Around Santo Domingo
The
DR group has entered into a routine of morning language study at ENTRENA
and afternoon lectures at UNPHU, intermixed with a few field trips.
At right, after a long first weekend with families, on Monday Jan 14,
Jon, Heather and Jolyn arrive at ENTRENA for a full day of activity.
In
the morning, one-on-one language evaluations were held in order to divide
the students into study groups. In the afternoon there was practical
education into the methods of public transportation in the city.
Snapshots of the different language groups:
The Zona Colonial
On
Friday Jan 18th, we had a field trip to the Zona Colonial; Santo
Domingo's substantial colonial district, with dozens of wonderful old
buildings and a dramatic settings right on the river Ozama. Santo Domingo
was founded in 1496 and many monumental stone constructions from the
early 1500's still remain today. After lunch
at Bettye's, we visited the Alcazar (at right), the
home of Diego Columbus (Christopher's son). It has not survived intact,
but was rebuilt in the 1950's to resemble the original building as much
as is known.
The
group also visited the first Christian
Church in the Americas which was build between 1521 and 1540 and
the Ozama Fortress (at left). The Ozama Fortress (build in 1502)
is set on a steep bank over the mouth of the Ozama River and was the
departure point for the Spanish conquests to Cuba, Colombia, Jamaica,
Peru and Mexico. It was finally decommissioned after the American invasion
of 1965.
More sights in the colonial zone:
- Group picture at the Ozama fortress
- A colonial house, the Casa del Tostado.
- Dominican monastery
- The National Pantheon
