[amtrakker]

30 December
Slept like a log, even with the aircon on full blast, showed how tired I was. Rose at 8 and checked out at 9, to catch 9.45 bus to Agua with Caribe Tours, still extremely hot. Spent a frustrating 50mins in Azua trying to get out, before finally catching express guagua at 11.40 west to San Juan Maguana, a sleepy, agricultural town. Arrived there at 1, and spent half an hour traipsing around to find the splendid Hotel San Juan Maguana, excellent value in the town centre.

Found a street side bar, billiard hall a block away from the main square, and spent a couple of hours drinking the sunset down, before dining at the only eating option on the square, Rey de Pollo, DR could certainly improve its uses of its main plazas and squares.

Costs - 1705DOP
20DOP motoconcho to Caribe Tours terminal
70DOP bus from Barahona to Azua
15DOP icypoles in Azua
100DOP gua gua from Azua to San Juan de Maguana
850DOP HOtel Maguana, excellent value with aircon, cable TV
250DOP buffet lunch at Hotel Maguana
50DOP internet (2 hrs)
200DOP Rey de Pollo dinner
150DOP 3 beers

31 December
Wandered around San Juan after a lovely buffet breakfast, had my hair cut and purchased an alarm clock, before packing and catching the 10.15 Caribe Tour bus back to Santo Domingo, arriving there around 1.45. Walked to Hotel La Danae in Gazcue, mostly past the massive US embassy, only to find they had not kept my reservation despite me paying for the night when I first got to SD a month ago! Really poor service and don`t see how it could be so well recommended by guide books etc. FOund a much poorer room, for only slightly cheaper, at nearby Hotel Residencial, but at least it`s close to the Malecon where most of the New Years Eve action will take place.

Wandered into the Zona Colonial to explore the historic streets once more. Very enjoyable spot. Ate snack on balcony of Residencial hotel, before wandering down at 9 to the Malecon where the fiesta was kicking off, with bachata and merengue blaring from the speakers, with the local artists giving their best dance moves on the stage at the head of the park. It was a great evening, culminating with the obligatory fireworks at midnight, and the music kept going for at least another half hour before I called it a day, not much of a night owl these days...


Costs 1828DOP
68DOP batteries and alarm clock
100DOP haircut
220DOP Caribe tour bus from San Juan Maguana to Santo Domingo
15DOP Listin Diario paper
15DOP ice cream
900DOP Hotel Residencial, room doesn`t lock and poor value after last night in San Juan
30DOP internet
90DOP lunch (Chinese)
30DOP snacks
290DOP beers

1 January 2008
Woke at first light (around 7) and went to nearby Plaza de la Cultura at 8, only to find everything shut due to the public holiday for New Years. Wandered north to a boulevard of odd shaped sculptures on 27 de Febrero, and then headed back to the seaside to the Centro de Heroes park, which was currently closed for renovations. So wandered along the Malecon back to Gazcue, passing the troupes of cleaners tidying up the detrius of the previous night`s festivities.

Returned to hotel in time to watch Man U beat Birmingham, and then packed my gear to wander back to Hotel Freeman in the Zona Colonial. Met the French family doing last minute shopping in El Conde as I wandered through, and now spending the afternoon internetting since everything else appears to be closed! Ma head to Boca Chica tomorrow to visit Alex, the missionary I met in Monte Cristi.

In summary, have enjoyed Dominican Republic ' although it`s a very frustrating place to travel around as an independent backpacker (without a drivers licence).

I like countryside far more than cities, but ironically, my favourite places in the DR are
Puerto Plato - a real tip of a place, but very friendly easy going locals
Santo DOmingo - again,a really relaxed place, so at odds with most Hispanic cities
Jarabacoa - superbly located, friendly place, if only they could get rid of the motorcycles...
Rio San Juan - again, just a rural friendly town - great ambience, and particularly liked having a beer at the bar in the supermarket!
Bayahibe - great when the tourist hordes leave
Most hotels check out times, some were 2, even 3 in the p.m. so different to anywhere else I´ve travelled where they want you out of the room pronto!

Things I would do differently
Bring an international drivers licence
Not change money at the airport
Book tours in advance
Use Caribe Bus whenever possible
Get a DR language tape, their Spanish is so different from elsewhere!

Thanks again for everyone`s help on this forum, it has been really useful and informative, a real example of how the internet can transform a travel experience.