I have lived in Sosua for 7 years. I just wondered what people thought of Sosua.

you should tell us your experiences being on the inside. me ive got about 15 days there. total. maybe 16. Last time i was there a local bis. guy offered to buy the shirt off my back.
Probably the prettier girls work there. more$
great beach but i think the administration of sosua is and has been in trouble. People who live there dont want to put themselves out with fixing known problems, fixing the bad things that drive tourists away.

I think that Sosua is a very interesting place. I bought a house here a year ago and visit from the USA for about 20 - 25 days per year. The things I love...weather, beaches, most of the people, the simple and relaxed way of life. The things that concern me...some of the people, the poverty, the lack of security in some situations, the garbage and lack of concern for natural resources, the lack of a plan to attract tourists, keep tourists, protect tourists so that these tourists can spend money, create jobs and income for the people of the DR.

So "What do I think of Sosua"...

Its a great place, a Diamond in the rough. A place to relax from the rest of the world. I am a lover of the outside world, the water, the mountains...I would like to see the DR become a playground for people from around the world to enjoy. It can be a wonderful place.

I agree with you John and I like the place. I'd like to see more eco-tourism and adventure tourism which would boost the local economy.
The goverment needs to stop just selling off land to all-inclusives and start attracting smaller businesses who really love the country and the natural beauty.
Get the tourists out more, not just on pre-arranged excursions, but make them feel safe and they can walk about and travel about freely without being hassled.

But back to Sosua - its got problems mainly due to the short-sightedness and money-sighted local and national government. If they loved their country as much as they profess, then Sosua could be a real adventure playground.
Here's hoping!

I like sosua. but it is a rough spot. You should turn it into a little bankok. Bankok is busy. tourism never stops. Make it a sex stop/destination. leave the surf/sail crowd where they are. Have bar girls all over , (maybe im to cheapo 2 fly to thailand. lol..

Compared to what it was like in 1982 and the changes since then; a veritable cesspool. Enough said!

ok to visit but you would be crazy to live there puerto plata is safe

Thank you all for your replies about 'what do you think about Sosua'

I am a Brit. moved here 8 years ago living in Sosua full time. I love the weather here my health is so much better. I get sick and stressed out when I am in England!

My Club is waiting for the election of the Mayor of Sosua then we will start to have regular meetings. If we don't do this we should not complain. Many of the Club members have investments and businesses here.

There is still room for Sosua to keep going down... some of the problems are boys in the streets day and night, cleaning/repairs/lighting of the streets.

We shall have to see what happens to Sosua's future.

Sylvia

Hi everyone, I live in Montreal Canada where I run my own business. I will be moving to Sosua in a few months. As in all countries around the world you have good and bad. What we need to do is stop the lip service and do something to correct what we feel is wrong. I was born in Santo Domingo but raised here in Montreal since the age of 4. I have a business in Sosua and plan to visit one of your meetings. Who knows maybe we can put our heads together and put some plans into action. I can tell you that the pace of life in Sosua is a complete opposite of the life here and the people there much friendlier by far. Here you work and work to try to get ahead and while doing so you do not enjoy the real fruits of your labor. This is why I can not wait to get to Sosua to live and enjoy life. Even though I am going there to run my business I feel as though my retirement has arrived at the age of 42. Yo amo a mi pais!!! There is no better place then my pais!!!

Hi Serenidad

The same was happening to me in the UK...just work and more work. I love living here and that is why I want to make Sosua better. We are waiting for the elections of the new Mayor of Sosua and the Club (ESO Residents Club) I am President off will start to have meetings and hopefully together we can make some changes.

This is a beautiful country and I love living here.

Hope to meet up with you when you are here in sunny Sosua !

Regards..Sylvia Cheal (President ESO Residents Club)

Hi Sylvia I am so looking forward to getting out of here. Need a real change of pace. I believe that in Sosua I will find what I am looking for. SERENITY!!! For sure I will go to one of your meetings. See you in July!!!

We started coming to Sosua over 18 years ago. Bought land, built our home and became full time for the last six years. The last 4 or 5 years has changed Sosua into a sewer. We only go into town to do business and NEVER at night.

Sylvia, please let us know when and where your next meeting is. (Not in Sosua at night.) Let us hope that the new Mayor will do something to clean things up.

Regards, Samia

Hello Samia

I will be doing a Club promotion at the Brittania Bar during the day and we normally meet at the Waterfront on the last Wednesday of each month.

Please send me your e mail address so that I can send you the details.

Thank you
Sylvia Cheal
sylviacheal@hotmail.com

Thanks Sylvia. Sent you a private email.

Sosua is in big trouble as a tourist destination. It is not safe to live here. There is no legal protection for the Gringos and ex pats that live here. The police are corrupt and the court system is a joke and favors Dominicans over Gringos. Everything is for sale and there are no buyers. 50% of the tourist related businesses have closed and the rest are losing money. For years everyone invested here has been reluctant to say anything because they don't want to make things worse with bad press. But it is time to tell it like it is. Would the last Gringo to leave Sosua please turn out the lights.

I love Sosua, but I don't live there. I make a trip from Navarette each month to buy books, eat food other than fried plantains and salami, speak English to a variety of people, and, well, the night life is another whole subject. I love this country and the people. My biggest bitch is the trash in the streets. It will take a charasmatic leader to raise the public conciousness of this eyesore and environmental problem. Then there is the poverty problem and crooked pols. As a transplant, I can stand aside and criticise cuz' I got bucks. I can't imagine working in a Zona Franca for 56 hours a week and 8000 pesos a month. In my own way I help, buy local. Buy off the street, the veges off the pickup truck, support the people on the street who struggle to survive. It's the economy, Stupid !

The new Mayor is coming into office in August for the next 6 years. I have heard that she will make many changes here in Sosua.

I cannot imagine that Sosua can go down any further so lets wish the new Mayor good luck and support her as much as possible.

Sylvia

I will get the lights and lock the door