Santo Domingo Este: Where the Bass Drops and the Caves Beckon (A Touring Musician's Take)
okay, so… Santo Domingo Este. It’s… a lot. I’m Leo, by the way, guitarist for ‘Static Bloom’ - we’re doing a little circuit through the Caribbean, trying to get some gigs. This wasn’t exactly on the itinerary, but our van decided to have a moment just outside the city, and honestly? I’m kinda glad it did.
First things first: the heat. I just checked and it’s a sticky 26.67 degrees right now, feels like 28.59. Hope you like that kind of thing. Seriously, pack light, breathable stuff. I’m sweating through my vintage band tee just thinking about it.
We’re based here while the mechanic works on the van - which, by the way, is costing us a fortune. But hey, at least the city’s… interesting. It’s this sprawling urban thing, right across the river from the fancy Colonial Zone. You can see it from here, all historic and picturesque. We’re not in the historic part, though. This is… real life.
Finding a decent rehearsal space has been… challenging. Most places are either super expensive or just… not soundproofed. I’m pretty sure the neighbors complained when we were trying to run through ‘Neon Static’ earlier. Someone told me that the industrial zones around here are where you might find something, but it’s a gamble. I’m gonna check out some listings on Yelp.
We did manage to hit up Los Tres Ojos National Park though. Wow. Seriously, the underground lakes are insane. The cable car ride down is a little nerve-wracking, but totally worth it. It’s a major tourist spot, but for good reason. The photos don't do it justice.
Food-wise, it’s been pretty good. Lots of fresh seafood, which is a win. I had some amazing fried fish at a little place near the river. I heard that the markets are where it’s at for authentic Dominican flavors, but I haven’t had a chance to explore them properly yet. I’m definitely going to check out TripAdvisor for recommendations.
Traffic here is… intense. Seriously, avoid driving during rush hour. We took a taxi to the Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colón) - it’s… big. Really big. A bit underwhelming, honestly, but you gotta see it, right? It’s a landmark. Plus, the taxi driver gave us some good gossip about the local music scene. Apparently, there’s a cool little jazz club in Boca Chica.
If you get bored, Boca Chica and Punta Cana are just a short drive away, though I’m not sure we’ll have time for a proper trip. We’re trying to keep costs down while we’re stuck here. Accommodation is… varied. We’re staying in a pretty basic guesthouse, but it’s clean and cheap. I’ve seen some nicer hotels along the coast, though.
One thing to be aware of: apparently, there are some petty scams around. Someone told me about some issues with hookah places, so just be careful and keep an eye on your stuff. It’s a big city, you know?
Overall? Santo Domingo Este is… unexpected. It’s not the postcard-perfect Dominican Republic you see in the brochures, but it’s got a raw energy and a realness that I kinda dig. Plus, it’s a great base for exploring the area. Check out the official tourism website for more info: Dominican Republic Tourism. Hopefully, our van gets fixed soon, but if not… I might just stick around for a bit longer.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/goyang-taught-me-to-hate-cold-mornings-and-love-weird-flower-festivals
- https://topiclo.com/post/dordrecht-im-not-sure-why-im-here-but-here-we-are
- https://topiclo.com/post/tokyo-where-exhaustion-meets-adventure
- https://topiclo.com/post/pyramids-sweat-and-a-confused-tourist-me
- https://topiclo.com/post/ranchi-waterfalls-hills-and-a-whole-lot-of-dust