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Day Activities in or near Santo Domingo
Perhaps you'd like some ideas for spending your free time? This is useful for Non-Peace Corps spouses in a strange city! Here are some great suggestions. ( If you are on your own and wish to go with others, visit our Tours and Information Table in the Hospitality area of the Conference for "Friend Finding").
----Walk through the charming Zona Colonial (16th century onward) with its Columbus Palace, Casa de Cordon, and get a deeper understanding of its history. You can do this independently or join a History Walking Tour on Saturday (February 11) led by Profesora Lynn Guitar. You can choose either a morning tour or an afternoon tour...departure time information at the hospitality table.
-----Then, shop your socks off for amber and Larimar jewelry, Taino cave painting reproductions, crafts in the old Mercado Nuevo, and lunch in China Town.
-----Visit the Old Mercado Nuevo now largely devoted to crafts and artesania. You can buy wonderful coffeee and also see some of the traditional basquets and wooden kitchen items still in use in the campo.
------From there, take a short walk to China Town for a wonderful chinese lunch.
----Take a taxi for an early morning walk through the quiet and peaceful National Botanical Garden. See the the Donald D. Dod orchid section, the world's largest collection of orchids native to Hispaniola. You can also make arrangements with our own Kate Wallace, RPCVDR, Tody Tours & Dominican bird expert. (Saturday tour planned). See endemic species such as the Palm Chat, the Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo, the tiny Vervain Hummingbird & West Indian Whistlling Duck.
----Visit the Parque de Cultura north of the hotel. This complex of cultural insitutions holds a wonderful Museum of Natural History (highly recommended, especially the Annabelle "Tudy" Stockton Dod bird room --Salon de Aves), an Art Museum, and more. It is a short walk to the west to the Metro. Ride it down to Aveninda Independencia and then get a taxi back to the hotel.
---- Visit the new Museo de La Resistancia—an enthralling Museum providing the history of resistance to Trujillo from the beginning of his power.
www.museodelaresistencia.org/
----Let a PCV guide you or adventure on your own to the fabulous new Metro and ride with this new subway to Villa Mella and back Hospitality Room will be available for "Friend" finding ).
---- Take a day trip for a swim to Boca Chica beach.
-----Join a Saturday (February 11) tour to Tesoro del Este near El Seibo, see information on Pre and Post Tour pages. Leaves at 8 a.m.
----Join a Sunday (February 12) Tour de Chocolate at las Botadas near El Seibo. Leaves at 8 a.m. Tesoro del Este and Tour de Chocolate
----Community Challenge Fund site in Nizao---join a group to see the school addition, a joint PCV and community project. You'll be treated to lunch by the school. Saturday departure to be announced--visit hospitality table
--- Community Challenge Fund site - Santiago region--this Saturday tour is to a water system extension project near Santiago. Details at hospitality table.
The Volunteers have created a long list of places to visit in the Santo Domingo area with a lot more options. To see the list click HERE.
The day trips planned as organized pre and post conference tours are listed on the Pre and Post Celebration Activities page.
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Plaza Colon action and the Catedral
Check Colonial buildings & art along the river
Forteleza Ozama is also on the river
Mercado Modelo is full of arts & crafts shops
Plaza de la Cultura has many museums & art
And then tour on the new Metro!
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