A nice place
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Sat 14 May 2011 10:56
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Santo Domingo de Guzman founded by one of
Columbus's brothers in 1498. It has been inhabited continuously ever since. As
usual in these parts the island was fought over by the French and Spanish but
became independent as early as 1844 (though briefly returned to Spain in the
1860s, and occupied briefly by the USA twice last century). So they have been
there own masters for a long time. The population is now about 10m, half of
whom live in the capital which is a metropolis - they have 6 lane motorways, and
even an underground railway. And the country has the Caribbean's only 3000m
peak, and a large lake whose surface is 40m below sea level. Neither of
these have we seen, so another visit is called for to this large bustling and
varied country.
But we have seen the old colonial town, and very
splendid it is too. A few photos give the flavour.The Spanish started
building as soon as they arrived, using coral limestone for stone and bricks
imported from Spain as ships' ballast - a very attractive combination. Amazingly
they started with a large psychiatric hospital, then a prison and only after
that the cathedral. The order of building speaks volumes for their world
view.
Here is Columbus, posing heroically in front
of the cathedral (1523). Surprisingly there is no contemporary likeness of this
man even though famous in his own lifetime. Behind the photographer, somewhat
incongruously, is the Hard Rock Cafe.
 And here is the house of Columbus's
son.
 A street cafe at Columbus Square.
 The house of Cortez when he was Governor of
Hispaniola and from where he launched the conquest of Mexico; now the French
Embassy.
 Street scene in the colonial district.
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