I plan to go back to the DR in April, and my favorite brother and his family are going to join us. They've never been to the country, and are very excited to see the country where my husband was raised. I've travelled to many parts of the country, including Semana, Barahona, Boca Chica, Santiago, but mostly stayed in the POP-Sosua area. I've spent a couple of nights in Santo Domingo, but they were just part of a commute to Haiti and Puerto Rico.
Truthfully, SD scares the crap out of me. The time I did spend there was spent in my hotel room because we were nearly robbed on the Malecon. Plus, my husband put the fear of God in me due to the fact that he also hates the Capital and says it's too dangerous. However, my brother really wants to see the Capital. I tried convincing him that we could all take a day tour there, but he's quite adamant he'd like to rent a van and go (stubborn like me). SO I sent him Jan's and Cleef's versions of driving in the DR - he still wants to do it. When I lived in Sosua, I would drive often to POP, so I have a good handle on what it takes to drive there. He figures it can't be much different than driving in Saskatchewan (there's no lanes, you often run into horses and other animals on the road, and people pass wherever they want)!
Truth be known, I'm much more Dominicanized than I was during my brief stays in the Capital. Anyways, I know I'll give in and drive. If you were taking people on a tour of SD, and had never really seen the sights yourself, where would you go? The decision has already been made to visit the Zona Colonial - how long would it take to see everything you need to see there? Would it be worth spending the whole day there, or are there other sights we shouldn't miss?
Thanks all for your advice and input.
Truthfully, SD scares the crap out of me. The time I did spend there was spent in my hotel room because we were nearly robbed on the Malecon. Plus, my husband put the fear of God in me due to the fact that he also hates the Capital and says it's too dangerous. However, my brother really wants to see the Capital. I tried convincing him that we could all take a day tour there, but he's quite adamant he'd like to rent a van and go (stubborn like me). SO I sent him Jan's and Cleef's versions of driving in the DR - he still wants to do it. When I lived in Sosua, I would drive often to POP, so I have a good handle on what it takes to drive there. He figures it can't be much different than driving in Saskatchewan (there's no lanes, you often run into horses and other animals on the road, and people pass wherever they want)!
Truth be known, I'm much more Dominicanized than I was during my brief stays in the Capital. Anyways, I know I'll give in and drive. If you were taking people on a tour of SD, and had never really seen the sights yourself, where would you go? The decision has already been made to visit the Zona Colonial - how long would it take to see everything you need to see there? Would it be worth spending the whole day there, or are there other sights we shouldn't miss?
Thanks all for your advice and input.