Lighthouse without lights, only in the DR

Jun 18, 2007
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Columbus Lighthouse in a mess

The Governor of the Columbus Lighthouse, Mario Bonetti, has lamented the fact that the lighthouse is in darkness and that it now has nothing to attract visitors given the lack of attention by the authorities.

The lighthouse, inaugurated in 1992 during the government of Joaquin Balaguer, now only has two hours a day of electricity and the surrounding area is unkempt.

Bonetti said that it has been completely neglected since 2000 and treated like a corpse that was once a beautiful body, and he called on the State for urgent intervention.

He went on to say that due to the lack of electricity and guards n before there were more than 50 marines guarding it and now there are only three n the lighthouse area is subject to robberies and attacks.

Nonetheless he said there are around 150 tourists - mostly Russian - visiting every day, providing an income of between RD$400,000 to RD$500,000 to the state per month.

He said that he had written to the Santo Domingo East town hall, the water authorities, the electricity company and the Dominican Navy but has had no replies at all.

Bonetti also lamented the state of deterioration of the Dominican flag that flies at the west side of the lighthouse but is in tatters due to sun and wind damage.

El Faro a Col?n est? abandonado - listindiario.com
 
Aug 6, 2006
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The main problem with El Faro a Colon is that it is not photogenic. To take a properly impressive photo of it, you need a helicopter or perhaps a drone, because from the sides, it is large and flat and boring. The idea of putting a lot of museums was clever, but the fact is that its location is pretty remote from other SD landmarks. I visited there once, before there were any exhibits inside, and took some photos, but they were unimpressive because the Faro is only impressive from above. On an architect's exhibit, I am sure is it was very impressive. In fact, the one thing that was impressive was a model of it inside the building.

I imagine that as it is a symbol to Balaguer, who no one respects much anymore, it will need to slowly decay until it becomes ancient and respectable as a monument or perhaps a ruin.
 

Tim Smith

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Apr 28, 2014
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Its always funny/strange to read about an obvious deficiency and need of safety here in the DR. One with forward thinking might try and privatize a tourist attraction/land mark and allow a cash flow and business open and care for such a location. Contracts could be written on the upkeep and such going to the owner/leaser as well as the energy needed to run the system still falling on the shoulders of the local government. Just saying a more open and inviting policy towards investors needs to be implemented along with protection laws/rights to keep the bandidos at bay and out of investors/businessmen's pockets.
 
Aug 6, 2006
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Here in Miami, we have a number of tourist attractions that could not make it as private ventures: the Spanish Monastery, Vizcaya, the Deering Estate. So they were taken over by Miami Dade County. I do not think that the Faro a Colon could make it on its own as a private venture, at least as it stands. Perhaps if they had some sort of other attractions around it, like the Poblo Espanyol in Barcelona (that is the Catalan name, please do not correct me), or something like a sort of a Colonial exhibit like Williamsburg. The problem is that the thing is just not photogenic. The Casa de Colon is photogenic.
 

Riva_31

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Apr 1, 2013
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the lights at night could be a very good show, with music and lights changing colors, and during the day the musseum in better conditions and air conditioner system. make nicer the areas outside.
 

Matilda

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Sep 13, 2006
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the lights at night could be a very good show, with music and lights changing colors, and during the day the musseum in better conditions and air conditioner system. make nicer the areas outside.
The trouble with that is the whole eastern side of Santo Domingo sitting there with no power watching a light show at the Faro de Colon might make them feel a tad pis$ed off.

Matilda
 

Criss Colon

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Jan 2, 2002
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Back when it was new, it was one of the few places that actually HAD electricity!
On cloudy nights you could see the huge cross that it shown into the night sky from all over SD, very impressive!
But like every other government "White Elephant" here, it was soon "NOT NEW" anymore, no money generated for the "Politicos" pockets, Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, it was "Lights OUT" for the "Light House"!
You will see the same thing happening to the "METRO" as soon as it is "Milked Dry"!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
 

zoomzx11

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Jan 21, 2006
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Hello Tim Smith. There is no such thing as "forward thinking" here. Banish it from your vocabulary and your mind. Expecting f.t. in the DR will open you up to endless heartache, frustation and exasperation. Thinking about forward thinking in the DR is very dangerous thinking.
 

dulce

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Jan 1, 2002
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The trouble with that is the whole eastern side of Santo Domingo sitting there with no power watching a light show at the Faro de Colon might make them feel a tad pis$ed off.

Matilda
The Faro de Colon has been pi**ing people off since they was announced it was going to be built. The poor, starving people in the area held many protests. $$$ could have been better spent elsewhere............ <sigh>
 

Tim Smith

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Apr 28, 2014
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:pirate: lmao Zoom, understood. There are still those of us here that can express "ideas" in the offbeat chance something catches on... I am sure there is a better chance of "catching" something other then a good idea but one still hopes... :rolleyes:
 

Tim Smith

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Apr 28, 2014
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FYI the eastside is getting better in many areas. 24 hour ele is available now if there was such a thing as "24 hour ele" here anywhere. I am guessing it is in preparation for the future development of the Navy base area that is being talked about... Takes the want of the $$ families here to move power to any area. I know there will never be a full fix to the power problem as there is to much money in inverters, generators, batteries and fuel to be lost if it ever does. You all are really a bunch of great people in here and I have missed out the 4 years I have been in the DR not being a part :rambo:
 

LTSteve

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Jul 9, 2010
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This is typical of the DR gov. The lighthouse was opened in 1992 as part of the Cinqo Centenario Celebration of Columbus landing on the island. The powers to be don't always see the benefit of maintaining something that is a tourist related structure. Case in point is the foot bridge in Samana City. If you walk out on it you will see how much in disrepair this whole structure is and the garbage that is everywhere. When part of this falls into the Bay then politicians will wake up . This is an icon and it is being left to deteriorate. These structures should be a no brainer when related to tourism and leaving them this way gives visitors a very poor impression.

LTSteve
 

AlterEgo

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Jan 9, 2009
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I wonder how many tourists even know that it houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus? Three guards over something like that? SMH.

If they aren't going to maintain and protect it, his tomb should be returned to the Cathedral in Zona Colonial.
 

the gorgon

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Sep 16, 2010
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This is typical of the DR gov. The lighthouse was opened in 1992 as part of the Cinqo Centenario Celebration of Columbus landing on the island. The powers to be don't always see the benefit of maintaining something that is a tourist related structure. Case in point is the foot bridge in Samana City. If you walk out on it you will see how much in disrepair this whole structure is and the garbage that is everywhere. When part of this falls into the Bay then politicians will wake up . This is an icon and it is being left to deteriorate. These structures should be a no brainer when related to tourism and leaving them this way gives visitors a very poor impression.

LTSteve

actually, LTSteve, when some tourist falls through it, then they might wonder if it needs maintenance.
 
Apr 13, 2011
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If they had the money and the electricity (a big IF...), then el faro would look impressive if they lit it up with high intensity lights that sent beams of light up into the sky that could be seen for miles around - similar to the lights that are used for the towers memorials in NYC. It would be a large beacon of light celebrating the Columbus and the first city established in all of the Americas.
 
Aug 6, 2006
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Every major city needs some sort of symbol. Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Buenos Aires has the Obelisco, New York has the Stature of Liberty, London has Big Ben and that huge Ferris wheel. Santo Domingo has the Faro a Colon, which is only noticeable when it its lights are turned on. It has become identified with Balaguer, and no one thinks much of him anymore. If they could surround it with solar cells or windmills that could power it, then it could fulfill its purpose. A lighthouse is always more impressive at night. Of course, thanks to GPS, no one needs real lighthouses anymore, something that was certainly unknown the Faro was proposed. But the other city landmarks in the world are also rather useless from a practical point of view.
 
Jun 18, 2007
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Every major city needs some sort of symbol. Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Buenos Aires has the Obelisco, New York has the Stature of Liberty, London has Big Ben and that huge Ferris wheel. Santo Domingo has the Faro a Colon, which is only noticeable when it its lights are turned on. It has become identified with Balaguer, and no one thinks much of him anymore. If they could surround it with solar cells or windmills that could power it, then it could fulfill its purpose. A lighthouse is always more impressive at night. Of course, thanks to GPS, no one needs real lighthouses anymore, something that was certainly unknown the Faro was proposed. But the other city landmarks in the world are also rather useless from a practical point of view.

What about if they would make a......?


Palito de coco!!!
 

AlterEgo

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If they had the money and the electricity (a big IF...), then el faro would look impressive if they lit it up with high intensity lights that sent beams of light up into the sky that could be seen for miles around - similar to the lights that are used for the towers memorials in NYC. It would be a large beacon of light celebrating the Columbus and the first city established in all of the Americas.

They used to do that!
 
Feb 15, 2005
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They used to do that!

The problem AlterEgo, is that the DEA and DNCD fear this would provide a land marker for illicit drug dropping. In Puerto Rico, Condado Plaza has beautiful lights hitting the splashing of waves on the rocks behind the hotel. However, in Las Terrenas having such lights is prohibited for the reasons stated above, as told to me by a restaurant owner.
 
Aug 6, 2006
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Wouldn't it make it very easy to intercept the drug drops?

After several drug drops were intercepted by anyone who they were not intended for, isn't it logical to assume that they would quit?