Don Tomas
04-20-2004, 09:08 PM
Knowledge Guide to the Dominican Republic
I decided to write a knowledge guide of what I saw in the DR and so maybe you won’t be surprised on your first visit or your fiftieth visit. Most of it didn’t surprise me but a few things did, I was raised Chicago where you do see a lot of scenes where all you can say is WTF!
Language: It is best to know Spanish, now if you are only going mongering then a couple phrases written down on a piece of paper will suffice but don’t expect the “good” girls. If you want to shop and pay less then the rest, eat outside the international faire restaurants, or leave the tourist towns then you need to know Spanish. Personally I hired a guide for the first part of my trip.
Money: Well the peso has been at 43-45 to 1US the past couple weeks I have been home but I am not here to discuss the ever fluctuating RD peso.
1. ATMs: Yes they are everywhere but watch for the SCAMS!!!
a. Use only well secured (in brick & motar, well sealed) ATMs, gaps allow for the phone lines to be tapped and your info stolen.
b. Even if you don’t need to use one go check out your ATM choices during the day! Why? Well Saturday night in Sosua I had a scam pulled on me but walked away. It works like this: two buddies wait on the side of a SUV, target approaches and Bud1 runs in front of you and gets to the ATM first, so the target gives him space and lets him do his business, now Bud2 comes up behind you and asks if you are waiting for the ATM (in english to boot!) , target turns around and kindly says “Si”, during this time frame Bud1 has attached a magnetic card reader slide to the ATM, Bud1 finishes his business and leaves, target’s turn, during my phase I walked up and went to insert my card into the slot the proper way but then Bud2 starts saying “no insert, slide”, now thankfully even though I was horny with a slight buz and needed cash I had used this ATM before and clearly remembered using it. Well I put my card in my pocket turned around and just waved my hands in a “I’m done” fashion and walked away. Just to confirm what almost happened I walked over the next morning and the slide was gone.
2. Banks: sorry never used one.
3. Exchanging Money: Well in a pinch there is always street changers but the exchange houses are best check the rates early and try not to buy on the weekends. When I was there I got 43-43.40. In Sosua at night the Europa Hotel will exchange your money even if you are not a guest, I got $100 exchanged one night, don’t know if there is a limit.
Chicas: I want to start off with one point: if legal age, any girl is available down there. Now I read the stories and trip reports and thought yeah these guys were fluent in Spanish, average to good looking, and been there lots of times and know the score.
1. Even if you are fat or ugly or old like Jimmydr says, you will still get the chicas that is not a problem.
2. Fluent in Spanish? Heck I was pulling “good” girls knowing enough Spanish to take up 60 seconds of conversation with them. I can’t speak Spanish very well but I comprehend it well enough. Learn the phrases it will even make the hardcore working girls smile and soften up a bit.
3. Average to good looking: I am not muscular, balding and even the ‘ing’ part will no longer be needed soon, I have a bit of a belly and I look older then my 32 years. I consider myself right on the middle of average occasionally slipping into the below average category. I got everything I wanted, I had one rejection, later we figured she was under 18, only reason we could think of.
4. Been there Lots: Strike Three – It was my first time! But sure won’t be the last.
Types of Chicas:
1. Puta: Your hardcore chica, Very Available for a price, can be negotiated like anything you BUY.
2. “Good” Girls: These girls have regular jobs; store clerk, bartender, student, etc. but are definitely Available just sometimes more work is involved but not always. They might be married, they almost all have boyfriends, but you will get a girlfriend experience.
a. Please Note: Most of the time these chicas actually cost more money.
3. Unavailable: Under 18, sorry I can’t think of any others.
Drugs"
1. Legal
a. Viagra: I knew I would be a bit nervous so I figured Viagra would help me out in my time of need so I bought some down there.
Viagra about $10/100mg
Generic Sildenafil about $3.25/100mg
b. Cialas: Well since I was buying the V I figure I would try a 20mg tab of Cialas.
Cialas about $15/20mg
2. Illegal
It is very dangerous to possess drugs in the DR and I have read and heard about some horror stories but if you want to give it a shot hopefully the following words will help.
a. Marijuana: Very available, this is not Jamaica but more along the lines of a major city in availability.
-Where not to get: Never get it from a moto driver and they will offer it, I would say on over 50% of my rides I was offered Marijuana or Cocaine.
-Why not to buy: If you came from the Midwest you will know the type well. The marijuana is ditch weed, not worth it if you aren’t from the Midwest. I tried three sources and all offered the same. There is quality stuff there, it’s never sold and privately grown for personal use only.
-Not Worth It, I never even smoked it wasn’t worth the headache.
b. Cocaine: never tried it never will, sorry no help here only was offered it by moto drivers.
c. Mushrooms: Available Psilocybe cubensis, cows are everywhere, of course rain helps.
-Please note: The Dominican Republic is not the place for your first trip!
-Note 2: Picking mushrooms is very dangerous unless you know what you are doing, you can die!
Renting a car/driving outside of the tourist towns:
1. HARDCORE! Rules of the Road!
a. Green Light means go.
b. Red Light means slow down before proceeding.
c. If the lights don’t work which most of them don’t, then it’s every man for himself.
d. Avoid accident troubles, if you side-swipe a car run it off the road that way you don’t have to stop and exchange info, saves time!
e. Passing is done on the right, left, shoulder, oncoming traffic lane, riding your bumper as if it will make you magically disappear.
f. Driving is done either on the right, left, or middle of the roadway it seems to be up to the individual driver. (I am NOT joking)
g. Signs: Not sure why the government spends the money to put up signs.
h. Lane Markings: see above about driving on which side of the road. Again more wasteful spending by the government.
i. Road Conditions: Well I actually saw a professional road crew with modern asphalt machines! Of course they were laying the layer over the existing road, no cleaning, no grating, no preparing, well you get the idea, life span will be <9 months! Most of the time it’s two or more guys with shovels repairing the road freelance, drop them a few pesos when you drive by.
j. Car Conditions: I saw cars with no taillights! Now you are all saying sure so have I, but let me explain, the bulbs weren’t just burned out, they were gone, the lenses were gone, just bare metal. I have seen cars in junkyards looking better then what I saw on the streets of Santiago running no less!
-Flashing Police-type Lights: Might be a police car but probably just a rolling disco car.
-Door, rear, front windows all optional.
-Ever seen 9 people in a Toyota Corolla or 22 on a Jeep. I have, I was even one of the 9!
k. Drinking & Driving: no problem
l. Drinking While Driving: no problem
m. IMPORTANT LAW: Front seat occupants have to wear their seat belt. The fine is 500RD but if you are a gringo well that changes fast.
2. Now most of this chaos I saw in Santiago and other areas not in Sosua, the tourist beach areas are more controlled.
3. It is dangerous on those roads!
Quirks:
1. This is a list of little things most of us take for granted just to prepare you.
a. If a bathroom sink has running water you are very lucky. Most of the time the bathroom sinks don’t work. I am talking about both nice and crummy places.
b. Power is not an absolute: Electricity will go out several times during your stay and might stay out for a long time. Most of the places in El Batey Sosua have generators but other areas do not.
c. You get one napkin in a restaurant, use it wisely. Even at places that had a napkin holder there was a max of four in it. You don’t really need the second napkin, remember everyone is trying to make a living.
d. Ironically you get two napkins with a Presidente!
e. Litter and garbage, it’s everywhere!
f. Worried about your lungs, don’t go on any roads and you will be fine, otherwise there are no emission regulations for the vehicles so some can get really bad.
I decided to write a knowledge guide of what I saw in the DR and so maybe you won’t be surprised on your first visit or your fiftieth visit. Most of it didn’t surprise me but a few things did, I was raised Chicago where you do see a lot of scenes where all you can say is WTF!
Language: It is best to know Spanish, now if you are only going mongering then a couple phrases written down on a piece of paper will suffice but don’t expect the “good” girls. If you want to shop and pay less then the rest, eat outside the international faire restaurants, or leave the tourist towns then you need to know Spanish. Personally I hired a guide for the first part of my trip.
Money: Well the peso has been at 43-45 to 1US the past couple weeks I have been home but I am not here to discuss the ever fluctuating RD peso.
1. ATMs: Yes they are everywhere but watch for the SCAMS!!!
a. Use only well secured (in brick & motar, well sealed) ATMs, gaps allow for the phone lines to be tapped and your info stolen.
b. Even if you don’t need to use one go check out your ATM choices during the day! Why? Well Saturday night in Sosua I had a scam pulled on me but walked away. It works like this: two buddies wait on the side of a SUV, target approaches and Bud1 runs in front of you and gets to the ATM first, so the target gives him space and lets him do his business, now Bud2 comes up behind you and asks if you are waiting for the ATM (in english to boot!) , target turns around and kindly says “Si”, during this time frame Bud1 has attached a magnetic card reader slide to the ATM, Bud1 finishes his business and leaves, target’s turn, during my phase I walked up and went to insert my card into the slot the proper way but then Bud2 starts saying “no insert, slide”, now thankfully even though I was horny with a slight buz and needed cash I had used this ATM before and clearly remembered using it. Well I put my card in my pocket turned around and just waved my hands in a “I’m done” fashion and walked away. Just to confirm what almost happened I walked over the next morning and the slide was gone.
2. Banks: sorry never used one.
3. Exchanging Money: Well in a pinch there is always street changers but the exchange houses are best check the rates early and try not to buy on the weekends. When I was there I got 43-43.40. In Sosua at night the Europa Hotel will exchange your money even if you are not a guest, I got $100 exchanged one night, don’t know if there is a limit.
Chicas: I want to start off with one point: if legal age, any girl is available down there. Now I read the stories and trip reports and thought yeah these guys were fluent in Spanish, average to good looking, and been there lots of times and know the score.
1. Even if you are fat or ugly or old like Jimmydr says, you will still get the chicas that is not a problem.
2. Fluent in Spanish? Heck I was pulling “good” girls knowing enough Spanish to take up 60 seconds of conversation with them. I can’t speak Spanish very well but I comprehend it well enough. Learn the phrases it will even make the hardcore working girls smile and soften up a bit.
3. Average to good looking: I am not muscular, balding and even the ‘ing’ part will no longer be needed soon, I have a bit of a belly and I look older then my 32 years. I consider myself right on the middle of average occasionally slipping into the below average category. I got everything I wanted, I had one rejection, later we figured she was under 18, only reason we could think of.
4. Been there Lots: Strike Three – It was my first time! But sure won’t be the last.
Types of Chicas:
1. Puta: Your hardcore chica, Very Available for a price, can be negotiated like anything you BUY.
2. “Good” Girls: These girls have regular jobs; store clerk, bartender, student, etc. but are definitely Available just sometimes more work is involved but not always. They might be married, they almost all have boyfriends, but you will get a girlfriend experience.
a. Please Note: Most of the time these chicas actually cost more money.
3. Unavailable: Under 18, sorry I can’t think of any others.
Drugs"
1. Legal
a. Viagra: I knew I would be a bit nervous so I figured Viagra would help me out in my time of need so I bought some down there.
Viagra about $10/100mg
Generic Sildenafil about $3.25/100mg
b. Cialas: Well since I was buying the V I figure I would try a 20mg tab of Cialas.
Cialas about $15/20mg
2. Illegal
It is very dangerous to possess drugs in the DR and I have read and heard about some horror stories but if you want to give it a shot hopefully the following words will help.
a. Marijuana: Very available, this is not Jamaica but more along the lines of a major city in availability.
-Where not to get: Never get it from a moto driver and they will offer it, I would say on over 50% of my rides I was offered Marijuana or Cocaine.
-Why not to buy: If you came from the Midwest you will know the type well. The marijuana is ditch weed, not worth it if you aren’t from the Midwest. I tried three sources and all offered the same. There is quality stuff there, it’s never sold and privately grown for personal use only.
-Not Worth It, I never even smoked it wasn’t worth the headache.
b. Cocaine: never tried it never will, sorry no help here only was offered it by moto drivers.
c. Mushrooms: Available Psilocybe cubensis, cows are everywhere, of course rain helps.
-Please note: The Dominican Republic is not the place for your first trip!
-Note 2: Picking mushrooms is very dangerous unless you know what you are doing, you can die!
Renting a car/driving outside of the tourist towns:
1. HARDCORE! Rules of the Road!
a. Green Light means go.
b. Red Light means slow down before proceeding.
c. If the lights don’t work which most of them don’t, then it’s every man for himself.
d. Avoid accident troubles, if you side-swipe a car run it off the road that way you don’t have to stop and exchange info, saves time!
e. Passing is done on the right, left, shoulder, oncoming traffic lane, riding your bumper as if it will make you magically disappear.
f. Driving is done either on the right, left, or middle of the roadway it seems to be up to the individual driver. (I am NOT joking)
g. Signs: Not sure why the government spends the money to put up signs.
h. Lane Markings: see above about driving on which side of the road. Again more wasteful spending by the government.
i. Road Conditions: Well I actually saw a professional road crew with modern asphalt machines! Of course they were laying the layer over the existing road, no cleaning, no grating, no preparing, well you get the idea, life span will be <9 months! Most of the time it’s two or more guys with shovels repairing the road freelance, drop them a few pesos when you drive by.
j. Car Conditions: I saw cars with no taillights! Now you are all saying sure so have I, but let me explain, the bulbs weren’t just burned out, they were gone, the lenses were gone, just bare metal. I have seen cars in junkyards looking better then what I saw on the streets of Santiago running no less!
-Flashing Police-type Lights: Might be a police car but probably just a rolling disco car.
-Door, rear, front windows all optional.
-Ever seen 9 people in a Toyota Corolla or 22 on a Jeep. I have, I was even one of the 9!
k. Drinking & Driving: no problem
l. Drinking While Driving: no problem
m. IMPORTANT LAW: Front seat occupants have to wear their seat belt. The fine is 500RD but if you are a gringo well that changes fast.
2. Now most of this chaos I saw in Santiago and other areas not in Sosua, the tourist beach areas are more controlled.
3. It is dangerous on those roads!
Quirks:
1. This is a list of little things most of us take for granted just to prepare you.
a. If a bathroom sink has running water you are very lucky. Most of the time the bathroom sinks don’t work. I am talking about both nice and crummy places.
b. Power is not an absolute: Electricity will go out several times during your stay and might stay out for a long time. Most of the places in El Batey Sosua have generators but other areas do not.
c. You get one napkin in a restaurant, use it wisely. Even at places that had a napkin holder there was a max of four in it. You don’t really need the second napkin, remember everyone is trying to make a living.
d. Ironically you get two napkins with a Presidente!
e. Litter and garbage, it’s everywhere!
f. Worried about your lungs, don’t go on any roads and you will be fine, otherwise there are no emission regulations for the vehicles so some can get really bad.