Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is the capital of and the largest city in the Dominican Republic. It is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, and was the first seat of Spanish colonial rule in the New World. It is also considered the most populated city in the Caribbean Region.


Upon the arrival to Santo Domingo, we found out that our luggage did not make it with us. We had to wait for another two hours at the luggage claim area.

Welcome to Santo Domingo!

This is incredible. The powerlines hang over the streets unprotected and ready to strike.

The view of Santo Domingo from the hotel.

 
The first thing you are going to notice when entering El Conde street, or any other tourist location, is the sudden "attack" by the local "guides" who want to show you around. And there is no way of getting rid of them either! They are yours for the rest of the afternoon. For 10 bucks, that is. Rafael "glued" to me twice.

Local protectors and me.

 

 

Santo Domingo is full of paintings for sale. They are very beautiful and vivid in colour. They are all the same, though, no matter what store or market I go to. How is that?

Souvenirs are easy to find. This is famous El Conde street.

This boy is asking for money for food. We give him some as it is easy to understand and believe that he really needs some help.

More paintings offered at each corner and store.
Santo Domingo is the old, colonial city. The architecture is very charming.
This cathedral is located in Zona Colonial, a travel 500 years back in time. This area boasts architecture dating back to 16th century.

There are a lot of monuments and historic buildings here. John Paul II visited this cathedral on his arrival to Dominican Republic.
Another guide, Angel, offered his services to us. We had him show us around. It was worth it. The place abounds in historical sites, of which we would have known nothing of othewise.
Angel is versed in several languages that he taught himself.

This is Calle de Las Damas, the oldest street in Santo Domingo.
Its construction began in 1502.
Fortaleza Ozama. Over 500 years old, this is the oldest military fort in the New World.

These walls have experienced much more than we ever will. At least in one lifetime.
Angel is full of information.
The buildings emanate age.

Panteon Nacional. This is a Jesuit church dating back to the 18th century. In 1956, it was designated the National Pantheon and the remains of famous Dominicans have been brought here.

 

Outside of the Pantheon with Angel.

 

 

Panthoen from a different angle.

 

 

 

We are exploring the Colonial Zone
.

The Pantheon from a distance.
The old sun clock, sundial, located just outside of the old Royal House so the governors centuries ago could see the time from their office. Or so they say.

The grey building in a distance is one of the greatest tourist attractions. It is a palace called El Alcazar de Colon and it was built in 1520s. Columbus' son lived here.

I must mention, it is very hot!

A colorful rubbish bin. No one will steal it this time.

This is a monument of Dominican third governor. In a distance, there is Faro a Colon- Columbus Lighthouse. It was built to mark the 500th anniversary of his arrival. The lighthouse houses Columbus' remains.

Exploring is nowhere near the end yet.

 

I dont even remember what this is anymore. There were too many historic sites.



Angel explains everything on the way.
Interesting architecture.
Finally some escape from the sun.

These are the ruins of the first Franciscan Monastery built in 1508.
Moving slowly towards the end of the tour.
A must stop at the tobbacco store, a biggest tobacco maker in the country.

The store is tiny, but that does not mean variety is not great. There are so many types of tobbacco here. And you can watch it being made.
Monika Lewinsky tobacco..as I was told.
The ruins of the first hospital built in the western world.

This is the end of our tour around old Santo Domingo.