Why Go to Dominican Republic???

[woohooboo]

These pics are the reason I go and will continue to go to the D.R. My husband wants to travel the other Islands in the Carribean, and I can't imagine going anywhere else

Brenda

http://community.webshots.com/user/davereport

[Paulino]

I'd say that the starter of this thread (you other posters for that matter) has some very essential and true points. However, as far as I'm concerned the DR is not the Caribbean inspiration for Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" as one might be led to believe.

Although many people appear to be very friendly, it often turns out to be only skin deep. I find that too many people have no respect for others or their integrity, have no sense of decent social and civic conduct etc. How the majority behaves in traffic is just one example and perhaps a valid symptom. How they have no checks or boundaries regarding playing loud Loud LOUD music with lots of bass all over the vecindario, any time of day or night, is another. Sure I enjoy bachata and merengue, but please, when I myself like to listen, or at least in moderate helpings. Our neighbor two houses up the street in "our" town, doña Zoila, the sweetest old lady, has gone nuts and bananas (platanos) due to this horrible practice. Even her own, grown children have no means of helping her alliviate the noise. The municipal authorities or the PN couldn't care less. The constant basketball playing/thumping by the adolescent kids in the "hood" taking turns, with shouting and yelling right on her doorstep, surely is a contributing factor to her state of mind.
Stealing, lying, swindling and cheating at any given (or not given for that matter) opportunity is still another example. What about corruption running wild? Chopismo?
The next to worthless education system? Nice blue school uniforms, sure.
Firearms galore. Blatant and senseless violence, both on the part of the police, and individuals, is too obvious to even deserve being mentioned. So-called huelgas, with indiscriminate stone throwing and violence?
Civil rights in reality not worth a monkey's ass. Just sit still, shut up and try to go unnoticed.

Well, these are just my 2 cents for today, and a very, VERY personal point of view. I still do love to come to the country though, and hate to leave every time - were it not for the damn mosquitos. (Maybe until the day something serious - God forbid - should happen to me or my nearest and dearest.)
The word "Cibao" is music to my ears. And as for my wife's Dominican family - I love them all dearly.

[Eddy]

Funny thing, some days "Nal0whs" 's thread is exactly the way I see things and others I can really relate to "Paulino" 's. I've lived both over the many years I've been here. Lucky I don't live in a noisy area. The Domican families in our area are mostly of better class and hate the noise and "everything mentioned by "Paulino" in his post.
We've had had some noisy people in the area but most have changed for better or moved. We do have a few but it's just a matter of time. I have no problem with going over to them and talking. As a rule it works "most of the time" LOL.

I usually don't get involved in threads like this one, I probably won't post anything further here but will for sure be following it.
Hope we get more opinions.

[Chirimoya]

I defy anyone to name a country about which only positive or negative things could be written. It is one thing to focus exclusively on the positive, it could also be said to be delusional. Same goes for those who dwell solely on the negative. You have to keep a balance of both, no matter where you are.

All in all I agree with Eddy: both Paulino's and Nal0whs's posts are true assessments in their own ways.

Chiri

[lindalou]

Thank-you sooo much, I totally agree with you! We are a very spoiled nation. I think we need to thank God for what we have and QUIT COMPLAINING!!! Thank-you DR!!:

[NALs]

As the initiator of this thread, I would like to thank all of those who took a part of their time (which in turn is a part of your life) to write a respond to my reasons for visiting the Dominican Republic. In the future, I'll post more positive things about the Dominican Republic. The reasons why I ONLY post POSITIVE things about the Dominican Republic, is because in my opinion, the media does a beyond perfect job a showing the negatives. So, I in response show the positives and walla, you've got a full picture of this tropical paradise!!!

[Daniela]

You are definetly rigth my friend, we american dont appreciate what we have until we get the chance to visit this wonderful place such as the Domenican Replubic. I came back yesterday from my holydays, I stayed at la Santana beach resort in La Romana, and just like you said we worry only on the resort to see how well the provide service. I found that place rich of happy people even if they live in the poverty, they khow how to appreciate what they have, with a big smile day by day they make you happy. I strongly suggest any one to visit this country, there is a lot to discover peraphs what we dont have here, happines.

[Hlywud]

? tough reading

[Daniela]

You dont believe what I have said? have you ever been in Domenican Republic? I DONT THINK SO!
Definetly they enjoy their lives more than us!

[lhtown]

You will find some of "us" enjoying our lives to the fullest in spite of the worldly goods which "we" have. Also, you will find that some of "them" who are without are some of the most miserable people you would ever want to meet.

Worldly goods don't cause or negate true happiness. I suppose they can make being miserable a bit easier to bear though.

Appreciating what "we" have, well that is another topic altogether.

Sorry, if I am preaching. I try not to do that on this board but it is Sunday!