09/2013 - Santo Domingo Guide 2013, DR1 and Minister of Tourism.

[Jao]

About 30 minutes or so from the Sheraton Hotel to the Monument in San Cristóbal. Malecon straight west will put you in front of the Monument, San Cristóbal. 30 peso toll immediately after the cabañas (no toll when returning to Santo Domingo). Mini buses run back and forth between Santo Domingo and San Cristóbal, throughout the day and into the evening. Also from Avenida 27 de Febrero to Plaza de Banderas, an entrance there for a 4 lane highway to San Cristóbal.

La Toma, pool fed with water from a stream: http://www.360tourist.net/tourist-at...t=t-d-l&page=1

El Cacao in San Cristóbal Province: http://www.verfotosde.org/republica-...Cacao-156.html

Remnants of Sugar Mills, some from the 1500's; http://www.diariolibre.com/sociedad/...l-esclavo.html

Aubergine Restaurant, KM 6 1/2 La Colonia, Cambita Garabitos, San Cristóbal Province, https://foursquare.com/v/aubergine-r...d6143c9/photos and http://www.aubergine.com.do/

Photos from the internet.

[Jao]

From Lonely Planet: "Visiting the Reserva Antropológica Cuevas del Pomier is like reading a history book written in stone. There are 55 limestone caves in the area just 10km north of central San Cristobal, five of which are open to the public, with Cave 1 carrying the mother lode, some 590 prehistoric paintings. The caves contain thousands of drawings and carvings that constitute the most extensive example of prehistoric art yet discovered in the Caribbean, including works by Igneri and Caribs as well as the Taínos."

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dominica...vas-del-pomier

[DMV]

I forgot to mention, last week while sitting in a restaurant with a buddy two guys from Denmark asked us where is the closest hospital? We told them were it was, but it's a public hospital and you might not want to go there. They replied we are not sick or injured but we lost our friend last night and we are supposed to leave today. I'm thinking how you lose your friend he isn't like a set of car keys.

They told us they were partying in the Cave at Mirador Sur park and their buddy left with two girls. They were worried because the girl who was driving was pretty drunk. To make matters worse, they didn't know his number? Strange but ish happens. I didn't read or hear about a dead foreigner this week so hopefully they found him and he has a wild story to share on the trip back home. They were contemplating should they call his parents. Reminded me of the Hang Over

[Jao]

I forgot to mention, last week while sitting in a restaurant with a buddy to guys from Denmark asked us where is the closet hospital? We told them were it was, but it's a public hospital and you might not want to go there. They replied we are not sick or injured but we lost our friend last night and we are supposed to leave today. I'm thinking how you lose your friend he isn't like a set of care keys.

They told us they were partying in the Cave at Mirador Sur park and their buddy left with two girls. They were worried because the girl who was driving was pretty drunk. To make matters worse, they didn't know his number? Strange but ish happens. I didn't read or hear about a dead foreigner this week so hopefully they found him and he has a wild story to share on the trip back home. They were contemplating should they call his parents. Reminded me of the Hang Over

Morgan Hospital (now I believe it is called Aybar Hospital), large public hospital (reminds me of Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.). About 7 blocks north of Avenida 27 de Febrero, due north of Zona Colonial, from what I recall.

Dudes going off and doing their thing with an amiga from a club or other venue, I have seen before in Santo Domingo.

Getting lit and staying out late the night before departing, I have done. Woke up late the day of departure and had to rush to the airport for an early afternoon flight.

[Jao]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1100619

Golds Gym there. Cinema, seats that tremor, screens with 3D and 4DX, http://www.elpais.com.do/noticia/car...bbean-cinemas/

[MrHappy]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1100619

Golds Gym there. Cinema, seats that tremor, screens with 3D and 4DX, http://www.elpais.com.do/noticia/car...bbean-cinemas/

I've only seen the vibrating seats in Galeria 360. They are not worth the money, as they are poor coordinated with the action on the screen. We're talking about a seat that shakes when somebody says something to someone else on screen, but shake on and off when there's action.

We actually got a kick out the uncoordinated shakes. lol

Edited to add:

Most Saturday nights from 8 oclock on, there are usually car clubs that meet up in Galeria 360 in the downstairs parking (the owner has a couple of nice rides. So does the owner of CCN/Jumbo/Nacional) Lots of "hijos de mami y papi" with some pretty nice cars. One of them even has a Lexus LFA. Serious fucking money.

Cool to check out if you're a car lover. Galeria360 is next door to IKEA.

[Jao]

I've only seen the vibrating seats in Galeria 360. They are not worth the money, as they are poor coordinated with the action on the screen. We're talking about a seat that shakes when somebody says something to someone else on screen, but shake on and off when there's action.

We actually got a kick out the uncoordinated shakes. lol

Funny, lite massage, LOL.

[Jao]

At the Botanical Garden, http://www.jbn.gob.do/

Take Avenida Lincoln north to Ave. Kennedy (Ave. Lincoln becomes Avenida de Los Próceres north of Ave. Kennedy). Botanical Garden is 5 minutes from Ave. Kennedy, there. If you take Avenida Lincoln from the Malecon you will pass Johnny Rockets Restaurant, Supermercado Nacional, Adrian Tropical Restaurant, Mitre Restaurant, Holiday Inn Hotel (rooftop pool), Lincoln Road Restaurant, La Barrica Bar, a small fancy restaurant. At Lincoln and Kennedy, IKEA there, Diamond Mall (free wifi) and Galeria 360 Mall as well as Agora Mall. Subway station at Lincoln and Kennedy. Alamo/National rental car office a few blocks north of Kennedy on Ave. de Los Próceres. Nice homes front the Botanical Garden.

[Jao]

Beautiful trees and other plants. Very nice Japanese Garden, orchids and nursery.

[Jao]

I forgot to mention, last week while sitting in a restaurant with a buddy two guys from Denmark asked us where is the closest hospital? We told them were it was, but it's a public hospital and you might not want to go there. They replied we are not sick or injured but we lost our friend last night and we are supposed to leave today. I'm thinking how you lose your friend he isn't like a set of car keys.

They told us they were partying in the Cave at Mirador Sur park and their buddy left with two girls. They were worried because the girl who was driving was pretty drunk. To make matters worse, they didn't know his number? Strange but ish happens. I didn't read or hear about a dead foreigner this week so hopefully they found him and he has a wild story to share on the trip back home. They were contemplating should they call his parents. Reminded me of the Hang Over

Morgan Hospital in the 1940s. There is another hospital near Avenida Venezuela and Las Americas Highway.

Double Decker buses in the 1940s.

[MrHappy]

Morgan Hospital in the 1940s. There is another hospital near Avenida Venezuela and Las Americas Highway.

Double Decker buses in the 1940s.

Dario Contreras Public Hospital, the biggest public hospital in the country. You haven't seen anything till you visit that place. You'll have a new understanding of the words "frustrating" and "appalling."

[Jao]

Adventure Guide to the Dominican Republic, by Fe Liza Bencosme, on pages 119 and 120, gives info and directions on how to find them, http://books.google.com/books?id=tuR...0guide&f=false

Also; http://www.roughguides.com/destinati...ar-mill-ruins/

Boca De Nigua Sugar Mill; https://www.flickr.com/photos/cunyds...7626663603183/

[Jao]

I've only seen the vibrating seats in Galeria 360. They are not worth the money, as they are poor coordinated with the action on the screen. We're talking about a seat that shakes when somebody says something to someone else on screen, but shake on and off when there's action.

We actually got a kick out the uncoordinated shakes. lol

4 Jacks Bar and Bistro at Galeria 360, 50 pesos Margaritas on Mondays, https://foursquare.com/v/4jacks-bar-...8ee2ba6f8c0738

[Jao]

Dario Contreras Public Hospital, the biggest public hospital in the country. You haven't seen anything till you visit that place. You'll have a new understanding of the words "frustrating" and "appalling."

Also a hospital at the southwest corner of Independencia and Lincoln (maybe called Reid), across the street are police barracks also Hotel Santo Domingo and diagonally across is the Hotel Hispaniola.

Lincoln Suite short term and long term, rental apartments near there (rooftop pool), http://www.lincolnsuite.com/

[MrHappy]

Adventure Guide to the Dominican Republic, by Fe Liza Bencosme, on pages 119 and 120, gives info and directions on how to find them,

Boca De Nigua Sugar Mill; https://www.flickr.com/photos/cunyds...7626663603183/

Ingenio Boca de Nigua was a favorite "interrogation" location for Trujillo's henchmen back in the day. Lots of neighbors have live there for decades, and can tell you lots of stories about gunshots and screams.

One of Trujillos "Villas" is just down the road.

Great shot of Ave. Anacaona before the towers!

[Jao]

Ingenio Boca de Nigua was a favorite "interrogation" location for Trujillo's henchmen back in the day. Lots of neighbors have live there for decades, and can tell you lots of stories about gunshots and screams.

One of Trujillos "Villas" is just down the road.

Great shot of Ave. Anacaona before the towers!

Museo Memorial de la Resistencia Dominicana, http://www.museodelaresistencia.com/

http://www.360tourist.net/everything...t=t-d-l&page=1

[MrHappy]

Museo Memorial de la Resistencia Dominicana, http://www.museodelaresistencia.com/

http://www.360tourist.net/everything...t=t-d-l&page=1

Some great shots of what Santo Domingo looked like when I first arrived.

The military barracks are now the "Feria Ganadera", as you probably already know. Lots of the "modernistic" condos on Anacaona are still there, but developers are really trying to get their hands on that real estate. Big $$$$$.

All of the major intersections on 27 Feb at Maximo Gomez, Lincoln and Churchill all had roundabouts with statues. All of those pretty much disappeared in the early 80's.

Notice how Lincoln and Churchill were both pretty much devoid of construction. I keep saying it doesn't seem so long ago, but 4 decades is a long time.

[Jao]

Some great shots of what Santo Domingo looked like when I first arrived.

The military barracks are now the "Feria Ganadera", as you probably already know. Lots of the "modernistic" condos on Anacaona are still there, but developers are really trying to get their hands on that real estate. Big $$$$$.

All of the major intersections on 27 Feb at Maximo Gomez, Lincoln and Churchill all had roundabouts with statues. All of those pretty much disappeared in the early 80's.

Notice how Lincoln and Churchill were both pretty much devoid of construction. I keep saying it doesn't seem so long ago, but 4 decades is a long time.

Eduardo Selman was the architect for those residences on Ave. Anacaona, https://es-la.facebook.com/512660898...levant_count=1

A list, http://carlosiris.es.tl/Torres-en-Santo-Domingo.htm

Apartment on Avenida Anacaona, listed for 3.2 million U.S., http://www.indominicana.com/reg/eng/...999%26page%3d1

[Jao]

Ingenio Boca de Nigua was a favorite "interrogation" location for Trujillo's henchmen back in the day. Lots of neighbors have live there for decades, and can tell you lots of stories about gunshots and screams.

One of Trujillos "Villas" is just down the road.

Great shot of Ave. Anacaona before the towers!

Trujillo Mansion on the beach in San Cristóbal? http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=800288

El Castillo del Cerro, http://books.google.com/books?id=84e...public&f=false

[Jao]

The military barracks are now the "Feria Ganadera", as you probably already know.

Thanks, I didn't know about the Feria Ganadera.