On the run

2013 has just started but I've already visited three continents. It's almost like an involuntary world trip. I just arrived in Taiwan for my grandmother's funeral. She became 97 but Monday morning was her last. Now, my whole family is on its way to Taiwan for a big reunion - unfortunately not for a happy reason.

Chimichurri

The best burgers in the world can be found in the streets of Santo Domingo. They are called Chimichurri. (Btw. Chimichuri in Argentinia is a sauce for steaks.)
As long as you have a firm stomach, you know, one that can handle food from the streets of developing countries, I would highly recommend eating this! Of course this is nothing for vegetarians...

It contains bun, cabbage, carrots, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, meat, cheddar cheese, bacon, and lots of ketchup and mayo... There's also some undefined sauce. It's definitely an explosion for the senses of taste and smell.

Every time, I come to the Dominican Republic, I need to eat this. My stomach has been trained by the night markets of Taiwan since childhood. But even I have standards. I only buy from people that look relatively clean and who have some kind of organization. Cooling boxes are a big plus, while flies and cockroaches ar a big no go... Pretty self-explanatory, right?

I would say, this is better than what some gourmets offer in their high class restaurants. Btw, it's something Anthony Bourdain missed out, when he filmed in the Dominican Republic. I love his tv serie, although it always makes me hungry (for food and travel)... ;-)

Boca Chica Expreso

Boca Chica is a wonderful beach close to Santo Domingo, about 30-45min by bus.

Getting there isn't all that difficult... But before you spend your money on a taxi, better take the "Boca Chica Expreso". Only 70 Pesos (1.40 €) for the Expreso, 50 Pesos for the normal bus (1€), also called Caliente. You pay on the road, so you can still get out of the bus, if you don't like its condition. I would recommend the Expreso because it's faster as it doesn't stop everywhere...
The busses run from 06:00-20:00. The Expreso runs every hour, the Caliente every 15min.
The bus station is located in "la Duarte".

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Bus station

It's best to get an air-conditioned bus. They can be recognized by their closed windows. They are mostly cleaner than those without air-conditioning, as you can see below.

Clean Air Conditioned Bus

The bus below isn't an Expreso and also has no air-conditioning. As you can see, it has also seen better days.

Open windows = no air condition

The bus station in Boca Chica doesn't have any sign, so keep in mind where you left the bus. It's also where you enter... Furthermore, the staff can easily be recognized by their red polo shirts.

Beer

The Dominican beer to go is "Presidente". There are normal 0.3l sized bottles but also really large 1l beer bottles like the one I hold in this picture. Since I don't really like beer, I can't tell you if it's good. It's not as bitter as Becks but that's about it... It's beer...

 

The Bavarian "Löwenbräu" beer is also sold in the Dominican Republic. Just that Dominicans think it's from Hamburg.

 

The information about Bavaria is hidden inside the pink circle...

 

Update: Bavaro Express

In my post from 2011 << click >>, I first wrote about the Bavaro Express Santo Domingo. Since I'm in Santo Domingo again, I want to give you an update.The oneway ticket from Bavaro to Santo Domingo now costs 400 Pesos, which are about 8€. The ride only takes 3.5 hours instead of 4 because there are new highways, no potholes anywhere anymore. It is extremely comfortable, clean and air conditioned. The buses are really on time, we even drove 10 minutes early.

The buses run more often as well. The updated schedule for both ways each day is:

• 07:00
• 09:00
• 11:00
• 13:00
• 15:00
• 16:00

Seen at the station "Friusa (Bavaro)".

Größere Kartenansicht

The Bavaro Express now passes Bavaro, Veron, Punta Cana airport (PUJ), and Santo Domingo airport Las Américas (SDQ) in both directions.

If you come from Santo Domingo and want to go to a hotel in Bavaro, just ask the driver to stop there. Sometimes it's good to know the old names of the resorts. They switch owners and names every now and then. It's hard to keep track of them. Anyway, the last station will be Friusa, Bavaro.

Going to Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) takes 2h45min from Santo Domingo.

Here are the bus stops on the way to and in Santo Domingo:

• Parador la Lechosa
• San Pedro de Macorís
• Boca Chica en la Estación Shell
• Aeropuerto Las Américas
• Puente Juan Carlos
• San Vicente
• Venezuela
• 27 de Febrero con Josefa Brea
• México con José Martí (station in la Duarte)
• La Gómez (main station at Calle Juan Sanchez Ramirez #31)

You can buy tickets at La Gómez and México con José Martí. It's also where you enter the bus in Santo Domingo.

The telephone numbers are:

• 809-682-9670 La Gómez in Santo Domingo
• 809-682-5881 México con José Martí in Santo Domingo
• 809-453-1473 Veron
• 809-552-1678 Friusa, Bavaro

There are also busses to other destinations.

Bavaro Express from La Romana to Bavaro

• 05:40
• 08:20
• 10:50
• 13:20
• 15:50
• 18:20

Bavaro Express from Bavaro to La Romana

• 06:00
• 08:30
• 11:00

Further information can be found on the official homepage << click >>.

Good luck and have a wonderful time in the Dominican Republic!

 

Nails

Chipping nails are every girl's nightmare. I usually have very healthy nails. Every once and then, when they're too long, one of them might break but nothing serious...

The only time, they chipped for several months was before I moved out from my last apartment. I really wasn't feeling all that great and I think it was due to my emotional mindset that it transferred to my nails. How do I know that? Well, I haven't changed my diet when I moved out. I gave up on all the nail polish serums and bases and what not... So that couldn't be it... The only changing factor was the new apartment and thus inner peace.

 

 

Actually the before-pic was done recently because they started to chip during the long flight. It was much worse last summer but I was too ashamed of my nails to take any pictures. The chipping went to the inner part of nails as well. No matter how short my nails were, I couldn't get rid of the chipping... Now they're healthy again so the after picture looks like my nails now.

So maybe, when you have bad nails for several months and you don't know what else to take or do to your nails, ask yourself, what bothers you in your life and how can you change it. It might make a difference after all!