It seems like that at ground level, but in reality much of the development between Moca and Santiago is of the ribbon type along the highways. There is still much green space, mostly under cultivation, between the two cities (or between any two cities in the Cibao, because the sense of fullness of the countryside is quite widespread in much of the Cibao Valley thanks to the ribbon development along the roads).Nice!!!! Hadnt been to mocca for a while. Now its nearly "joined" on to santiago.........
Frank, do you think that is good, bad, neither or both?
I think is mostly good, people can now perform and find jobs in Santiago that 25 years ago were unthinkable. Is good to have another big city in DR to balance things out, with Santiago, young people from other parts of the Cibao can study and work in the city without having to travel long distances. There's also the bad, like the hellish traffic, more crime, more trash and a loss of identity to a certain degree.
What makes Santiago great for many, well at least for me, is that I can live in the outskirts of town, enjoy a semi-rural feel, tranquility, cheap land/rent and all the other benefits of living in a small town; Yet having the benefits of a big city just 10-15 minutes away. That's why you have so many upper middle class folks living in places like Gurabo and even Tamboril, you get the best of both worlds.
I think is mostly good, people can now perform and find jobs in Santiago that 25 years ago were unthinkable. Is good to have another big city in DR to balance things out, with Santiago, young people from other parts of the Cibao can study and work in the city without having to travel long distances. There's also the bad, like the hellish traffic, more crime, more trash and a loss of identity to a certain degree.
What makes Santiago great for many, well at least for me, is that I can live in the outskirts of town, enjoy a semi-rural feel, tranquility, cheap land/rent and all the other benefits of living in a small town; Yet having the benefits of a big city just 10-15 minutes away. That's why you have so many upper middle class folks living in places like Gurabo and even Tamboril, you get the best of both worlds.
I just wish they could afford visible road signs that actually help ......
(Mind you, I can get lost in my car park so Santiago for me is a labyrinth).
The zoo doesn't exist anymore but it is near where it used to be and his house is probably the largest house in Moca.Macier is a great example of a success story.
He has factories in La Romana and Moca.
Francisco still lives in Moca with his family.
He owns a beautiful mansion near the Zoo.