Santiago / Camp David and Centro Leon

[Voyager]

Just spent the weekend in Camp David, a hotel in the mountains on the outskirts of Santiago. The view of the valley and of Santiago is of course fantastic but that is about it.

The hotel displays an impressive 5 stars, but is far from the 5 star hotels I have been to. The barman didn't even know what a Dry Martini is! I got suspicious when he asked me if I wanted ice in it! Ice in a Dry Martini??? My God! And then my heart sank when he finally served me a Martini Rosso... Maybe this is a petty comment, but I am very serious about my Dry Martinis.

The hotel restaurant offers standard but overpriced food.

This was a rainy weekend and there was water dripping from the ceiling of the room, luckily not onto the bed. We changed rooms but same thing there.

To summarize, go to the hotel for the view but don't expect anything else.

On the way back to Santo Domingo, we stopped at Museo del Centro Leon Jimenez. This place I can strongly recommend!!! Great antropological exhibition, there was a separate exhibit of photos and also an art competition with works by new, young artists. My only complaint is that all information was given in Spanish only. There could at least have been a summary in English.

We also had lunch there and were served excellent freshly made sandwiches.

For other attractions in Santiago, I really don't know. This was the second time I passed through the city and my Dominican host has never found any other reason to stop in Santiago, except for Museo del Centro Leon Jimenez.

The above are of course my own biased views. I am sure other people have different opinions.

(For the record, this was not my first visit to DR. I have been here before, visiting Puerto Plata, Cabarete, Samana, Baharona, Boca Chica, Jarabacoa, Constanza and of course Santo Domingo, which is my favourite DR location.)

[Jimmydr]

I ate at Camp David last year when the peso was at 45 to the $. It was a fair price for the dinner with a view. I stayed in the newer rooms 1 night and liked them much better than the older rooms there.

[Escott]

Originally Posted by Voyager

Just spent the weekend in Camp David, a hotel in the mountains on the outskirts of Santiago. The view of the valley and of Santiago is of course fantastic but that is about it.

The hotel displays an impressive 5 stars, but is far from the 5 star hotels I have been to. The barman didn't even know what a Dry Martini is! I got suspicious when he asked me if I wanted ice in it! Ice in a Dry Martini??? My God! And then my heart sank when he finally served me a Martini Rosso... Maybe this is a petty comment, but I am very serious about my Dry Martinis.

The hotel restaurant offers standard but overpriced food.

This was a rainy weekend and there was water dripping from the ceiling of the room, luckily not onto the bed. We changed rooms but same thing there.

To summarize, go to the hotel for the view but don't expect anything else.

On the way back to Santo Domingo, we stopped at Museo del Centro Leon Jimenez. This place I can strongly recommend!!! Great antropological exhibition, there was a separate exhibit of photos and also an art competition with works by new, young artists. My only complaint is that all information was given in Spanish only. There could at least have been a summary in English.

We also had lunch there and were served excellent freshly made sandwiches.

For other attractions in Santiago, I really don't know. This was the second time I passed through the city and my Dominican host has never found any other reason to stop in Santiago, except for Museo del Centro Leon Jimenez.

The above are of course my own biased views. I am sure other people have different opinions.

(For the record, this was not my first visit to DR. I have been here before, visiting Puerto Plata, Cabarete, Samana, Baharona, Boca Chica, Jarabacoa, Constanza and of course Santo Domingo, which is my favourite DR location.)

Well I have been told that Santiago is the place to view the "real Dominicans" I haven't stopped at the Museum but I will next time I am in town.

One mans trash can be another mans garbage, guess that is what life is all about.

Please tell me what in particular you enjoyed about S.D.? Was it the big square where Columbus's home is?



Regards,
Escott

[Voyager]

Originally Posted by Escott

Well I have been told that Santiago is the place to view the "real Dominicans" I haven't stopped at the Museum but I will next time I am in town.

One mans trash can be another mans garbage, guess that is what life is all about.

Please tell me what in particular you enjoyed about S.D.? Was it the big square where Columbus's home is?



Regards,
Escott

I am not sure what is meant by "real" Dominicans, Arabs, Swedes (like me) or whatever nationality you refer to?

For example, we soon have a situation in Sweden where the "real" Swede is a person with mixed immigrant and Swedish roots. A "real" Swede has one blue and one brown eye.

What I like about S.D. is the theater(s), the various exhibitions ongoing here and there (for example, today I will see photos from the deployment of Dominican troops in Iraq, I hope to learn how they experienced their mission there). I absolutely love the closeness to the ocean. I like the large selection of resturants.

And I like the feeling of big city "pulse". That feeling which is so difficult to define properly. By comparison, I always feel a mixture of excitement and relaxation when I visit New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong etc. A sense of adventure and of being "at home".

And of course I have to add that I like the people (all of them Dominican) who I know and who live there. I don't (yet) know anyone in Santiago.

The big squre where Columbus's home is, is... well, just a big square with restaurants that are really overpriced. It is one of those "musts" for a first time visitor, I guess.

[duhtree]

Ooops! Nice try Escott.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by duhtree

Ooops! Nice try Escott.

Took the words right out of my mouth

[badpiece33]

Originally Posted by Voyager

Just spent the weekend in Camp David, a hotel in the mountains on the outskirts of Santiago. The view of the valley and of Santiago is of course fantastic but that is about it.

The hotel displays an impressive 5 stars, but is far from the 5 star hotels I have been to. The barman didn't even know what a Dry Martini is! I got suspicious when he asked me if I wanted ice in it! Ice in a Dry Martini??? My God! And then my heart sank when he finally served me a Martini Rosso... Maybe this is a petty comment, but I am very serious about my Dry Martinis.

The hotel restaurant offers standard but overpriced food.

This was a rainy weekend and there was water dripping from the ceiling of the room, luckily not onto the bed. We changed rooms but same thing there.

To summarize, go to the hotel for the view but don't expect anything else.

On the way back to Santo Domingo, we stopped at Museo del Centro Leon Jimenez. This place I can strongly recommend!!! Great antropological exhibition, there was a separate exhibit of photos and also an art competition with works by new, young artists. My only complaint is that all information was given in Spanish only. There could at least have been a summary in English.

We also had lunch there and were served excellent freshly made sandwiches.

For other attractions in Santiago, I really don't know. This was the second time I passed through the city and my Dominican host has never found any other reason to stop in Santiago, except for Museo del Centro Leon Jimenez.

The above are of course my own biased views. I am sure other people have different opinions.

(For the record, this was not my first visit to DR. I have been here before, visiting Puerto Plata, Cabarete, Samana, Baharona, Boca Chica, Jarabacoa, Constanza and of course Santo Domingo, which is my favourite DR location.)

Ok people listen to this man he is very knowlegable, there is nothing for you tourists in Santiago, stay on the coast with your UBH. Me and my Pakistani brother are A OK down here in Santiago
PS Dont you people miss AZB yet?
Badpiece

[Escott]

Originally Posted by duhtree

Ooops! Nice try Escott.

I wasn't joking. I would love to have some places to go and enjoy. I figure someone may tell me at some point.

HB gave me a list in another thread and I WILL go to the places on the list. I spent most of the time I was in Amsterdam at the Van Gogh Museum, Richts Museum (sp) and the Anne Frank house. Most nights I went to the Amsterdam Casino and other assorted things but I really enjoy cultural sights.

I really wasn't trying anything guys.

Escott

[Escott]

Originally Posted by Voyager

I am not sure what is meant by "real" Dominicans, Arabs, Swedes (like me) or whatever nationality you refer to?

For example, we soon have a situation in Sweden where the "real" Swede is a person with mixed immigrant and Swedish roots. A "real" Swede has one blue and one brown eye.

What I like about S.D. is the theater(s), the various exhibitions ongoing here and there (for example, today I will see photos from the deployment of Dominican troops in Iraq, I hope to learn how they experienced their mission there). I absolutely love the closeness to the ocean. I like the large selection of resturants.

And I like the feeling of big city "pulse". That feeling which is so difficult to define properly. By comparison, I always feel a mixture of excitement and relaxation when I visit New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong etc. A sense of adventure and of being "at home".

And of course I have to add that I like the people (all of them Dominican) who I know and who live there. I don't (yet) know anyone in Santiago.

The big squre where Columbus's home is, is... well, just a big square with restaurants that are really overpriced. It is one of those "musts" for a first time visitor, I guess.

The last two times friends have done the "musts" on me and had to endure these overpriced mediocre (sp?) restaurants you mention but I really would like to find some galleries, theater, museums etc.. in S.D. when I need to be there for one reason or another. My question was a serious one.

I was really goofing about the Real Dominicans which is a term used by AZB and Robert mostly which describe the people of Santiago and Santo Domingo and put down the people on the North Coast as Ugly Black Hookers commonly know as UBH's here on the board. I think that is the biggest bunch of crap I have ever heard and rib these folks every chance I get. Sorry you didn't get it.

My friend Robert thinks evidently that everyone should be the first time visitor to the Square in the Colonial Zone over and over again every time that they go because that is always where we go.

What theaters exactly are you referring to?

Thanks,
Escott

[Voyager]

Originally Posted by badpiece33

Ok people listen to this man he is very knowlegable, there is nothing for you tourists in Santiago, stay on the coast with your UBH. Me and my Pakistani brother are A OK down here in Santiago
PS Dont you people miss AZB yet?
Badpiece

Please allow me to quote my own words, "For other attractions in Santiago, I really don't know."

So I am NOT knowledgeable about the city of Santiago. I already said so myself.