While I am not an expert on the Dominican Republic, I have experienced the “colmados”.

And I fell at home within this business model in Santo Domingo. Many of us have experienced bodegas, Wawa’s and 7-11’s and other out fits like that. Well, colmados, according to the knowledge I picked up in the street, is the response to the needs of the community. The Colmados upped their delivery and cultural experiences during a difficult economic time. People could not afford to go to the nightclubs, so Colmados became a good landing place. They are set up with all you would desire from a bodega and a cantina. The shop’s center is decorated with some small metal tables and chairs. The metal doors have been pushed away, and three-quarters of the business is open to the public.

The appetizers are good, and there is plenty of Presidente, the local beer. They have a half-bottle presentation, which we called the “Vice Presidente.” The atmosphere is informal, and even Chicanos are welcomed. For years, you could order food, drinks, household items, or anything you might need, and it would be taken to your home or apartment. They were ahead of the curve regarding home delivery.

So, there I am, looking around the Colmado and sipping on my Presidente when a popular fast beat song begins to play from the big speakers and sound system. The waitresses who wait the tables float between customers with a special rhythm in their hips. Soon, customers are up and dancing. After more presidente and warm smiles given to me by both women and men, I too got up at times to shuffle my two left feet. The Dominicans can dance most of us under the table. People of all parts of society stop by for a beer or just to relax for a moment..

My spouse had gone to have her nails and hair done at one of these incredible shops, and she said she was worried that I would be bored because it was taking so long. The truth is that I did not want to leave; I was most relaxed and feeling at home with the beautiful people who welcomed me.

Many think that they have experienced the D. R. because they were lucky and visited one of the wonderful resorts, but I think that tour companies should have their customers visit a couple of Colmados.

Dominican Republic’s coastal trio—Punta Cana, Samaná, and Puerto Plata—offer an unparalleled Caribbean experience of luxurious landscapes, thrilling adventures, rich history and mouthwatering cuisine that promise unforgettable tropical immersion.

I must confess that we have family there and that my wife and daughter are my guides and drivers in this wonderful country. Driving in Santo Domingo is a good training ground for professional race car drivers. I never got up enough courage to drive there.

I have to listen carefully when they talk to me because their Spanish is on steroids and much faster than my slow-paced southwest Spanish.

The local cuisine is most delicious, and I was surprised by the super good Italian foods. It looks like at different times, there was a movement of many Italians into the D. R. I ate a lot of pizza and Fettuccini alfredo when I visited. You also need to try Mofongo, Pico de Gallo, Tostones, La Bandera, and many more, including an amazing pastry.

Being a union organizer and anti-GMO advocate, I was able to visit Vicini’s sugar plantation and organic banana operation. They took us to the banana packing area in the company helicopter. I also talked with workers at their camps and schools provided by the Vicinis; plus, there was some medical care. This was better than most worker conditions I have seen in the USA and Central America.

Don Campo de Mayo, a long-term cherished employee of the Vicini family, who was on my spouse’s Save the Children Charity board, arranged those visits to the Vicini’s farms for me. In sugar fields, I saw how strict they were about worker protection while handling chemicals and also saw their special bug breeding center. We had to put on white protective gear to protect these insects, which would be released to eat other insects that were a danger to the sugar cane plants.

As a result of these adventures, I ended up having two three-hour-long meetings with Juan Vicini, the head of this wealthy family. In all honesty, I did not see why Juan wanted to talk to me, but we did cover the business model for the housing of Haitian workers, climate issues, and many other issues. The Vicinis are into a broad scope of business ventures, including filmmaking. Some say they are the richest family in the D. R., and I found the head of this family to be smart, strategic, and greatly knowledgeable. I just hope that one day they decide to fund my work on behalf of Mother Earth and all her people, on which Juan, with his sister Amelia, along with a couple of cousins, are steering this huge economic engine. Amelia is also the chair of the foundation they have established to improve education in the D. R. and has been a wonderful advocate for women’s and young girls’ rights and progress.

It is good to see that the Congressional Caucus is headed by CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat, a Dominican, and that Zoe Saldana, a Dominican actress, won an academy award.

On the East Coast, you can find the wonderful foods of the D. R., their hair and nail salons, and you can find some wonderful literature from this community.

But I hope that on your next visit to the D. R., you spend some time at a “Colmado” at the end of a busy day.