[Yfclciak]

Good afternoon.

Today I went to visit Rocky (Marc) at Rocky's Blues Bar in Sosua, for some very wonderful technical help on my laptop. We switched out the old spinner harddrive and put in a new solid state hard drive...done well, and he added a gigabit of RAM also.

No kidding around: This guy is a real gem with computers....(Hint--he hates cologne/perfume and he loves brownies!)

While in Sosua, I walked over to the Cafe Cubano and made the acquaintance of Brian Ramsay, the owner. Folks and especially Cigar Folks???????--This guy is for real and has the HB seal of approval. The cigars he sells are legit and he knows whereof he speaketh!! I bought two beautiful sticks that I had not seen in ages...

Brian is to be congratulated on running a Class Operation. If you are a cigar aficionado, or someone asked you to bring back some cigars, this is the place to go.

Prices are reasonable. Yes, maybe you could do better on a cigar auction site, or at JR's place, but if you want to buy a couple of really nice cigars for a friend--Opus X or Aurora Preferidos, or Cubans--this is a good place to spend your money and get honest product. There is no place like this in Santiago--the place in Gran Almirante does not have Cubans!! (not that I have seen--so if they have some now let me know)

On the way up to Sosua, I stopped at an old favorite: " Donde Meca" which for many decades has made some of the best longaniza in the world. Her daughters and sons now have a place there called Parada GOYA. Not big, no huge sign. Coming from POP it is on the left after you pass the entrance to the 27 Falls...maybe 300 yards as you go down the grade. Place is called Quebrada Honda. Unfortunately they have become very religious and no longer provide beer!! They will give you a free coffee or tea and for RD$10 pesos you can put cremora in it...Longaniza is RD$200 a pound and is very good.

Years ago I used to stop there with my wife and family and have some platanos and pork...mmmmmmm!! And lots of good cold beer...


The highway has gone to he!!, no other way to mention it. There are potholes at some horrible spots, in the shade and on curves. And they want to charge for using it>? Gimme a break! A major upkeep is in order. Maybe the new guy in Obras Publicas will get his finger out and do some repairs???

That's it for now!!

HB