Puerto Plata Sightseeing, Farewell Dinner
Trip Start
Jan 15, 2008
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10
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Trip End
Jan 27, 2008
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Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Puerto Plata Sightseeing, Farewell Dinner
Dear Readers:
Several of us head into town this morning to see the sights, beginning at the 16th Century San Felipe Fort. It is the only remnant of Puerto Plata's early colonial days, and is well preserved. Today is the feast day of one of the country's patron saints, so the fort is closed. We clamber around and get views from all angles.
Some of us have purchasing amber on our minds, so we visit a couple of amber shops. A visit to the Iglesia San Felipe is a disappointment, as we find it has been closed for badly needed renovation. Even the neighboring Central Park is all cordoned off for reconstruction. The city has been hurt economically by the advent of so many all-inclusive resorts on the nearby beaches, and the blight is evident. There are colorfully painted shops and some a few classic buildings, but clearly nobody is rushing in to invest in real estate development!
A couple of us take the cable car up to the top of Pico Isabel de Torres (named this by Christopher Columbus on January 11, 1493). It is a huge flat-topped mountain, 2,621 feet high. The setting is slightly reminiscent of Table Mountain in Cape Town. There is another feature that brings to mind a famous destination - a statue of Christ the Redeemer similar to the one in Rio. I get a huge kick out of the bar playing loud music set up literally at the feet of Jesus! The views are spectacular and so is the peaceful botanical garden sprawling over the mountaintop. Well worth an unhurried ramble!
Returning to the resort, we have beach time until meeting for dinner. There is a lovely restaurant here with an excellent al la carte menu and great service. It is a pleasant end to a challenging trip.
Hugs,
Dan
