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Santiago, Dominican Republic
The city of Santiago,
Dominican Republic, is the second largest city in the country. The real
name of the city is longer being Santiago de los Caballeros. It is
surrounded by mountains and is only 90 minutes away from the coast.
Although there are 700,000 people living in this city, it still has a sort
of small town atmosphere about it with some of the friendliest people you
will ever meet.
Street vendors are a common sight in Santiago selling everything from
fruit and vegetables to souvenirs. These vendors carry the wares in large
baskets resting on their heads and some of them ride along on donkeys
calling out the names of what they sell. The musical chant of these
vendors is wonderful to listen to even if you don't want to buy anything.
According to the legends, Christopher Columbus founded this city in 1494.
Located in the fertile valley, this city is now the site of many hotels
and restaurants geared toward the tourist industry. The Alcazar Colon was
built by Columbus and his son and has been restored as a major tourist
attraction in the city. It is the oldest restored home in the Americas.
The Santa Maria la Menor Cathedral was the place where the bones of
Christopher Columbus were discovered in 1877.
A vibrant part of Santa Domingo is the Colonial Zone (Zono Colonio). Here
you will find many historic buildings and museums. Take a walking tour
through the streets and see everything that shows the history of both the
early Europeans and the native Indians. The main gathering place in the
city is the Parque Colon, a plaza with a bronze statue of Columbus in the
center.
Visit the House of Bastidas, the Cord House and the National Pantheon to
see artefacts and read about the early heroes of the Dominican Republic.
Along the Malceon there are many luxury homes, but there are also many
casinos, where you just might win enough money to be able to buy a piece
of property and stay in the Dominican Republic.
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