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Where is the Malecon sector?
ambre said:
Keep walking towards the water until you can't walk any further. You are now on the Malecon.
Scandall
www.dr1.com/podcast
As has been stated, the malecon is the sea-front avenue, albeit the entire sea-front drive is not the malecon per se.ambre said:
Technically, only the section of the sea-front drive between Centro de los Heroes and Ciudad Nueva is considered malecon.
Everything west of Centro de los Heroes is Autopista 30 de Mayo and everything east of Ciudad Nueva jugs the southern edge of the colonial zone and turns northward to become Avenida del Puerto, although the name was changed a while ago.
The biggest attraction of the malecon is enjoying the sea breeze and views, the somewhat lively atmosphere in the evenings. Everything else is focused on the hotels along the strip which collectively caters to every taste and desire.
Avoid the Casinos, unless you don't mind losing money.
-NALs
NALs said:
Avoid listening to Nals as well. He doesn't live here but thinks he is an expert on everything. The Malecon is NOT an evening hangout as it is poorly lit (not at all in some parts) and is full of unsavory characters. It used to be an enjoyable place to walk along at night but that has been over for years. Even Malecon Libre (when they restrict car access to parts of it on Sundays) is a flop and only attracts the lower class. Sad but true.
Some of the Hotels on the strip are fun to hang around in but they cater to tourists and can be expensive. There are lots of other restaurants: Capaccino, The Porterhouse, Pate Palo, Museo de Jamon, Pepperoni, Cafe Anacaona in front of the Cathedral in the Colonial Zone, The Beer House, The Steak House Cafe (one of my favorites). Look around and find the right atmosphere for you. The Malecon is not safe at night, especially if you are not familiar with the DR. Trust me, I live in the area.
Scandall
Scandall said:
Don't trust Scandall, although he lives in the area, he ventures little outside his home (agoraphobia or something of the sort). The Malecon is safe, of course taking minimum common sense precautions... Between Eugenio Maria de Hostos park and Maximo Gomez Ave, there's the popular local beach, Guibia, which has the best surfing waves south of Cabarete. At night it's a bustling outdoor caf? with multiple eating stands, and crowds of joyful people.... Definitely recommended....
-
Mirador said:
Mirador believes in unicorns, Oliver Stone conspiracies and is a self-proclaimed "healer".
Believe whomever you wish. But I am pretty sure that I am "the lesser of two weirdos".
Scandall
www.dr1.com/podcast
No need to walk along the malecon at night. There is not much to see and as has been stated, unsavory characters walking along it.
In the daytime it is a scenic walk but can get extremely hot.
I say drive along it in the daytime, park in one of the parking areas to take in the views for a few minutes, and then go somewhere for a nice cold beer
.
Larry
In the daytime it is a scenic walk but can get extremely hot.
I say drive along it in the daytime, park in one of the parking areas to take in the views for a few minutes, and then go somewhere for a nice cold beer
.Larry
Celt202 said:
1) It's Scandall...not Scandell
2) Scandall is typically right
3) Where the hell is La Guibia? And what happened to your friend?
Scandall
Scandall said:1) It's Scandall...not Scandell
2) Scandall is typically right
3) Where the hell is La Guibia? And what happened to your friend?
Scandall
I stand corrected :ermm: Scandall (Escandall?)
La Guibia is the open air plaza just east of Maximo Gomez across from the cinema. Mirador describes it: "The Malecon is safe, of course taking minimum common sense precautions... Between Eugenio Maria de Hostos park and Maximo Gomez Ave, there's the popular local beach, Guibia, which has the best surfing waves south of Cabarete. At night it's a bustling outdoor caf? with multiple eating stands, and crowds of joyful people.... Definitely recommended...."
The operative phrase is "taking minimum common sense precautions"
My friend, acquaintance really, a young Dominican of humble origins, was attacked from behind by one of the "palomos" who hangs around at La Guibia. He chopped her head with a machete, causing about 20 stitches and then went for her throat. She protected her throat with her arm and he broke a bone in her forearm and bones in two fingers. Friends took her to Dario Contreras Hospital where they operated and reconnected severed tendons and set the broken bones. She almost died from loss of blood but is now on the mend. Armed with a "certificado medico" describing the wounds she lodged a complaint with the police at the Destacamento Gazcue. The police took the charge seriously and the perp was actually apprehended in Boca Chica. Apparently he is well known to the police. After a hearing in the Palacio de Justicia he was sent to La Victoria prison for six months awaiting trial. If he gets out he will be motivated to kill her. I really don't know the motivation but I would guess there was some sort of "pendiente" between them. Which gets to the whole situation on the Malec?n and LaGuibia; you can find crowds of joyful people there but there is an undercurrent of idle delincuents looking for opportunities to take advantage. The charm and the fun loving surface has a very dark underbelly.
I got married on the Melacon, be sure to go to Melacon 7 or Lunatico at night, they are romantic and beautiful. There are many other palces there that are nice but these two ar my faves. How I miss it there, my heart is in the Dominican Republic aye mi Carino Tierra!
The malecon definitely has unsavory characters and there are places one shouldnt go alone. I believe that people here still say "vete pa' la bolita del mundo" which refers to the globe in the Centro de los H?roes, where at night it is pretty deserted and thus home to riff raff. You will of course see lots of cueros trawling for tourists -- and because there are lots of streetside stands, restaurants, bars, and so on, the tourists do stroll up and down at night, so you will find them too. I agree with Scandall, though, I like it less now than I did four or five years ago. Still, I think there are plenty of places you can go and be OK. I go to the Pizzarela restaurant there near what used to be Ramfis Park, and I love to eat at Luis Parrillada at the other end a little past Palo Hincado (malecon 7 never seems to have clients so I steer clear o fthe place). Adrian Tropical is close to the Gomez, a nice place. And I like Sundays on the malecon and dont mind being among the lower classes.
Still, you definitely should be careful around some areas late at night. It is poorly lit, there are lots of areas to hide, and there are jerks like this palomo with a machete.
Still, you definitely should be careful around some areas late at night. It is poorly lit, there are lots of areas to hide, and there are jerks like this palomo with a machete.
Thanks for info - other places to avoid?
Hey all,
thanks for the info on the malecon in SD... I've done a lot of research on the DR in general, but now that I am focusing my move to SD - can you all let me know what neighborhoods/sectors to avoid, which are safer to live in (that aren't super expensive)? Thus far I've heard Naco, Gazcue, and La Esperilla are all nice/decent. Thoughts?
Hey all,
thanks for the info on the malecon in SD... I've done a lot of research on the DR in general, but now that I am focusing my move to SD - can you all let me know what neighborhoods/sectors to avoid, which are safer to live in (that aren't super expensive)? Thus far I've heard Naco, Gazcue, and La Esperilla are all nice/decent. Thoughts?