In a few weeks, I’ll be celebrating my first anniversary of living in Cabarete. Before that day last August, I hadn’t stepped foot on my island in eight years. While I am originally from Santo Domingo, I spent the better part of the past decade living in several places in the world, but no town was ever able to soothe my wanderlust—until I landed in Cabarete.
A year ago, everyone told me that once I’d seen life in Cabarete, I’d be back again—if I ever left. I remember laughing; from a monastery in Nepal to an apartment in New York City to a little house near Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), I have lived in some of the most vibrant places in the world and I definitely didn’t think a town with only two streets had much to show me. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong. Here are the things that shaped my experience:
1. The harder you slam your dominoes, the better your Sunday afternoon will be
This is a scientific fact! There is nothing like spending the day in bonche with all of my local friends, listening to the old Bachatas my mother sang. After we’re done playing, we barbecue or make a huge Sancocho and feed the whole neighborhood family-style. In essence, that’s what we are: a family made up of Dominicans and our friends from abroad.
2. There is a right way and a wrong way to get on and off a motorcycle
Passenger + right side of the motorcycle = Dominican tattoo (a burn from the hot exhaust pipe). I never knew how complicated that was! Now I know, and while I haven’t had the pleasure of getting one of those yet, I’ve seen enough friends walk away with a lovely souvenir of their tropical vacation—they’ll never forget Cabarete!
3. Appreciating great people from all over the world
In Cabarete, "goodbye" really is just "see you later"… because everyone does eventually come back.
If you came here for a specific trip and find yourself still here, what made you stay? If you keep finding yourself back in Cabarete, what keeps you coming back?