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13th March 2007, 01:30 PM

Along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, in Puerto Plata is a street that the
locals call El Malecon. This runs about 2 miles from the old Montemar Hotel
to the old fort. Close to the west end of this street is a nice little
restaurant that we like to frequent called Aguaceros. They have an extensive
menu of authentic North American fare like hamburgers, fries, club
sandwiches and all are served with a sidewalk seat overlooking the ocean.
The cable car or Telefarico is a must if you've never been to Dominican
before. Pick a really hot day to go because the temperature on the mountain
can be 10 degrees F cooler than below and it's a welcome relief on a hot
day. The mountain top is often covered by cloud which obstructs the view but
you can easily tell if the clouds are there by looking at the mountain
before you go.
One of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen is about 25 minutes east of
Puerto Plata. It's called Sosua beach and the early morning is the best time
to observe it's beauty. The sand is a golden colour and the water is a
turquoise blue that is most apparent in the morning. The beach is lined with
palm trees, beyond which there is a flee market type row of concession
booths selling all of the usual tourist souvenirs. Be sure to bargain with
the vendors. They normally start out at three times the final price!
The city of Puerto Plata itself has many, many shopping opportunities from
the amber museum to the department store opposite Central Park. There's a
tour of the Brugal rum factory with tasting and a discount store for
purchasing rum to bring home.
There's a trip called "The Rum Runners" where they take you through the
Dominican countryside on a 4X4 drinking rum the whole time except for the
stop for lunch at a "traditional Dominican" household.
There's trip called Paradise Island almost at the Haitian border you take a
boat out to a sandbar about two miles of shore where you can bake in the sun
and snorkel to observe a multitude of marine life. After the island you
travel by boat through a mangrove and then return to shore for an included
lunch.
There's way more to do, but I'm tired.
Enjoy!

13th March 2007, 01:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chuck Fluri Guest Posts: n/a Classified Rating: % ()	paraiso del sol Along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, in Puerto Plata is a street that the locals call El Malecon. This runs about 2 miles from the old Montemar Hotel to the old fort. Close to the west end of this street is a nice little restaurant that we like to frequent called Aguaceros. They have an extensive menu of authentic North American fare like hamburgers, fries, club sandwiches and all are served with a sidewalk seat overlooking the ocean. The cable car or Telefarico is a must if you've never been to Dominican before. Pick a really hot day to go because the temperature on the mountain can be 10 degrees F cooler than below and it's a welcome relief on a hot day. The mountain top is often covered by cloud which obstructs the view but you can easily tell if the clouds are there by looking at the mountain before you go. One of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen is about 25 minutes east of Puerto Plata. It's called Sosua beach and the early morning is the best time to observe it's beauty. The sand is a golden colour and the water is a turquoise blue that is most apparent in the morning. The beach is lined with palm trees, beyond which there is a flee market type row of concession booths selling all of the usual tourist souvenirs. Be sure to bargain with the vendors. They normally start out at three times the final price! The city of Puerto Plata itself has many, many shopping opportunities from the amber museum to the department store opposite Central Park. There's a tour of the Brugal rum factory with tasting and a discount store for purchasing rum to bring home. There's a trip called "The Rum Runners" where they take you through the Dominican countryside on a 4X4 drinking rum the whole time except for the stop for lunch at a "traditional Dominican" household. There's trip called Paradise Island almost at the Haitian border you take a boat out to a sandbar about two miles of shore where you can bake in the sun and snorkel to observe a multitude of marine life. After the island you travel by boat through a mangrove and then return to shore for an included lunch. There's way more to do, but I'm tired. Enjoy!