The history just doesn't end....

We began our tourist stint, as do most visitors, at Parque Colon, or Columbus Park. At the centre of the park, just to the right of this photo, is an imposing statue of Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colon). As you can see, lots of clever tourists are taking photos of this wonder. 

I, apparently, did not.

But, behind me, you can see the magnificent Catedral Santa Maria, the oldest cathedral in the Americas. Built between 1514 and 1540, the cathedral is believed to have been the (almost final) resting place of the great explorer. His supposed remains were moved to the Columbus Lighthouse about twenty years ago.

We sat for a while on one of the many benches in the plaza, after being accosted by several tour guides and vendors wanting to relieve us of our pesos. 

Before we started on our Monday adventure, we had given ourselves a little pep talk. Lisa hates to shop and didn't want to buy anything. I love to shop, but all I wanted to buy was some Haitian art. 

How's that for irony? You can't find Haitian art in Haiti, you have to go to the DR to find it.

So, we urged each other to be strong and brushed up on our bargaining skills. Which was just as well, because the plaza abounded with shoe-shine guys, taxi drivers, tour guides, necklace and music vendors, and solicitors for the restaurants and stores that edge the square. 

There must have been a European cruise ship in port, because none of the foreigners were speaking English.

I love this tree.

It didn't ask us to buy anything, just offered its cooling shade to our already overheated bodies.
On the left of the photo is a cigar factory.
We managed to resist the temptation of a tour.
But only just.

After succumbing to the purchase of some CD's of Dominican music (for which I am totally blaming Lisa) we entered the cathedral.

Which was surprisingly and thankfully air-conditioned.

Oh Jenny, you would have died for the arches and the buttresses.

I cannot even imagine how this domed ceiling was built. The photo doesn't come close to revealing the height and size of the structure. 

More arches and whatever for those of us who swoon at such things.

They were rather impressive, even for such an architecturally-challenged person as myself.

The edge of the building contains many small chapels and shrines to different saints and religious figures.

Inhaling all the cultured air made us hungry, so we decided to eat before embarking on our mission to find art and ancient edifices. Walking down Calle El Conde, we were enticed by many stores displaying art, but Lisa kept me strong until we found a likely-looking restaurant...

...where our table looked right at, you guessed it, an art store.

And on the menu, you guessed it again, el pollo y el arroz.

Perfect.

After lunch, which was very tasty, I asked the concierge of the hotel if the Alcazar de Colon was open on Mondays. You see, we had discovered that museums owned and operated by the government aare closed on Mondays. She assured me that it was.

So we set off down the Calle with two remaining missions on our minds.

1. Find me some art work, which meant finding the Mercado Modelo, a huge building containing all kids of vendors.

2. Find the castle.

And that story will have to wait for later, but let me tell you, it involves scary streets and our very own Dominican gigolo.

So, till then, may your breath be bated and your imagination work overtime!