Our trip to Punta Cana seems like a dream now – and far away. It was indeed the experience of a lifetime and I wonder if I made the most of the opportunity – as I will not likely get back that way again. I have to thank my wonderful companion Rose without whom I would never have had this experience
Columbus House / Plaza de Espana
Diego Columbus
I was unable to find much information on Diego Columbus. I was curious to see if he had carried on with the tyrannical behavior of his father.
Diego Columbus was the eldest son of Christopher Columbus. He was a Portuguese navigator and explorer under the Kings of Castile and Aragón. He served as the 2nd Admiral of the Indies, 2nd Viceroy of the Indies and 3rd Governor of the Indies as a vassal to the Kings of Castile and Aragón.
Columbus House was the house of the Columbus family in Santo Domingo. It was built by Diego Coulmbus in 1515. Today, it’s a museum furnished with original and period furniture.
Columbus House …. not that impressive from the outside.
Meanwhile … Dominos.These guys were heavily into it … with spectators.
Cathedral and plaza
It’s guaranteed that somebody will try to sell you something. “NO. Gracias.”
The Museum of Tobacco – with 3 cigar store Indians.
The Cathedral of Santo Domingo is the oldest cathedral in the Americas – they claim.
Remember that dog?
He’s drinking Rose water.
A local steed. Doubt this would be legal in Canada.
Heading off plaza …
Inscription reads:
“Homage of the First Council of America the Adelantado Don Bartholomew founder on the east bank of the Ozama River from the town of Santo Domingo Colon on 5 August 1498 before being transferred to this part by the governor of the island of Hispaniola Fray Nicolas Ovando in 1502 “.
Downtown Santo Domingo Catedral Primada de America
Catedral Primada de America – Plaza Entrance
Heading around to other Entrance … some Saint guards the gate
The other entrance … not as impressive
Even the Church looks like a fort – for good reason. In 1586 Sir Francis Drake of England pillaged and burned the city, which survived only to be invaded by the French and Haitians. Drake lived in the Church for 25 days they say.
Statue of Arzobispo Meriño. I could not discover who he was, but he’s got a statue.
Crowding in …
But inside is impressive
Vaulted Gothic ceiling
I like Churches. They have Altars.
And I can thank God for my many blessings.
Sorry about the quality of this map … it was the best I could find.
We had to park about 3 blocks from the main plaza where we were headed and hoof it.
Large vehicles cannot navigate the narrow Santo Domingo streets.
Head up some stairs …
Rally at the top: … that’s our guide in the orange shirt.
Stone walls … stone arches – the former battlements.
Plaza just ahead …
Lots of school groups on day excursions.
Entering the plaza we spot this thing: The Colonial ChuChu – a future ride.
Gathering for a peptalk … Rose spots a dog …
Columbus Park
As has been said: History is written by the victors.
We discover that this plaza is called Columbus Park andhas a huge monument to Columbus right in the middle.
There he is.
I have to wonder if things will change due to the recent revelations about how he actually behaved over here. It won’t come easy. They’ve been celebrating him as a hero for 500 years and feasting on this past image for Tourism for quite a while. This country is run by the descendants of the conquerors – though it now has democratic elections. And there’s that other very big elephant in the room – the Catholic Church. These guys were all good Catholics weren’t they??? It’s going to be interesting.
The pigeons know how to treat Chris.
Here’s a little Columbus anecdote for you: See that native gal on the statue?
(from St. John Beach Guide): “Bronze statue of Columbus, pointing northward, and a native Taino climbing up to reach him. According to an other description the native Taino is the Cacica, Anacaona, the first Indian to learn to read and write. Anacaona was captured in an act of trickery whereby her village was burned and all the inhabitants slaughtered by troops under the command of Nicolas de Ovando, then Governor of Santo Domingo. Ovando was under orders by Columbus to wipe out the remaining unsubjugated Tainos who were beginning to rebel against the Spanish. Anacaona was subsequently hung in a public square in Santo Domingo.”
Nice guys.
“Is that gold?”
Plaque on the monument reads:
“In honor of the great Admiral Don Cristóbal Colón (Columbus)
discoverer of the new world – first viceroy and Governor of AMERICA.
made by artist Ernesto Gilbert / Inaugurated on 27 February 1887”
Onward …
Next: Punta Cana Cowboys / Day Trip to Santo Domingo 5
We knew that a Day Trip wouldn’t allow us to see very much of Santo Domingo. But as we chugged along in the bus we tried to snap some pics … click, click, click … Whirlwind Tour style.
In Santo Domingo you park wherever you can – even on the sidewalk
Lots of gates, walls, cannons, and soldiers. Santo Domingo was once a fortress city
We saw a lot of things where we would have liked to have stopped and taken pictures. Like this tremendous monument below:
Our picture from the bus …
Monumento a la Caña (Monument to Sugar Cane) (Picture from the Net)
To the Palace Alice!!!
We arrive at the Presidential Palace
Everybody jumps out
Time for a pic
Security is high
And can’t go in here either!
Wait ! They’re opening the gates !!
But it’s just some bigwig arriving …
Can’t see who it is … Sean Penn? Hillary Clinton ?… the plumber ??
There they go
Back to normal
Oh well …
… snap a pic through the fence
Off to Downtown Santo Domingo …
Next: Punta Cana Cowboys / Day Trip to Santo Domingo 4
