Friday, October 11, 2013

Oct 7-8 Santo Domingo

Oct 7-8, 2013

Santo Domingo is the capital city of Dominican Republic, home to about 3 million people. Our drive in with the little rental car was insane. Jarabacoa and Constanza have nothing on Santo Domingo in the realm of crazy drivers. There are only a few people that obey traffic signals and stop signs. Every corner my heart stops and I prayed we'd get to the hotel and drop off our stuff then get to the airport to get rid of this car without event, so we can rely on experienced taxi drivers to get us around.

The inside of La Catedral de Santa Maria la Menor. It is the oldest Cathedral in the Americas, building started in 1514 and was completed in 1540.

Here is our whimsical little boutique room at Hotel Atarazana, in the heart of Zona Colonial. It is walking distance from ruins, cathedrals, museums, restaurants, bars and shopping. Santo Domingo is the oldest permanent settlement in the New World, founded in the late 1400's. Things here are old...

And things here are new...like this beach littered with thousands of plastic bottles and trash. Ryan's guidebook said to avoid swimming in the ocean in town, no matter how inviting it is, because of all the trash and food scraps, shark attacks are more prevalent here. Too bad because it is hot as hell in this city! 

One of the entrances to the old walled city.

This door is artwork to me.

Kids having some fun in the plaza outside La Catedral de Santa Maria.

Church bells at La Catedral.

The second evening spent in the city, we ate at Meson de la Cava, a restaurant in a cave. We thought it'd be nice and cool down there and it was! The appetizer was our favorite part of the meal. The night before we ate at Meson de Bari, our favorite meal in the city. They made awesome Jugo de Fresa.

Ryan chillin' in a mini cave.

No comments:

Post a Comment