Dominican Republic, what a disappointment

My experience in this country was rather negative. We didn't go to the classic destinations but to a resort off the usual itineraries, in Juan Dolio, in order to be independent. The only marvel is Saona with its natural pools; all the rest has become too “Italianised”, too fake-touristy, too much crime and too much corruption. Juan Dolio will become like Miami; the gap between the poor and tourists grows ever wider because they're building everywhere and the big multinationals have no respect for the landscape, 20-storey buildings under construction on the beach. Santo Domingo city is dirty and poorly kept. The coral reef doesn't exist, or perhaps it's me who didn't find it...

All in all we didn't let it condition us; we met many people and visited as much as we could; we saw the whales in Samanà, we did an excursion to Bayaguana and to the waterfalls where they filmed The Blue Lagoon, and we rested anyway... outside the resorts I'd advise not to go; you have to be careful and then there's nothing there, there are no shops, no places to dance, only a few little restaurants but mostly Italian, and when I'm travelling I avoid Italian cuisine, I like eating the local delicacies. Creole cooking is made up of rice, beans and mainly chicken, or fish, a delight in short. Raphael was our angel; he has a restaurant “La Brisa”, the only Dominican restaurant, and he brightened our evenings. It was an experience and I'm glad I had it.