God, its hot! And fireworks at Christmas???

So here I am, in Santo Domingo since a few days. Was in Altos de Chavon for the concert. Felt a little old though, standing amidst all those screaming teenagers. Last night was kinda fun, at the Malecon with the beer stands and everything and the music (but a bit loud, no?) But I did not expect it to be this hot! I went jogging this morning and was sweating like a pig when I got back to the hotel.

But why on earth to they shoot forecrackers on Christmas??? This is such a weird country, everything is contrary to the rest of the world, as I know it...

And still I have found only one english bookstore...

Can I live here? I need culture...

fireworks are a christmass tradition in DR. i remember that as a little kid we used to make our own fireworks when we counn't afford to buy them. we made firecrackers with a device made out of old spark plugs. it made a little good noise, but there was another device called the "bazooca" made out of empty food cans taped together and it made a very loud blast when the explosives were ignited with a match. also beware of the "buscapies" (feet seekers) that particular firework is very popular with the tigueres and the tigueritos to make practical jokes and create caos in large crowds (parks, malecon, colmados, frituras ect.)
as they are lit up then are trown to the floor to chase people, so they break running to avoid being blasted by the funny explosives (lol). fireworks are not over yet. just wait until new year's eve and you will hear the cannon blasts made by the army at midnight, and all the loaded tigueres shooting their guns up in the air.

Somehow I thought it said you were a 100% pure dominican, and you don't know about fire works at Christmas. Seems very strange, where are you really from.

When I first heard the fireworks I went on the roof to watch..and asked a neighbor what was the celebration and he told me about it. I like it but my dog Sniffy has been so nervous for weeks..but she will get over it.
Thsi is all new to me also..today someone told me about the magi thing. I never heard of that before either.So I think the kids here are pretty lucky...2 days of gifts..wish I was a Dominican when I was growing up!!
I love learning about all these new holidays and new ways to celebrate..this country is such a marvel. I love it here more and more all the time!!

and i am 100% dominican.
well, i was in Altos de Chavón too. but there were not many teens as you say. I had a very good time. after the concert i went to Genesis (the best club here)and i got very drunk. but that is, i am on vacation.

John:

You havent seen nothing yet! The last few days it was not just firecrackers they were shooting, but real guns. Everyone who has a gun takes advantage of the holidays to warm up their guns and shoot from roofs, balconies and windows.

As far as Altos de Chavon, Guido Gomez Mazara, the protege of Hipolito Mejia and his Legal Counselor got a rude awakening at the Concert that night. Thinking his popularity was high, he paid the master of ceremony to mention his name during the introductions so he could stand up and salute the crowd and was almost expelled by the boos and jeering from the crowd!!

That just goes to show you his inexperience in politics and that only his luck of being next to Hipolito has placed him in that position. He should know, as I have stated before, that politicians always bring their cheering crowds with them. He went the cheap way and just bought tickets for himself and his wife. He should have brought a whole entourage and spent about $50,000 in tickets to show off at Altos de Chavon. He is still shaking from the embarrassment.

The same thing happened to Peruvian President Toledo at a similar type event and he had to run out of the stadium from the egg shower he got. You will be seeing more of these egg throwing incidents in 2002 in DR.

TW

Altos de Chavon is not the place for politicians shows their sympathy, just poor people will cheer to them. and there were not poors in Chavón.
Guido next time go to a bachata festival.

"And still I have found only one english bookstore..."

Book stores:
Bookies: Av. 27 de Febrero (books in English)
The Book Store: Av. Sarasota (books in English)
Cuesta Centro del Libro: Av. 27 de Febrero (English books section)
Thesaurus: Av. Sarasota (English books section)

Libraries:
Dominico-Americano: Av. Abraham Lincoln
Hellen Kellogg: Av. Independencia

For more details check the phone book or email me. Maybe you could even convince me to lend you a few books.

Firecrackers?! make me nervous, but it's OK, it's Christmas d....t!!

Just a half an hour away eh TW? hehehe I know some people who I will **** off by mentioning that incident. You know who I'm talking about.

I had seen people shoot guns towards the ocean in the melecon and in costambar beach (in puerto plata area) on new year's eve but I was shocked to see how young guys were shooting in the air (randomly) in santiago's residencial area.
I was standing in a street watching the fire work in the monumento in my friend's neighborhood when i saw a few young guys pull out their hand guns and fired in the air like they were shooting water pistols. They simply emptied out their clips and simply put the guns away and kept drinking. I used to think these things only happened in northern pakistan but seeing the dominicans do it in the middle of crowd was a bit surprising.