Thursday, 12-2-10

After breakfast we started our excursion to Santo Domingo (the national capital) on an approximately 1-1/2 hour trip. Santo Domingo is considered to be the first city of the new world. The group did a walk down the Colonial Zone to visit monuments and museums. We were to eat at the Hard Café but instead ate at a quaint little restaurant on the second floor with steps that were steep & narrow. Shopping time was allowed in a couple areas; we found the Hard Café where Jan got her guitar pin. On the way back, we met up with six Cubs vacationers and eleven of us joined them to start our second excursion of the day to a Palcos Toros baseball games. The Toros won 6-0. Wellington Castillo & Jake Foxx (now playing the outfield instead of catching) played for the opposing Licey Tigers and neither did well offensively. The 17 of us plus our guide had fourth row seats behind home plate. Members of the Cubs staff sat to our right. The game was a tremendous fun experience with unbelievable noise & enthusiasm by the fans. Back at the resort eleven of got a snack at the Mexican restaurant and had good social. This was a good & tiring 19 hour day.