I explored the Samana peninsula for the first time with my fiance, an experienced Dominicana traveler who used to be an administrator at the Casa Marina Resort in Las Galenas.
Outside of Samana driving toward LG, the road opens into a beautiful open flat area, 100 yards to the rocky coastline, and a coconut palm "forest" on the other side of the road, with an awesome view toward the tip of the peninsula. There were motos and the occasional car driving by.
We pulled over onto the shoulder, got out to take several pictures, and got back into the CR-V. As I was about to put the key into the ignition, I looked over and saw a guy on a moto next to me asking me to roll the window down. In retrospect I shouldn't have. But I did.
He asked in perfect English without a hint of Spanish accent if we were OK. Before I could respond, he reached into the front of his jersey (my mind flashed, expecting a gun or knife), and pulled out a huge badge in a leather placard and hidden neckband. Somewhat stunned, I said we were fine, just taking pictures. He said, good...if you needed something, like a tire change, he'd be happy to help, have a nice trip, turned his bike around and left. I did not have presence of mind to get a really good look at the badge.
He did not look "Dominican", i.e. darker complected. He was maybe early 30's, solidly built, had a thin beard/goatee, rode a 250cc motocross bike without any police markings, and had no uniform of any kind. As I mentioned, he spoke perfect American English without a hint of accent. He was friendly enough and not at all threatening-he just surprised us.
The next couple of days we asked both a tourist and national police guy if they knew or ever heard anything like this guy. Neither did, just shrugged and said maybe "secret police".
Secret police???
Anybody have similar experiences, or have any thoughts or insights who/what he may have been? FWIW, I'm a fairly large American looking gringo WASP.
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Who was that guy?
