Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the New World and was founded by Christopher Columbus and his younger brother, Bartholomew Columbus, in 1496. The part of the city inhabited in the early 1500′s is called the Colonial Zone (Zona Colonial in Spanish). The Colonial Zone boasts of many firsts for the New World. The first paved street, university, cathedral, castle, monastery, hospital, and fortress – to name a few. With beautiful architecture and the rich history, the Colonial Zone is a must see while visiting Santo Domingo. The Colonial Zone has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.In the Colonial Zone, along with the beauty of the historical buildings, you will find: hotels, restaurants, cafes, museums, bars, shops, etc. The two most famous streets in the Colonial Zone are Calle Las Damas (the street of the women) and Calle Conde. Calle Las Damas was the street the women of high society walked after church on their way to lunch. Calle Las Damas is an amazing street during the day, but it becomes even more amazing at night as the street lights turn the walls of the buildings a beautiful orange hue. With every step you take on the first paved street of the New World, you travel back deeper in time until you feel as though you are in the 1500′s walking next to Christopher Columbus himself.HotelsThere are many hotels to choose from and they provide a wide range of prices from economical to elegant. What is nice about the economical hotels in this area is that they are clean and staffed with friendly people – with many speaking English. Keep in mind that these are old buildings, and, while they are clean, most rooms are small and have “Old Building” issues. Still, for the price, I think they offer a great experience in a great area. There are many of these hotels and with many offering different specials at different times, so it is hard to recommend one specific hotel. The reason I like the hotels in this area is that when you walk out the door of your hotel, you don’t need to pay a taxi to take you to a location to enjoy. You are already in the # 1 destination spot in Santo Domingo.On the higher end, there are several hotels to enjoy, but I will talk about Hodelpa Nicolas De Ovando. This hotel has spacious guest rooms, a nice courtyard out back to enjoy the evenings, a small bar, good food for the breakfast buffet, and for dinner they have a wonderful menu, but the best two aspects of this hotel are its history and its architecture. Nicolas de Ovando, a traveling companion of Christopher Columbus, was the 3rd governor of the Indies and this hotel used to be his home and dates back to 1502. This hotel is located on Calle Las Damas (the first paved street) in one of the first houses built, so to me, there is no better place to stay to be able to immerse yourself in the culture of the oldest city in the New World. But don’t worry if the hotel is outside your budget, you can visit it and enjoy a cocktail at the bar or in the courtyard.Things To Do And SeeWalking TourI highly suggest your taking the walking tour on Calle Las Damas and to make it one the first thing you do when you arrive in the Colonial Zone. Once you understand the buildings and their history, you will be able to enjoy them more. For example, if you are sitting in the Spanish Square (Plaza Espana) enjoying a nice dinner, as you look across the square and see the stone building, it will not just be a stone building anymore because, after taking the walking tour, you will understand this is the house of Christopher Columbus’ son, Diego Columbus.When walking down Calle Las Damas, you will be approached by the tour guides who will offer you the walking tour. So far every tour I have taken has been with guides who have spoken excellent English. The walking tour typically lasts two hours. I usually speak to the tour guide before and ask them to hit the highlights and try and get the tour done in 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The cost for the tour is usually about $1,000 Dominican Pesos ($20 USD), but you can try to negotiate a lower price. The tour guides do a great job and are caring, so I think they earn the $1,000 Pesos.The next section will talk about some of the buildings worth seeing and many of these will be included in the tour.Buildings, Museums, and Historical AttractionsCathedral de Santa Maria/ The Cathedral of Santa Maria- built in 1514, is the first cathedral of the Americas. This cathedral is an active cathedral and conducts services and has 7 beautiful chapels.Alcázar de Colón is the house of the son of Christopher Columbus (Diego Columbus). This home has been turned into a beautiful museum with some original furnishings and some reproductions of the original furniture. Walking through this museum will give you a feel for how Columbus lived in the 1500′s.Plaza de España is a large, open gathering area that on one side has 8 restaurants overlooking the square and on the other side has the Alcazar de Colon (the house of Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus). The plaza is found at the end of Calle Las Damas.Calle Las Damas is probably the most historically significant street in the city. It was the first paved street of the Americas and it was also the street the women of high society walked down after church to attend lunch. The street is filled with buildings from the 1500′s that are now turned into museums, hotels, restaurants, etc. Draw in the history as you walk down this street.Calle Conde is probably the 2nd most important street in the city. This street is closed to cars and is filled with shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and it has a small park (Parque Colon) in the middle and, at the far side of this street, has the Parque Independencia (Independence Park).Fortaleza Ozama is a 16th-century castle built overlooking the Ozama River in the Colonial Zone. This is the oldest European-designed fortress in the Americas.Ruinas de San Francisco is the remains of a monastery built in preparation for Franciscan Fathers in 1508. This is considered an important ruin and was the works of Governor Nicolas de Ovando.Panteon de la Patria originally was a church for the Jesuits, later turned into a mausoleum to house the remains of some of the most notable national, civilian and military heroes of the Dominican Republic.El Parque Colon (Columbus Park) was the main gathering center for festivities in the colonial times and still is today. Located on Calle Conde across from the Hotel Conde and bordering the Cathedral de Santa Maria, it is a great place to sit on a park bench under a tree and take a break from visiting the museums and ruins to soak in the beauty and the culture.Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, and Nightclubs There are many restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs in the Colonial Zone. I will focus on the ones that have historical significance, the ones that I have enjoyed and some that our past clients have enjoyed.Overlooking both Plaza Espana (Spanish Square) and Alcázar de Colón (Deigo Columbus’ house) there are 8 restaurants located in a row. Each of them has a menu located in front of the restaurant in Spanish and English. All 8 restaurants are elegant and the longest running restaurant in the New World is one of these 8. Pate Palo (the wooden leg) once owned by a one legged pirate is a 500-year-old restaurant that Sir Francis Drake once ate at. Whether you eat at Pate Palo or one of the other 8, you can’t go wrong choosing one of these.On Calle Conde there are several restaurants to choose from. They are casual dress for lunch and either casual or upscale casual at night. Segrefrados, an Italian restaurant is an excellent location not only for food but for people watching. They have great coffee in the morning to start your day off, and their pizzas are excellent as well. For a more traditional Dominican cuisine, you can visit the first floor of the hotel Conde. This restaurant has a patio overlooking both Parque Calon and Cathedral de Santa Maria.At the end of Calle Conde is a very famous café/diner named Grands, formerly Pacos. This restaurant is open 24 hours a day and is a great place to get a coffee and some breakfast to start your day off. This is not a fancy place but a regular café that on any day of the week, you will see people gathering here to enjoy a good conversation with their coffee, and Dominican style food, no matter the hour.LuLus Tasting Bar is a great place to enjoy a cocktail and dinner. It is a very trendy location that is upscale casual.Onnos is a nightclub located in the heart of the Colonial Zone where you can hear the countries favorite music (Bachata, Merengue, and Salsa).As I had mentioned before there are many more restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs to choose from but I wanted to give you a list of what we consider the popular choices. While walking around you will see many others, if you see one you like, just go in and enjoy.In ConclusionBetween the history, museums, the great restaurants, cafes, and nightlife, the Colonial Zone should be a must see for anyone visiting the Dominican Republic. This is an English speaking friendly area that is very safe to walk around as a tourist.
A Tourist Guide To The Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
5 Things to Consider When Choosing Engine Oil
When it comes to buying the right type of engine oil, you need to consider several important things. In this article, we have discussed 5 important things that can help you go for the right type of oil for your car engine. Choosing the wrong type of oil can have a negative impact on the performance of your car. Apart from this, it can also reduce the life of the engine. Therefore, it is extremely important to always use the right type of oil. Read on to find out more.
1. Car series and manufacturer
First of all, you should consider the make and model of your car. Today’s high-performance engines are designed for high efficiency. If you read your car manual, you will come to know about the right type of oil recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Driving environment
You should also consider your driving environment when making a choice. For instance, you may have a hot or cold climate. Similarly, road conditions may vary. You may have to drive on paved or unpaved roads on a regular basis.
Based on these factors, your car engine will have to tolerate different levels of strain. If you drive on unpaved roads, you will have to change engine oil more frequently. Some types of oils are designed to reduce the strain on your engine.
3. Types of oil
After you have considered the make and model of your car engine, you can go for either a mineral or synthetic oil. Each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For example, synthetic oils cost more money but may last longer.
4. Viscosity grade
If you compare different products, you will find different codes and letters written on the labels. These numbers tell you about the viscosity grade and the resistance of the oil to flow. Now, this is an extremely important factor to consider after driving and climate conditions.
The letter W refers to winter. In other words, it tells you how the oil will perform in cold weather. The second number tells you about the flow of the oil at normal operating temperatures.
Normally, low viscosity oils are thinner and provide greater protection for your engine in cold weather. On the other hand, high viscosity oils offer greater protection in hot weather. Therefore, it is important to get familiar with the viscosity grade of the oil before making a purchase.
5. Oil standards
If you read the label closely, you will find letters and abbreviations, such as ILSAC, ACEA, and API. These acronyms tell you that the product can meet the requirements established by relevant authorities. You need to consider these specifications as they tell you a lot about the quality and performance of the oil.
If you take a closer look at the label, you will also find engine oil standards indicated by different acronyms, such as API, ACEA, ILSAC. This means that the product meets or exceeds the requirements set by these organizations. Specifications are important as they indicate the performance and quality of the oil.
Long story short, choosing the right type of engine oil is important if you want your car engine to work efficiently. Therefore, you may want to consider these important factors when looking for the right type of oil for your vehicle.
How Does a Garbage Compacting Truck Work?
If you want to know how a garbage truck works, you are on the right page. In this article, we are going to take a look at the history of these vehicles. Without further ado, let’s get to the point.
Garwin Industries introduced the Load Packer for the first time in 1938. This vehicle became so popular that it brought a revolution in the industry of sanitation. As a matter of fact, it was the first compact garbage truck of its kind.
During those days, the carrying capacity of the vehicle was twice as much as before. The reason is that these trucks were able to compact the trash at high speed while driving across the city. In 15 years, there were a lot of garbage compactor trucks across many countries.
Due to the high demand for these vehicles, many manufacturers started the production of these vehicles. By the end of the 1960s, the world saw a lot of industrial standard compacting trucks. As the name suggests, these vehicles were designed to handle big projects as these trucks could compact trash a lot better than previous vehicles. In other words, they were able to handle 25% more load.
How does the Compactor Work?
Sanitation engineers load these trucks. The trash is put on a hopper, which is located at the back of the vehicle. The compacting mechanism works based on hydraulic cylinders. They transfer trash from the hopper to the body of the truck. This is the area where trash is compacted to save space. Once the trash is compacted, it is easy to handle for workers.
Since the trash compacting unit is located outside the vehicle body, trash does not fall out of the truck even if there is a lot of it. As soon as the truck is full, it is the responsibility of the driver to drive it to the dump.
The backside of the vehicle can be tilted up and the hydraulic cylinders can be used to move the panels. Afterward, the trash is dumped out.
Other Types of Garbage compacting Trucks
After the invention of garbage trucks, manufacturers introduced many variations of the vehicle. For example, they introduced a front loading truck. In these vehicles, the hopper was located in the front. The working principle of these vehicles is not different from conventional garbage compacting drugs.
Apart from this, you can find a lot of variations of recycling trucks. Some of these are side loaders while others have robotic arms that collect trash from streets. You can choose any type of garbage compacting truck based on your personal preferences. You may also want to discuss the matter with your employees to find out which vehicle suits them the best.
Long story short, this was a brief introduction to garbage compact trucks and the way they work. If you are looking for one or more of the units, we suggest that you consider the types described in this article. Apart from this, you may also want to do your research and ask around in order to make the best choice.