I think that first off, one has to establish the fact that the North Coast is NOT just Sosúa and POP and Cabarete.
Santiago
That said, let's establish that Santiago is, and has been, the economic, cultural and social heart of the entire region for centuries. It is a major urban center with all of the good, bad and FUGLY that can be found in any urban center. The good is very good, and is, surprisingly so, fairly open to most people. The Centro Español, the Anaprosan, the Gurabito clubs are reasonable receptive to 'outsiders' as is the golf club. The theater presents very nice events and the newer Centro Leon has been an explosion as far as culture, art, music and intellectural conversations are concerned. Unfortunately for most of the posters here, the language spoken is Spanish, so the impact is sort of lost on the foreign community.
Obviously, Santiago is a family oriented place, and it is a place where personel contacts and networking are more valuable than just money. If you are an a$$, you will get a cold shoulder that will freeze you out and make life difficult. If you are jovial, kind and respectful, the odds are that you will be received into society rather quickly and enjoy a wide range of friends that will open other social and recreative possibilities to you and your family.
North Coast as seen through the eyes of a stranger
The North Coast of the Dominican Republic was chosen to be the beginning of the push towards a tourist industry way back in the 70s. Sosúa had always been the Dominican Riviera in a way that Boca Chica, in the South, could never match. Entire families moven into Sosua during the summer months and even today there are families from Santiago that maintain their summer places up there. When the push towards tourism began, very few people in the Cibao Valley were even interested in it. Bill Kirkman was one that did. Over in Puerto Plata, Playa Cofresí became an alternative to the crowded beach at Sosua, and Morales became a player in tourism. The Brugals and a couple of other prominent families like the Bordas started to participate in the industry, but most of the investment was either foreign or from Santo Domingo. Santiago stayed pretty much aloof-with the exception of the construction industry and some furniture manufacturers. The people that were used to going to Sosua didn't go as often.
As tourism progressed and the low-class, working stiffs from Europe began filling up Sosua, and later Cabarete with guys and gals looking to get laid by lusky Latino lovers, the "quality people" from other parts of the country shied away more and more from the North Coast. The perception was that the trash had moved in and let's look for another place to go. Many people from the Cibao went into the mountains to the south-Jarabacoa, SAJOMA and places in between. As tourism progressed and a more stable group of people began to buy property in the form of condos, or as in Sea Horse Ranch, in heavily guarded, isolated residential areas, the North Coast began a slow comeback, in the perception of quality people,as a possible destination for sun and fun. The influx of people with no children, reasonably high incomes and looking for a retirement location really helped the area. The creation of the golf course in Cabarete brought many local folks back to the area for a while, and now Playa Grande is bringing back more golfers and a higher class of tourism. Playa Dorada is also trying to exault their golf course, and many people from the Cibao have property in the Playa Dorada comples.
As for all of the "attractions" on the North Coast, most Dominicans that could afford to see them have done it years ago, and today places like Ocean World are just out of the reach for most travelling families that live locally. And who among those that live here would be seen dead in the back of a surplus army truck going into cane fields? We've pretty much done that, been there....or it seems downright stupid to get that much sun and mosquitos and then have to pay for it. We understand that it is a really exotic thing for someone from England or Europe or the States-at least the urban dwellers, but no sane Dominican or long time resident would be caught dead doing that...but it
is an attraction, so be it.
Therefore, it boils down to a life style, because life on the North Coast is not much different from life in Santiago in all reality. For a foreigner, you have to come to Santiago to shop and buy supplies. For a Dominican, you have to go to the North Coast to go to the beach. Most stuff in between is just a matter of taste. I can't believe that the bars in Sosua are any better or any worse than those in Santiago. Of course, there are about 9 less centers of prostitution in Santiago, as I write this, but I am sure that "that necessity " can be cured some place else.
F.W.I.W.
HB
(10)
North Coast vs. Santiago
I will say what the North Coast offers..forget Santiago!
I like both
