Some observations about local life. The people of Luperon are poor. The people of Luperon are for the most part beautiful (Spanish, Indian, Black mix), courteous, friendly, happy, proud, intelligent and industrious. The motorcycle is the family car here. There are many cars but cycles outnumber them and lots of cars are also for hire (taxi). It is not uncommon at see motorcycles (100cc Suzukis,Yamahas and some scooters) loaded down and I have personally seen cycles going down the street with the following: A family of five (Dad,mom & three kids), Two 60lb LP gas bottles (mounted crossways behind the driver), A twenty foot extension ladder (passenger held it over his head), three 80lb bags of cement mix (balanced behind driver), An empty plastic water tank (4ft dia. x 5feet tall, again the passenger held it on his back) and last but not least a small trailer (this at least made sense). As I mentioned they are industrious. Many young men run "motorconchos". These are cycles that act as taxis. You climb on and they take you where you want to go. No, there are no helmets (Number 1 cause of death in the D.R. is motorcycles). When you walk down the streets in Luperon every other house is a store (half dozen shelves with a small stock) or a caf� (4 tables), gift shop, beauty parlor or a bar. The standard menu is rice and beans, a coleslaw salad and either fried chicken or fried fish (head & tail on). At the bigger restaurants you get the same plus hamburgers w/fries, spaghetti, pizza, stir fry etc. By far there is more rice/beans/fried chicken eaten here than anything else. On the weekend small plywood sheds open on the beach with the same menu. Beer and run are the preferred beverage. There is a welding shop here and a motorcycle dealership, several banks, ONE ATM, some pharmacies (no prescription needed), a clinic/hospital and a police station. I have seen 3 kinds of police here. National (look like soldiers) Local (for traffic ect) and Tourist. The tourist police are here to "protect and serve" the tourists. They hang around the resort mostly. The resorts tell guests that town isn't safe and they should stay on the resort property (keeps the $$$ at home) but Luperon is very safe. I don't claim to have seen everything in the two weeks we have been here but these are my observations. Picture is countyside around Luperon.