Thursday, June 29, 2006
Recently we were able to have a lengthy chat with a well-informed Boca Chica visitor and Playa Vista customer who gave us some interesting insight on the well-known Boca Chica Hamaca Coral by Hilton Hotel where he is a regular guest.
The hotel is by far the biggest in Boca Chica and is renowned for its international service but also, it has to be said, here in Boca Chica, sometimes renowned for its self sufficient insularity.
Hamaca gains the insularity accolade for three principal reasons: it sits, kind of hidden away, at the furthest end of the beach from Santo Domingo… it is separated from the rest of Boca Chica beach by a very divisive wall… and it is common knowledge that the tour operators and other staff inside the hotel advise their guests not to venture out into the Boca Chica town.
Thankfully our “informant” is one who does not take kindly to that particular piece of advice to stay put behind ‘The Wall’… because he likes to break out and get in to town to savor how the ”real” Latin Carribbean world operates!
Here is what our man is saying about life behind ‘The Wall’:
Last October - after arriving and finding his bathroom to be out of soap - he called down to the hotel’s front desk and asked for some. “We don’t have any, but as soon as we do we will deliver it to your room”, the person on duty told him. Maybe they never actually got any, because he never received the awaited delivery during his stay and decided, adventurous as he is, to make the trek to the town’s local supermarket to secure his own supply… no big thing, but let us listen to other snippets he had to report on.
Apart from the roving sellers themselves nobody is very happy about the numbers of salesmen and women strolling around importuning visitors relaxing along the full length of the Boca Chica beach. One of the advantages in staying inside the Hamaca compound, we were always led to believe, was to be free of this kind of hassle. Our friend told us that on two separate counts this is not the case. Firstly the very keenest sellers will apparently swim around the hotel’s controversial barrier wall and from the waist deep protection of the water offer their wares in spite of the shouting Hamaca guards trying to ward them off. On top of that, and quite ironically too, our friend further told us that in spite of the no-salesman rule on the Hamaca’s beach apparently there is an in-house coterie of timeshare salespeople who can at times make you yearn to be precisely somewhere else in order to get that peace and relaxation you came for!
On a less daily basis the Hamaca also suffers the finger of criticism for two very fundamental reasons - both actually attributed to that infamous wall. One reason is a hottish potato in the Dominican press of late relating to the laws of the land determining that all beaches should be accessible to the public. As already indicated that kind of access is definitely questionable concerning the beach inside the Hamaca compound… and you don’t have to be a salesman to find out, our friend tells us. Even the most innocent looking beach-guests – be it international tourists or local ‘Capitaleños’ - will be dissuaded by the guards from making any attempt to clamber over ‘The Wall’. The second reason is that scientific studies in recent years have shown that the very existence of ‘The Wall’ has exacerbated the severe beach erosion that has taken place on the “public” beach adjacent to it on the west side!
Having said all that… to put Hotel Hamaca in perspective it too has to be said that it is definitely not only the largest but the most prestigious hotel in Boca Chica sporting a four-star rating and offering gainful employment to many local people… but perhaps the message, from the perspective painted here, is that the Hamaca would be well advised to go straight and, to the benefit of itself as well as Boca Chica, get rid of the questionable wall and become naturally integrated with the Latin Carribbean flavored Boca Chica community in general and especially the Boca Chica beach that sports the big azure-blue reef-protected bay called ‘the biggest bathtub in the world’!
Anyway… if you, during your stay in good old Boca Chica, should choose to stay at The Hamaca do yourself a big favor and don’t let yourself become a prisoner behind ‘The Wall!
Posted by Playa Vista @ 12:44 PM CST
Thursday, June 15, 2006
We from Playa Vista were invited by the President himself… having received not one but two cordial invitations to the inauguration of a plan of crime prevention and security for three residential and well known tourist areas in the south and one in the north of the country: the Colonial zone in Santo Domingo, good old Boca Chica, Juan Dolio further up the coast and Las Terrenas in the north.
In recent months we have been hinting at impending intervention one way or another by the authorities to make improvements in the Boca Chica environment, and here was the proof positive of at least the intent. The country as a whole has, after the chaos and affect of all too many economic scandals left by the former government, experienced an increase in crime levels which the current administration almost a year ago began trying to combat with a pilot plan of greater police presence and general security measures in one of the worst hit poorer areas of Santo Domingo, namely Capotillo.
In the fantastic setting of the impressive Parque Colón (Columbus Park) in Santo Domingo, right in front of the oldest Cathedral of the Americas, all the important dignitaries of the country, presided over by Leonel Fernández, gathered to give this ‘Plan de Prevención y Seguridad para las Zonas Turísticas’ a fine send off. On a very sunny almost breezeless morning we heard from one dignitary after the other the good reasoning and good intent for this plan. It is the fourth act in a very successful nationwide movement that as mentioned began in Capotillo last August. There will be more policemen, more vehicles - including brand spanking new Harley Davidson’s - and other equipment to support the plan principally initiated to assist in creating greater security for local citizens as well as touring visitors.
As was very evident that morning in Parque Colón the country has wonderful natural assets and a growing young population looking for the kind of direction specifically referred to by the various speakers at the inauguration. The country is in fact relatively new to modern democracy and therefore the possibilities are undoubtedly waiting to be harnessed. Alternatively, if you wanted, you could have shown up in the ‘Parque’ just for the spectacle and enjoy some of the natural displays that this multi-facetted country offers: the famous merengue singer Sergio Vargas and his band were there together with numerous other performers - some parading on stilts in grandiose costumes and others banging out quite a Caribbean rhythm on their drums – all exuberantly enhanced by the innate enthusiasm and energy of the cheering people.
The Procurator General in particular talked of future possibilities… stressing that improved security is a symbol representing nothing less than the advance of the country carrying the hope that it contributes to the DomRep in the future being one of the most visited places in the Caribbean! We from Playa Vista Boca Chica hope and think so too… the Latin-Caribbean is - sure thing - up and coming!
Posted by Playa Vista @ 05:36 PM CST
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Though a CNN headline the other day stated ‘World Cup frenzy leaves USA cold’ you certainly must be aware of the impending quadrennial sporting fiesta about to take place over in Germany this month. The quite accurately called ‘FOOTBALL WORLD CUP’ - not to be confused with the local annual American event often feigning the same title - is about to be kicked off with colorful participants from every corner of the world. The opening game this coming Friday is between the hosts and one of the gallant Latin American representatives, that of Costa Rica.
We are following the interest being generated in this international sporting extravaganza even in this far flung corner of the normally baseball-mad DomRep and can’t help noting that the USA, currently fifth ranked in the world standings, will be there in force. Who knows how far they will go in awakening further deserved interest for all those American sports fans.
Brazil surely must continue to be the favorites… but our beach helper - a guy called Moreno who claims English ancestry - is firmly convinced that England will run out winners after his home team the DomRep were eliminated by Trinidad and Tobago some two years ago in the preliminary rounds. Who knows… time will tell!
There are 32 countries participating and all except hosts Germany have had to work their way through difficult eliminatory groups to get to these final stages. Well done so far and let us hope that it is the kind of fair and entertaining competition the world’s sports enthusiasts deserve. Naturally we will be keeping a very close eye on events and on the big-screen TV at Playa Vista.
May the best team win!
Posted by Playa Vista @ 10:27 AM CST
Friday, June 2, 2006
In order to keep you up to date with the sprinkling of visitors of an artistic persuasion we get at the Playa Vista Bar we thought we would introduce two artists from very different backgrounds we have had the pleasure of welcoming in recent times. To be honest the first one didn’t visit in person this time, but sent one of her rather spectacular works through a friend, although she herself has sipped on the Playa Vista Terraza several times in the past.
Her artistic name is Dawn Williams. Dawn produces bronze sculptures and her good friend and promoter of her works, Scott - on one of his occasional sorties to the south coast here from his usual stomping ground up around Sosua - came in and placed a rather beautiful 18” bronze sculpture of a donkey on the bar. Quite a heavy affair, but the donkey itself was carrying a far heavier weight - two milk urns strapped to its back to be exact. The sculpture was cast with unerring realism with the creature cast in action stumbling across the rugged terrain beneath his hooves. The donkey had broken its tether and was off to have some fun… the sculpture amusingly titled ‘mañana trabajo’ – “work tomorrow”. It seems that Dawn usually produces a limited number of the same work and that the mould of this model would be destroyed after the 27th casting… 27 as a tribute to the 27th day of February being this nation’s Independence Day. The figure we were able to admire was number four and interested parties would have to come up with a cool US$3,600 for the privilege of this mantelpiece item. If you hurry we believe there are still some available.
Visitor number two in this sequence is Arelis Aquino who has graced us with her presence many times over the years to soak up the sun on the beach and order her favorite Piña Colada drink. Arelis is Dominican although she has spent years living and working in Italy and has now presented us with two small books that she has published containing collections of her poetry in Spanish with full Italian translations.
The two creative individuals mentioned above, together with other visiting artists from the DomRep as well as from abroad, all help to create a very engaging Playa Vista mix at times - a weird and wonderful kind of melting-pot- with all kinds of not only cultural but also artistic influences from all around the world.
So why not pop by and join the diverse crew of artists and other good folks enjoying the azure-blue Caribbean sun, sea and sand at Playa Vista?
Posted by Playa Vista @ 12:29 PM CST
