time run me to bercelo i know there rates and its on your way back. hes like we can keep looking don't worry. I tell him just take me were ever he wants. next hotel 175usd grrrrr next hotel 105usd yes this will work driver says go look around (VERY ANNOYED and tired) na this is fine.1500 pesos and off he went.

OK have to use my card but probably be safer here than other parts of the island.(first time since i arrived) Loved this hotel if i was on a want to be a king with my queen spending spree. one of the nicest AI i have been in. as for a single guy drinker smoker this place sucks cont feel your not welcome buying smokes getting cash from card all very difficult to do in this hotel (NH real arena BTW) lots people that speak English nice have met a few interesting people (mostly locals) but really this place has soured my experience to DR should have listened to Debbie from Australia and skipped this town. now only have my trip to the airport and flight home left so assume from here it will be very typical trip home.



Conclusion
I loved the Island not really much different from the other places in the Caribbean i have been to. defiantly will be getting more prepared for a life down here like a Spanish class or 3. didn't feel any more unsafe than any other places around the Caribbean. people were like most other places in the Caribbean. so with the residency laws and what not I will defiantly keep this a place I am very interested in moving to and buying or starting a business. time to go home and prepare some more.

oh and ya the money thing was good advise heres what I did for all that

i put 5000 in my small pocket 2000 in diffrent change in my man pocket. found if you know your roll you can grab the bill you need and not ever pull your wad out. ( but this didn't concern me that much couse many locals had bigger wads than mine) and rest of my pesos in my bags, some were. in the hotel room I never had my room cleaned, stached my cash in the freezer or some were. laptop allways was around my neck, (when busing it) wallet in front pocket (never use my wallet for my cash) spare un activated credit cards in diffrent bags and places. thanks for all the posts on being safe in the DR. im sure i will be back

lol ya should proof read more never wrote this much on a forum to date. definetly need to proof read more. oh and english btw
its done now so

P.S. should give more than 5 minutes to edit Robert ( and yes i should proof read before i post but forgot )



Google Toolbar has a spell check which picks up errors as you type; FYI.

Gregg
Mod.