Hi y?all... I?ll be coming to the DR for the first time at the end of January/first part of February and will be bringing two of my various children: a boy, 11, and a girl, 9.
Because I am apparently a moron, and therefore made assumptions about the dates of Carnaval in the DR (namely, that it would coincide with the beginning of Lent, as it does in so many other countries), this appears to give us only one day to see a parade: Sunday, the 3rd, when the Caribbean World Series is going on in Santiago.
The kids are seasoned travelers in Latinoam?rica and not easily intimidated, but after reading about Carnaval in La Vega, I?m wondering whether it?s going to be over-the-top. I?m traveling without my husband, who is skeptical of Carnaval in the first place, and I certainly don?t want to have to do any ?splainin?when I get back home if someone has, for example, broken a femur, or had an eye put out with a bullwhip (okay, so Monte Cristi is out of the question).
We?re all pretty adventurous, and want to make the most of our time there, so I?m tempted to just go for La Vega and let them get a true life lesson in what it means to "watch your back," but I admit that seeing a smaller, more artisanal Carnaval sounds good too, and for that reason I?m drawn to Bonao. But is it too tame?
I?ve also heard that Santiago puts on a pretty good show, but with the Series going on, what will that do to congestion in the city, and for that matter, to attendance at the parade? I know nobody here has a crystal ball (but if I?m wrong about that and you DO, please PM me, I have some other questions for you), but can anyone guess? Attendance up? Down?
I?m placing myself in your capable hands, Oh DR1 Community, with this, my first post. Help me make this a memorable trip for us three -- but umm, in a good way, please.
Mary, Queen of Tots
Because I am apparently a moron, and therefore made assumptions about the dates of Carnaval in the DR (namely, that it would coincide with the beginning of Lent, as it does in so many other countries), this appears to give us only one day to see a parade: Sunday, the 3rd, when the Caribbean World Series is going on in Santiago.
The kids are seasoned travelers in Latinoam?rica and not easily intimidated, but after reading about Carnaval in La Vega, I?m wondering whether it?s going to be over-the-top. I?m traveling without my husband, who is skeptical of Carnaval in the first place, and I certainly don?t want to have to do any ?splainin?when I get back home if someone has, for example, broken a femur, or had an eye put out with a bullwhip (okay, so Monte Cristi is out of the question).
We?re all pretty adventurous, and want to make the most of our time there, so I?m tempted to just go for La Vega and let them get a true life lesson in what it means to "watch your back," but I admit that seeing a smaller, more artisanal Carnaval sounds good too, and for that reason I?m drawn to Bonao. But is it too tame?
I?ve also heard that Santiago puts on a pretty good show, but with the Series going on, what will that do to congestion in the city, and for that matter, to attendance at the parade? I know nobody here has a crystal ball (but if I?m wrong about that and you DO, please PM me, I have some other questions for you), but can anyone guess? Attendance up? Down?
I?m placing myself in your capable hands, Oh DR1 Community, with this, my first post. Help me make this a memorable trip for us three -- but umm, in a good way, please.
Mary, Queen of Tots