- Thread starter Brookelemongotsoul
- Start date
Looking For A Local Family to Stay With on Semana Santa
guys, don't ruin this thread. i will start semana santa death pool thread on the first of april. sounds a bit sarcastic, no? but alas, the 1st falls on wednsday and the party starts on thursday all the way to sunday. we'll have two categories: for dominicans and for gringos. maybe this year we should have some prizes? can't wait.
Onions/Carrots---thanks for your tips. Unfortunately we won't have a car until later in the week, when everyone locally will have gone home. I would absolutely love to see the areas you are talking about. They are different than the typical tourist beach town, and it would be a nice change. Maybe we will venture when we get a car. We are not staying at a resort, for this reason. We don't want the same food everyday and want to be able to see more than just Punta Cana. The cool weather would be a nice change!
Interestedly enough, about two weeks ago I stopped at the Ambulance/Fire Station in Sosua. Introduced myself as an American Paramedic. Told the guy sitting at the big desk counting the money, I wanted to see the ambulance, and possibly ride along or volunteer. He said he would be more than happy to have me over Samana Santa. Didn't ask for any credentials. The people there seemed eager to talk about their service. The ambulance was, well, pretty desolate.
It will be interesting!
It will be interesting!
It idled the entire time I was there, about 15 min. He said they had a transfer soon from CMC to Puerto Plata. Ahorita Ambulance Service!
Im going to make a BINGO card with all of these things I need to look for when im in DR---car running and cigarette flaring, drunk 8 year old, sidewalk drunk driver, beach bbqer with burned pork chops.....
my gasoil delivery guy regularly puffs on a cig while filling me up at home (50 gallons)...
wanna be astronaut........
texting on motos... thats a beauty......
wrong way streets..... another
it all keeps you agile and sharp
wanna be astronaut........
texting on motos... thats a beauty......
wrong way streets..... another
it all keeps you agile and sharp
Keep a daily journal when you are there. It doesn't have to be long.
I did this when I first moved to SD. It is hilarious to read it now.
You could post some of yours for us to enjoy. I have a feeling you are going to have some adventures worth reading about!
Im peeing my pants. Im sure he was just trying to get his GPS working. Damn jackass prob got him lost
That's an idea. Im a creative writer but prob wouldn't have to bolster anything sounds like. And likely one those on this forum would get it.......okay...keeping a journal.
I will report back with our Semana Santa familia encounters......and otherwise......we have 12 days to entertain you...
I think one of the all inclusives is offering a special buffet "last supper" menu. This is as close as you will get to real Samana Santa experience or you can go to the beach, bring a boom box and cooler full of ice and Chevas and get your groove on.
LTSteve,
the family is not visiting a AI, they rented a condo for a week or 12 days if i remember correctly.
Mike
Yes Mike you are right--we purposely are avoiding AI's to see a bit more. Not that Im oppossed to endless drinks and nice pools. But this is not that trip. We will be hopping fences and crashing family parties. Haha! (Not)
that sounds exactly the fun way, as opposed to the typical cheapy overdrinking and overeating and overdancing AI Way, lol
Mike
Right?! I could stay home in the US and do that overeating and drinking for free here. It is St. Patrick's day--people have been at the bars since 7am.
I'd be asleep by now.
Then do just what you're talking about. You sure don't need anybody from a social media site to enjoy Samana Santa in Santo Domingo with your family and enjoy some Dominican culture. So what if you are on the outside looking in. It could also be a lot of fun, and you will never know unless you go for it. It all depends on you. My first time stepping foot in Santo Domingo, I ended up hanging out on the beach in Costumbar. Two small beach bars there on a Saturday. Spoke almost no Spanish, sitting in a beach chair by myself with a chica serving me cold presidentes in a bamboo holder with a plastic. Very nice girl. The beach was not crowded by any means, fairly dirty with plastics and sea grass everywhere so there I sat sipping on my beer enjoying a new country. There was a chico walking on the beach with a stick full of fish and a couple of nice lobsters on it. I figured I'd buy the lobsters from him for dinner at the villa close by where I was staying. OK.. This is for you CC, I was staying at BB's. Didn't quite fit in there but learned a good lesson about myself. Anyyyyyyway, That's why I went out looking around.
So this guy comes over, and I touch the lobsters, hold up two fingers, and set down $20.00. the guy grabs the twenty, drops the entire stick with lobster, fish and all as he turns and walks away. I say' Hey!! I Just wanted the lobster. He starts running. The girl (Matiel) is laughing her a$$ off and explains to me in English (I didn't know she spoke English before this) "Leave him". That's twice as much money as he would have got selling his fish to Dominicans. Asked about me, why I was there, where I was from, the normal crap.
Then she told me that there were a lot of people coming down later, and she would cook the fish and lobsters along with the food she and others had, and we would have a fiesta. Lot's of people, wonderful time. Beautiful girls, good food, lots of beer (that I paid for) but what the hey. One girl taught me basic bachata. I had a great time. Never felt out of place or threatened or uneasy. It was however 2002 to qualify this story, but I still believe that its up to "What are you up for"?? It's up to you and how you are in a foreign environment. I'm at home usually, and personally don't get why more people don't do exactly what you are talking about in your post. Do your homework, and look around. Ask questions, but from Dominicans. Not expats (including me). I hope you pull it off. Only go around once, and I wanna live! Cheers, to life!!
Whoa what a story! I think stories like this happen all around the world. If someone is smart and comfortable and friendly, it (to me) makes sense to be able to fall into a scenario like yours. Yes, fast forward to 2015 and also that I am a woman---have to be extra careful. I tend to make friends wherever I travel but I use common sense also. Not so much when I was younger, maybe. I think there are a lot of good people still in the world, and the most genuine and humble people are the ones who have the least. Now, my post was kind of tongue and cheek---I am not going to be knocking on doors to find a family, however I love the suggestions to be an observer, if the situation is right, have some rum and food at the beach, and share with others. I live in a kind of touristy area, and we get people here from all over the world. I'm not saying I'd invite a stranger over for a holiday, but we have hosted people from all over the world in our home many times. Thanks for your insight. I wish I coulda been a fly on the wall at your "fiesta". I will post from DR if we have any special Semana Santa experiences......and otherwise.
Cheers!