It has been quite a while since I've posted on this site. Quite frankly, I decided to do what has often been recommended on this site when posters ask questions about goings on in the DR---I traveled there and found out for myself firsthand.
Over the past several months I've noticed that there have been a number of posts regarding a rise in (migration of?) crime and ,while that might very well be the case, I had a couple of experiences on my last month long trip that reminded me of what attracted me to the country in the first place, and thought I would share them so as to provide a little balance for those who might still consider the DR a vacation destination, or a future home.
I traveled to POP in early June and made a plan to visit a cousin who lives in Constanza. While there we decided to visit some waterfalls. If I remember correctly the name is Agua Blanca. My cousin told me that the falls were about a 30 minute drive. About 45 minutes later the road became so bad that I couldn't continue any further in the rented jeepeta. We decided to walk what I was told was only a 10 minute walk, but after about 30 minutes of continuously winding, uphill trekking we stopped for a rest. At this point someone came along in a truck and offered us a ride to the falls.
After enjoying the falls we decided to start the trek back down which, at this point, I was really dreading. However, there was a guy there (there is some work being done at the falls, e.g., retainer walls, walkways) who offered us a ride back down the mountain. This guy had so little gas in his tank that we had to push his truck to a level point so that he could get gas to his carbuerator in order to start the truck. Once down hill I offered him a couple of hundred pesos. I was shocked when he refused the money. I couldn't fathom that a poor man who barely had enough gas in his truck to start it would offer a ride to 5 people, and then refuse money for gas.
In late June I had to return home to take care of a bit of business, but returned to POP because I had to go to SD to pick up a vehicle that I had shipped down. After arriving at POP airport I took a taxi to my house. I usually carry a shoulder bag as it is convenient for carrying all of my little things in when I want to zip through security. When I arrived home, for some reason I was focused on getting my carry-on suitcase out of the taxi and forgot my shoulder bag. After realizing that I had left my bag, I called a Dominican friend, and he arrived at my house in a taxi and we rushed off to the airport. I knew in my heart of hearts that I would never retrieve my bag. I was certain that the taxi drivers at the airport were sitting at that moment divvying up the spoils. In it was my passport, a US based cell phone, an Ipod, a set of Bose headphones, a few hundred dollars in pesos, and some other important documents and items.
After arriving at the airport my friend and I began walking around trying to find the taxi driver. We came across the taxi manager who remembered that I was picked up and had been informed that I left my bag in the taxi. He informed me that he had the bag, and that the taxi driver had gone to get some gas so that he could return it to my home in POP. Needless to say, I was relieved and tipped them very well for their honesty.
On my return back to Puerto Plata I started to feel guilty and ashamed for thinking the worst. But, I was also reminded of the very thing that first attracted me to the island, and that was the goodness of the people.
Is there crime in the DR? Sure there is, as there is everywhere else in the world, and I'm not foolish enough to believe that you can walk around with blinders on. But, there are also a good number of hardworking and honest people who would not only not think about robbing you, but who will go out of their way, at times at their own expense, to accommodate you.
Sorry this post turned out so long, but I just thought that people ought to know.
Over the past several months I've noticed that there have been a number of posts regarding a rise in (migration of?) crime and ,while that might very well be the case, I had a couple of experiences on my last month long trip that reminded me of what attracted me to the country in the first place, and thought I would share them so as to provide a little balance for those who might still consider the DR a vacation destination, or a future home.
I traveled to POP in early June and made a plan to visit a cousin who lives in Constanza. While there we decided to visit some waterfalls. If I remember correctly the name is Agua Blanca. My cousin told me that the falls were about a 30 minute drive. About 45 minutes later the road became so bad that I couldn't continue any further in the rented jeepeta. We decided to walk what I was told was only a 10 minute walk, but after about 30 minutes of continuously winding, uphill trekking we stopped for a rest. At this point someone came along in a truck and offered us a ride to the falls.
After enjoying the falls we decided to start the trek back down which, at this point, I was really dreading. However, there was a guy there (there is some work being done at the falls, e.g., retainer walls, walkways) who offered us a ride back down the mountain. This guy had so little gas in his tank that we had to push his truck to a level point so that he could get gas to his carbuerator in order to start the truck. Once down hill I offered him a couple of hundred pesos. I was shocked when he refused the money. I couldn't fathom that a poor man who barely had enough gas in his truck to start it would offer a ride to 5 people, and then refuse money for gas.
In late June I had to return home to take care of a bit of business, but returned to POP because I had to go to SD to pick up a vehicle that I had shipped down. After arriving at POP airport I took a taxi to my house. I usually carry a shoulder bag as it is convenient for carrying all of my little things in when I want to zip through security. When I arrived home, for some reason I was focused on getting my carry-on suitcase out of the taxi and forgot my shoulder bag. After realizing that I had left my bag, I called a Dominican friend, and he arrived at my house in a taxi and we rushed off to the airport. I knew in my heart of hearts that I would never retrieve my bag. I was certain that the taxi drivers at the airport were sitting at that moment divvying up the spoils. In it was my passport, a US based cell phone, an Ipod, a set of Bose headphones, a few hundred dollars in pesos, and some other important documents and items.
After arriving at the airport my friend and I began walking around trying to find the taxi driver. We came across the taxi manager who remembered that I was picked up and had been informed that I left my bag in the taxi. He informed me that he had the bag, and that the taxi driver had gone to get some gas so that he could return it to my home in POP. Needless to say, I was relieved and tipped them very well for their honesty.
On my return back to Puerto Plata I started to feel guilty and ashamed for thinking the worst. But, I was also reminded of the very thing that first attracted me to the island, and that was the goodness of the people.
Is there crime in the DR? Sure there is, as there is everywhere else in the world, and I'm not foolish enough to believe that you can walk around with blinders on. But, there are also a good number of hardworking and honest people who would not only not think about robbing you, but who will go out of their way, at times at their own expense, to accommodate you.
Sorry this post turned out so long, but I just thought that people ought to know.