Observing in the Dominican Republic worthwhile?

I will be travelling to the DR the first week of August. I wondering if
it is worth the effort to bring a telescope. Anyone know if the nights
are generally clear? Also, I'll be along the North coast. Does anyone
have experience observing from any of the mountain regions? Is it worth
the drive?

TIA,

Bart

It depends on your location. There is an area where many hotels are
located, so the seeing from that area of severe light pollution is poor. If
you get away from the hotels, it can be very dark...but this presents a
security problem. I was told that it's not safe for tourists to be out on
their own. I don't know how accurate this statement actually is, but since
I had my family with me, I decided not to take a chance.

Al


"nobody" wrote in message
et...
I will be travelling to the DR the first week of August. I wondering if
it is worth the effort to bring a telescope. Anyone know if the nights
are generally clear? Also, I'll be along the North coast. Does anyone
have experience observing from any of the mountain regions? Is it worth
the drive?

TIA,

Bart

"nobody" wrote in message
et...
I will be travelling to the DR the first week of August. I wondering if
it is worth the effort to bring a telescope. Anyone know if the nights
are generally clear? Also, I'll be along the North coast. Does anyone
have experience observing from any of the mountain regions? Is it worth
the drive?

TIA,

Bart

I have been to the north shore of the DR several times, all in
the Playa Dorada area near Puerto Plata, and have found that in the
resort areas it is difficult to find a really dark place away from all
the resort lighting. I am pretty sure that good dark observing sites
must exist up in the hills away from the resorts, but you would need
to rent a car and find a trustworthy local guide. Blundering around
in the dark in an area away from the resorts might get you into
trouble. I saw no evidence of crime or violence directed at tourists,
but I did see a lot of high walls around haciendas topped with
cemented in broken glass and lots of barred up windows, so I think
there must be some fear of break ins and at least petty thievery.
An interesting possibility might be to take the tramway from
Puerto Platu up to the Botanical Garden and Arboretum on top of a
local mountain to see if I could hang out up there after dark. This
might work if I could get permission from local authorities and make
arrangements in advance. Another thought: if you get to know one of
the resort employees who lives out in the country, you might get an
invitation to bring your telescope out to their place some evening.
Next time I go, I plan to bring my 10" briefcase scope with me
like I did when I visited the Bahamas earlier this year. There the
resort was dark enough for good viewing, helped by the fact that the
resident manager was also an amateur astronomer and got some lights
turned off for me.
Clif