Dominican Republic Report

Today I want to report on one of my favorite places to 'hang out' when I am in Sosua.

Rocky's Blues Bar (http://www.rockysbar.com) is a very popular place for expatriates like myself. I spend a few hours almost every day there.

Rockys is much more than a bar. It is also a restaurant that serves delicious food at reasonable prices. It is my favorite place to eat breakfast.

It is a hotel as there are a number of room available for overnight stays or stays of short duration. The price for an overnight stay is only $22 USD. The rooms are basic, always clean and have cable television.

In November, once again, I will be returning to Sosua without an apartment to move into. It will take me a few days to locate the best apartment available within my budget. I will stay at Rocky's for those few days while I locate a place to call home for the winter. I would like to have a place of my own and thus have the peace of mind to know that when I arrive, I have a place to stay, but right now that is not possible.

Rocky's is safe, friendly and convenient. In addition, Marco (the owner) is very knowledgable about the various long-term housing possibilities. He is a big help in finding a place.

Rocky's is a meeting place for friends to get together, sit around the tables and talk. Each day I meet my friends there and we start the day together. It is also a place to make new friends.

Most importantly for me, Rocky's is a place where I can go to get in my computer time daily. Most of the places in which we expatriates live do not have internet connections and it takes months (even years) to get a phone line and a working internet connection. Things move very slowly in the Dominican Republic.

Rocky's has several desktop computers for people that do not have laptops. Most of us though take advantage of the wireless network there. We arrive at Rocky's, find a table and set up our computers. We have our coffee and usually order breakfast. It is a nice way to begin the day and there is no charge for tapping into the wireless network.

How can I describe it? Like most places in the tropics it is open-air, but covered with a roof. Almost always there is a cool breeze blowing through. It is basically divided into three areas.

When you walk in from the street you enter a fairly large bar area with many tables and chairs for the patrons. As you pass through the bar area, you descend two steps into another large area. The kitchen, restrooms, more tables and chairs and several desktop computers are in this area. It is here that I sit and utilize the wireless network.

In the rear of the establishment is a very nice tropical garden area and several cottage-like rooms. Short term renters utilize these for short vacation stays or like me, places to sleep until they have located more permanent housing.

Mark Beland is the owner/operator of Rocky's. Marco, as he is known to everyone in Sosua, is a Canadian who has lived in Sosua for at least 15 years, possibly longer. His place is clean, comfortable and well run. As I mentioned earlier, Marco is about as 'in the know' as any expat in Sosua. You can go to Marco with any question and he will usually be able to steer you in the right direction. Marco will also pick you up at the airport when you arrive or deliver you there for your flight back to wherever you come from.