Sosua News
On February 27, Independence Day will be celebrated for the 168th time. The country was liberated 168 years ago from the Haitian domination. On February 27 1844, Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramon Matós Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez proclaimed the independent ‘República Dominicana’. Pupils from all the schools in Sosúa practice every morning an hour the ‘parade walk’. Furthermore, the students of the highest classes are busy with drumming to the beat. Especially the bass drum can be heard from far. Monday, February 27th the celebration of this memorable day starts with a holy mass in the Catholic Church in Charamicos. After the mass the march starts at the park of the flags in El Batey. Students of different schools and the soldiers of airbase accompanied by march music parade through the streets of Sosúa
On Wednesday 8 February, led by the Mayor of Sosúa Ilana Neumann, solemnly 12 flags were hoisted in the park of the flags. But what do we see now? The flag of the United States of America is gone. Only the bare flagpole still stands. Bystanders claim that the flag is taken by drunks. Others claim that the flag was stolen and sold to the highest bidder. The USA flag seems to be very popular and therefore expensive.
Besides the ‘Trade Winds’ apartments in Sosúa on the left side of the road to ‘Caribe Campo’ you see an overgrown field. That it is overgrown and that the site also is for sale, is not so strange and unusual.What is very unusual that between the bushes at least six cars are rotting away. Thera are a Mercedes, Toyota, Nissan etc. The story goes that a lawyer is the owner of all these cars. He confiscated them in the past from clients who didn’t pay their bills. He doesn’t want or just cannot sell the cars although several interested in buying them have made him an offer. This junkyard, because after all these years and in these weather conditions, you can surely speak of a junkyard, is for many the great riddle of Sosúa.
In El Batey, the tourist town of Sosúa, there is no reason for the residents to complain about power cuts or water shortages. There is almost 24-hours a day electricity and the water supply is okay. For the surroundings of Sosúa it’s another story. Blackouts of many hours a day are no exception. Also the supply of clean water is cumbersome. Often communities like Charamicos, Los Castillos, Maranatha, Cangrejos and Montellano are left without water for days. Regular protest marches organized by the residents seem to help somewhat. The water supplier COORAPLATA really does its best to improve the water supply. In Charamicos they have solved a range of different problems. But the blackouts of several hours a day are still part of a daily life. The power supplier EDENORTE still doesn’t have a solution.
Last Sunday, February 12, Ad said farewell to his Black Box beach bar. But from Monday, February 20, Ad is appointed as manager in bar disco ‘La Gran Velora, formerly Latino nightclub. Ad wants to change a lot of things in the disco nightclub. The price for a Presidente beer will be 90 pesos, 80 pesos for a Cuba Libre and soft drinks will be even cheaper. The music will be varied.So more blues, pop and rock from the ’70s and ’80s interspersed with bachata, merengue, reggaeton and salsa. Furthermore, the TV screens will be used for sporting events and music performances. There will also take activities place as a fashion show, beauty contest and a performance by a live band. With Ad as Manager the golden ‘Latino times’ will return to bar / nightclub La Gran Velora. Ad hereby invites everyone to visit his bar disco nightclub.
Puerto Plata.- February in the Dominican Republic is Carnaval Month, when people celebrate the festivities by dressing up, hosting parades, and paying homage to the rich history of the island.
The roots of the festival’s dances and costumes can be traced back to traditions carried over by African slaves, Spanish predecessors, and ancient Taino peoples.
Nowadays, the festival itself is purely Dominican and each city or town that holds a celebration adds their own localized twist. The celebrations lead up to a favorite holiday for many, Dominican Independence Day, February 27.
In the Carnaval of the Atlantic coast city Puerto Plata, the most popular costumes figure Bear Man, and of Taino ancestors, among others.
Source: Dominican Today
The owner of restaurant ‘Tipico Alberto, well-known as an organizer (together with Wolfgang Schönner of the Schnitzel Paradise) of the street parties in the Pedro Clisante in the past, now hosts a BBQ every Saturday night with performances by artists. Last Saturday a troubadour from Jarabacoa performed at the restaurant. The singer sang besides Spanish-language ballads also English language hits from the 70′s and 80′s. The performance of the musician elicited much enthusiasm with the happy surprised audience. Here was a top artist at work, that was obvious to everyone. Alberto, the owner of Tipico Alberto, will contract other artists for the coming Saturday nights. Of course, visitors can come to enjoy the music, but we can recommend the BBQ as well.
Tipico Alberto, Pedro Clisante #12
Tel: 809-885 9720
Sunday, February 12th was the day the beach bar ‘Black Box’ on the beach of Sosúa for the last time closed its doors. Ad, the sympathetic busty owner of the beach bar, had to sign a new lease contract with the owner. But the demands of the owner for a new term now were drastically raised. One month’s rent was now 23,000 pesos and he had to pay six months in advance. So he had to pay a sum of 138,000 pesos. Ad could not and would pay this. So he decided to close the bar. Last Sunday his loyal German, Belgian and Dutch clients enjoyed for the last time the hearty laughter of Ad and the culinary arts of Ellida. But Ad has alternatives in mind. A bar or hotel in Sosúa or something in Boca Chica, Ad will let us know soon about his plans. We haven’t lost Ad, we will hear from him.
February is the patriotic month in the Dominican Republic because the birthday of Ramón Mella and Independence Day are celebrated. Wednesday 8 February, led by mayor Ilana Neumann of Sosúa, aldermen and many guests, twelve flags of so many nationalities were solemnly hoisted in the park of the flags. The park with the flags (Parque de las Banderas) is situated opposite the Banco Popular and opposite Baileys Restaurant in El Batey. The twelve flags were hoisted by a citizen of the country. These countries are Israel, Canada, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, France, USA, England, Netherlands, Germany, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Mieke hoisted the Dutch flag, which first had to be flipped up site down because the blue color appeared on top. Actually, there should not have been twelve but fifty flags hoisted as Sosúa maintains with at least fifty countries a special relationship
Friday and Saturday 10 and 11 February the theater group ‘The North Coast Players Theatre Company’ led by Judith Hogg, brought another great comedy to the stage. The Friday evenign performance took place in the theater of the ‘Sosúa Bay Casino’ and at least 400 enthusiastic theater lovers were present. The play, or comedy, is about a married couple Tom and Linda, that want to adopt a baby.It should be their happiest day in their lives. But Dick’s two very ‘common’ brothers Dick and Harry, interfere with it so everything turns into chaos. The result of their ‘help’ is two illegal immigrants, a corpse and a load of smuggled cigarettes! With the arrival of the lady from the adoption agency, and a policeman, Tom is more than busy to get out and save the situation. It provides all kinds of precious moments for the audience. Especially the fun action of the two illegal immigrants from Kazakhstan (?) provide laughter from the audience. The play of all players was simply amazing, but the play of Tom (Simon Foster) was of an exceptional professional class.
Prior to the play there was a reception to which all supporters of the comedy were invited. They were pampered with a drink and delicious sushi prepared by the catering company Sabores del Mundo. We saw the owners of Casa Linda City, Perdomo, Casa 21, Sea Horse Ranch, Gusman Ariza, Las Cañas Aparthotel and others. The rum factory ‘Brugal’ had a stall set up with free rum cocktails and soft drinks. In the hall were booths where organizations such as Sosúa Kids, AAAS (friends of the animals foundation) brought their activities to the attention of the public. Pictures: picasaweb.google.com
