take a walk. The sidewalks are an obstacle course of cracks, uneven concrete and holes. Take one miss-step and you have a twisted ankle. If your head is not on a swivel, you may get hit by a moto or car.Dangerous? I don't think the Colonial Zone is dangerous. I can think of plenty of other words to describe it, I think it is more run-down and sad looking than ever before, but dangerous isn't a word I would use.
These were my Initial thoughts as well , but you provided a lot more insight and detail than I would have.This supposed project lacks common and logistical sense. It smells! Placing a cruise ship dock at the Malecon in front of the Jaragua would require space, space that does not exist. Space needed for parking, passenger pickup-drop offs, passenger facilities, shipside services, bonded warehouse, & customs-immigration facilities. Space would have to be constructed by extending the shoreline outward. The location face is exposed to the sea. The jetty at the Sans Souci naval base would have to be doubled in length at minimum to provide seaward protection for the proposed dock. A new jetty extending seaward may be needed west of the proposed dock maybe at or near Adrians. The city and investors fail to mention a pedestrian bridge may be needed over Av George Washington at the dock location. This project is a $400 million enterprise. Is it overpriced?
Regards,
PJT
I have to agree. I don't know anything about the aforementioned families, but I do know that many people, self included, love history and its artifacts. That alone would be a giant draw.Guys you have to understand the history a bit here. The Vicinis, one of the most powerful families in DR, if not the most powerful, have been buying up the Malecon for years. They have a massive apartment development and, coincidentally there is a large empty plot next to Jaragua which is also theirs. Abinader part-owns the new big hotel they have built in the Colonial Zone. David Collado who was raised by Juan Vicini has been talking about getting the Malecon right for years, when he was mayor of Santo Domingo and now when he is next-in-line for the presidency. And Carolina Mejia, the major of Santo Domingo, has also talked extensively about the Malecon.
I've done a lot of Caribbean cruises myself maybe more than 20. And to be honest going from beach to beach resort is pretty boring. The Colonial Zone has a lot to offer - there are a lot of historical sites, there are lots of pavement cafes and nice shops for tourists. Let's face it there are buses and buses and buses which come in every day from Punta Cana on day trips and clearly people don't hate the trip otherwise they wouldn't be able to sell it.
I think you also have to set this in the context of a country that looked at a tropical wilderness years ago and has transformed it into the largest tourist destination in the Caribbean. Sorting out the Colonial Zone and the Malecon in comparison to building Punta Cana is a walk in the park.
Get tourists coming off of a ship and jumping on a little tourist train to the ciudad colonial and the businesses will start popping up absolutely every where.
Even the ubiquitous gay bars all over the city will get converted to tourist traps
A train is an interesting idea. Some cruise ports have trams that transport passengers from point A to point B so having a tourist train to the ZC would attract those wanting to explore.Get tourists coming off of a ship and jumping on a little tourist train to the ciudad colonial and the businesses will start popping up absolutely every where.
Even the ubiquitous gay bars all over the city will get converted to tourist traps
You say tomato, I say apple. Wait, that's not right.🥴A train is an interesting idea. Some cruise ports have trams that transport passengers from point A to point B so having a tourist train to the ZC would attract those wanting to explore.
Get tourists coming off of a ship and jumping on a little tourist train to the ciudad colonial and the businesses will start popping up absolutely every where.
Even the ubiquitous gay bars all over the city will get converted to tourist traps
Most cruise ports have shuttle buses that take you to the city. When the ships dock at San Souci they use the little chu chu trains to take people to the Colonial Zone which is probably just as far to walk as from JaraguaA train is an interesting idea. Some cruise ports have trams that transport passengers from point A to point B so having a tourist train to the ZC would attract those wanting to explore.
I agree. El Conde has a start. Even the Mercado Modelo would draw interest. The cathedral. Definitely could spend a day there now, with more businesses (resulting from cruisers visiting) it can only improve.
ZC is getting a major upgrade. By the time the cruise terminal is ready (if it ever gets built) the entire old center will be completely renovated.take a walk. The sidewalks are an obstacle course of cracks, uneven concrete and holes. Take one miss-step and you have a twisted ankle. If your head is not on a swivel, you may get hit by a moto or car.
ZC is getting a major upgrade. By the time the cruise terminal is ready (if it ever gets built) the entire old center will be completely renovated.
Also keep in mind that cruisers see things differently than the all-knowing residents here on the forum.
Well especially during construction of the streets. It's a mess but have you been on those streets that have been repaved? Very,very nice.The zona colonial has become an unpleasant chore. Parking, congestion and simply walking is too dangerous. The sidewalks are difficult to negotiate.