Why Go to Dominican Republic???

NALs · #1 12-22-2003, 03:39 PM

Why visit the Dominican Republic?

Because it's the oldest settled European land in the western hemisphere. Because it's the island that Columbus bragged about due to its extraordinary natural beauty and genuine hospitality of its people. Because it's an island of frosty mountain peaks, flat savannahs, mangrove swamps, cactus-studded deserts, palm dominated beaches, friendly outgoing people. Because it’s a country where people have figured out the secret of a happy life. There is a Dominican saying that says money can only but what’s cheap. It's so true, that is why on your way to the hotel from the airport you saw entire families gathered together enjoying each others company. That’s why you saw smiles bigger and brighter than the light being emitted from the sun. That’s why you saw kids enjoying life with one big laugh and simple child’s play. That’s why you heard lively music in all the towns and markets. That’s why you saw poor people dressing as sharp as they possibly could. It’s a sharp contrast to what one sees in the streets of New York. Where Americans parade up and down Fifth Avenue with a grumpy face. Where Americans dress as if they are unworthy humans with jeans and t-shirts not being tucked in. Where bad words and bad gestures are everyday things. Where people use money to be happy and instead find a gap in them selves, a gap hard to fill. Dominicans don't have that gap. They live at peace with themselves and every body that visit their wonderful country. How do I know this? Because unlike most tourist, I left the comfortable resorts and ventured on my own. What did most tourist found? They say poverty, misery, and poor service. I saw a culture that survives around family values, a country with impressive historical sights and resonance, a country of swaying palm trees and a brilliant sunshine, a country where people despite being poor are very happy with life, themselves, and their country. Why? It's like they say, money buy what’s cheap. Once your love one dies, or you lose your dignity, or you lose a sense to live, or you lose the basic essence of life in your day to day existence, all the money in the world wont be enough to change such misfortune. I'm glad I truly discovered the real Dominican Republic. On my Dominican adventure, poor people that saw my thirst in the sun offered me water; I was helped find my way around with a thank you and a bright smile. I ended most evenings in a Santo Domingo barrio, drinking some rum with the locals, playing an intense game of dominos with them, with merengue music filling the tropical air, and the most genuine laughs and love I have ever felt. I'm in America now, and here people look at me strange if all I want is a drop of water from a stranger, they look at me strange if all I want is a companion for a day, they look at me strange if all I want for someone that I don't know to simply say hello, just for being alive. But no, America only offers me worthless material gain; Dominican Republic offers me a spiritual gain. That’s why people should go to Dominican Republic, not to criticize the resorts or the country due to ones own ignorance of the place, but to find true happiness. A happiness that money will never offer. A happiness that exist in few places of this world.

ricktoronto · #2 12-22-2003, 06:54 PM

they'll adopt the use of a paragraph so you can read long posts about them.

santobonao · #3 12-23-2003, 09:18 AM

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS THE BEST PLACE IN THE CARIBBEAN!

blong · #4 12-23-2003, 11:18 AM

I love the DR too for all the reasons stated but comparing NYC to DR is really like comparing apples and oranges.

I live in NY and vacation in DR and I do that in part because there are no jobs to speak of in DR. NY on the other hand is all about capitialism, getting ahead, focusing on money, commerce, wealth, creating wealth, jobs, working. NY is successful at its purpose and if in the process it is a little edgier, a little less friendly, a little (OK a lot) more distrustful that only adds to its functionality. So sure, we New Yorkers are an abrasive, standoffish lot - but people come from all over the world for the opportunity to make it.

We may not have time to bask in the sun all day and play dominoes while listening to merengue and drinking brugal but that is because we are working our asses off. I say that without rating one lifestyle over the other because they are so different it would be like, as I stated before, too unfair to compare the two.

Hillbilly · #5 12-25-2003, 11:26 AM

I can certainly understand why you like this place.

thank you for an "outsider's" point of view...

HB

chevere_nice · #6 12-25-2003, 04:08 PM

Naolwhks

I know what you mean by saying that....am dominican but leaving in Europe...but here people live their lifes without knowing that magic that we have in the caribbean. My husband has a friend who worked in Dom. Rep. and he is always saying: if anyone wants to know what life´s mean, go to the Dom. Rep..... We live life thinking of others, caring for others, our houses are always open to all (foreigners and natives).

If something I thank God everyday is for being born in Dominican Republic, a place with patriotism, with JOY, with people who can be with energy not thinking of the problems, that can give you a hand if you are sick or whatever.... without knowing you.

Viva la Republica Dominicana... we that live in this countries (Europe for ex.) where we meet nice people, we dont see that smile, we dont feel that hug when we need it, we dont receive that phone just to saying : hey my friend, let´s go to fulano´s place to make some spaguettis, jajajaja, The familys gathering together, that is something we have in Dom. Rep. and is the best.

Merry Christmas to all, and am HAPPY TO BE DOMINICAN.

santobonao · #7 12-27-2003, 07:34 PM

republica dominicana es el mejor pais de mundo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

y estoy feliz que soy dominicano.

calamardoazul · #8 12-28-2003, 11:13 PM

Because the VALUE of the service and amenities you get here is higher than the price you pay for them

rmary · #9 12-29-2003, 01:11 AM

Quote:

And maybe they'll adopt the use of a paragraph so you can read long posts about them

And maybe some Canadians (or others) will stop complaining about inconsequentials long enough for people to get a good impression of them......

I tend to agree that run on sentences and/or paragraphs can be tiresome, but sometomes they are appropriate. Free flowing thought, like poetry should not be interupted or subjected to grammatical restrictions.

lighten up.

Rose

dale7 · #10 12-30-2003, 11:32 PM

There is so much to see in the Dominican Republic other than the AI resorts, beaches, and getting your groove on. Though the latter two I enjoy quite a bit often the culture and historical importance of this country is overlooked.

I enjoy shopping in the Colonial Zone and learning to dance Bachata and Merengue with anyone willing to genuinely help you learn some basic moves. The awesome Botanical Gardens which are stunning and the museums in Santo Domingo. The oldest European style buildings in North America and historical places of beauty of a time long ago, if they could talk, imagine the stories of struggles and triumphs they have witnessed, as they brave the ravages of time.

Getting lost and having someone out of the goodness of their heart, give you directions without impatience as you struggle in your less than perfect Spanish and/ or walk with you to the location. "Gracias" you say, and a "de nada" and a smile is what you receive. Running out of gas on a motor scooter in the campo and almost everyone stopping to see what your problem is, if you need assistance, and someone coming back about 10 minutes later with a container of gasoline. Visiting someone's house or being invited for a meal, and seeing genuine hospitality. Venturing outside of Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, Puerto Plata, and the AI's in the tourist areas and you will meet the real people of the Dominican Republic, give them a chance and not judge everyone as chopos, putas, sankies, and of a lesser class and you will find the DR's greatest treasure, the people.

My car breaks down in the US. I can sit for hours and no one comes to help. I say hello and 1/2 the time you get a half hearted hello or nod and sometimes not even a response, or just a strange look. I hate to ask for directions in the US, most of the time they help you grudgingly and/or impatiently. I am guilty of these things as well because I often drive by those stranded motorists and get impatient giving directions. Never have I had someone who just met you in the US ask you to their house for a dinner. Sometimes those from "more developed" countries" who sometimes look at others as less fortunate shouldn't be judging anyone, because anyone who is happy with their life is truly fortunate.

You might be surprised how much fun you can have by stopping at a little colmado in the campo, have a few Presidentes, have a friendly chat while playing a game of dominoes even though you may have a little bit of language barrier. My last trip I spent some time in Boca Chica/Santo Domingo, but went to Sajoma to see my son, brought a few baseballs and gave them to some local kids, and the smiles were worth it. Chasing women can be very fun but there is more to the DR than that and I appreciated the post by Nal0whs because it made me stop and think for a minute of some of the true treasures of the DR. Usually I don't become nostalgic and humane but it is good to be human every now and then, realizing I am just a little speck in the world.
dale7(Howard)