Tres Ojos and Faro a Colon

An A-100 colleague and her husband are in Santo Domingo TDY and we've been enjoying the opportunity to get out and explore more of the city and country with them. Last weekend we headed over to Los Tres Ojos, just outside of Santo Domingo. This site is an open air limestone cave that was created as a result of tectonic plate activity. There are three lakes (or "eyes" - tres ojos), and they vary in composition - one is sulphurous, one saltwater, and one freshwater. There's a fourth that is completely out in the open and isn't considered an "eye."

Ths steps that lead down to the Lago de Las Damas. This is one of the three natural pools at this site and is where women and children were allowed to bathe in the past.

This is the shallow Lago de Las Damas.

Just outside of the Tres Ojos - this is a fourth lake out in the open. It can be reached by taking a small ferry across the second lake. The toll is just .50 cents, and yes, we heeded Chris de Burgh's advice and didn't pay the ferryman until he got us to the other side.

A carving on the grounds of Los Tres Ojos. 

I loved Tres Ojos. There weren't a lot of people there and it was such a surprise so close to the city. Just one more example of the geographic diversity of the island - really cool.

As we were driving back from the caves, we passed a huge structure set back from the road. There were flags from many world countries at the entrance to the walkway - the Americas mostly, but also Israel and China and others. Intrigued, we decided to stop and investigate.

What we found was Faro a Colón - Columbus Lighthouse.

This is where Columbus is purported to be buried.

Information from Wikipedia:

Columbus Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro a Colón) is a monument located in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic, in tribute to Christopher Columbus.

Construction began in 1986 using plans drawn by Scottish architect J.L. Gleave in 1931, in time for the 500th anniversary of the Discovery of America, the monument was inaugurated in 1992. It was funded by the Latin American states^[1][2] and the total cost of construction was approximately US$70 million.^[3]

The monument's lighthouse-style features projecting beams of light, forming a cross shape, which are so powerful they can be seen from neighboring Puerto Rico.^[3]

Containing what are purported to be the remains of Columbus, the monument is both a mausoleum and a museum showcasing objects including a boat from Cuba and Columbian jewelry. Constructed of concrete, the monument is 680 feet (210 m) long.^[3] Its architecture is cross-shaped and represents the Christianization of America.

My understanding is that Pope John Paul II visited in 1992 and dedicated the building. 

The exhibits within ranged from really interesting - Peru's display, for example, included sculpture and jewelry - to disappointing: Canada's display was basically empty.

Amazing canoe!

To me, it's very stark and industrial - almost dystopian in appearance:

The corridor along the "nave" of the building - completely open-air (thanks, tropical island weather!). 

I love getting to know the island bit by little bit. Whenever the traffic starts to get me down, I think of the myriad opportunities to explore and discover this unique country and it immediately puts things in perspective.