My First Solo Trip — Making it Through the Santo Domingo Sprawl!!!
Wow.
I can’t believe it. I had my first solo trip in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
How did this start?
Well, in 2020 while I was on lockdown, I picked up a book called the Sun Also Rises, written Ernest Hemingway. And the 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferries.
Hemingway’s book was so vivid that it affected me for months. All I could think about was traveling out my city, going to Europe, and exploring. The book was a vivid deception of Spain and Paris. I loved it! He made me feel like I was with the characters themselves.
The second book, the Four Hour Workweek, was dope as well because it opened me up to a different lifestyle. A lifestyle where I didn’t have make $$$ in one location. It forced me to think of ways of providing value online instead of just in person (my current way).
I started watching travel Youtube, and got obsessed with Kara and Nate. A married couple from the American South who travel the world. They went to Italy for a bit, and I fell in love with their depiction of Italy. My new goal was to go there. Specially Venice. I put that on my vision board.
Around late 2020, I didn’t want to travel internationally cause of Covid, and I didn’t make much dinero, so I travelled domestically to Portland Maine and Nashville TN.
I loved each city, especially Portland. That city is small, but has a lot of personality for it’s size. And Nashville has GOOD food, country, partying, and southern hospitality.
Coming back from Nashville, I was thinking of where to go next. During that time videos of Colombia kept coming across my Youtube feed. Medellin looked cool, really cool. I loved the energy, the people, and chaotic nature of the city. I really wanted to go, but there was one caveat — I didn’t speak Spanish.
Well, I learned Spanish in school, but after three years I could barely speak, especially when I went to Costa Rica with my school. I was quiet the whole trip. Ugh.
But this time would be different, my new goal at the start of 2023 was to learn Spanish and travel to a Spanish speaking country, and I did just that!
I’m committed to this.
I downloaded Duolingo and do it once a day.
I take Spanish lessons on Itaki every week with a tutor from Mexico, Colombia, or Dominican Republic.
All my electronics are in Spanish.
And I watch Youtube, Tiktok, Netflix in Spanish.
Total Spanish immersion.
The result?
I would say I’m at an lower intermediate level after 8 months of constant study.
And I just got back from a solo travel in Santo Domingo.
Santo Domingo: City of Motos
I’ve never travelled by myself, so booking the trip was a little nerve wracking!
But it was cheap — under $200, since it’s off season (went in July) and hot, and I used my credit card miles to book the flight. I’ve been building my credit up since 2017. And I finally had American Express Gold Card, so I used those points.
To prepare for the trip, I booked lessons with two teachers from Italki and asked them about the cool places to go and the sights I should see. They were very happy to share their country with me.
I bought a travelled book on the DR as well. Watched countless Youtube videos. And did role play with my other italki tutors. I bought warm weather clothes like linen pants, light weight resort shirts, and shorts.
I booked 5 days.
The day of my trip, I took an Uber to the airport. By then, I already got a ping from Jet Blue that my flight was going be delayed. By an hour.
I got through security. Another delay. 2 hours. I had to wait.
By the time I got on the plane — my trips was delayed 5 HOURS. Yuck.
I got to Santo Domingo at 9:30 pm.
Went through customs, got my passport stamped, and made it outside. Outside was HOT! And loud. So much Spanish. I was able to call my Uber even though a pushy Domician taxi driver tried to get me to ride with him. It was so stressful. I was hungry, had limited phone service, and in a place I’ve never been. It was stressful, but really cool.
I got to my hotel safely. Ordered Arepas. Uber is cheap down there. And the Arepas were so good.
My time in Santo Domingo was the best I’ve ever had traveling. Almost as great as traveling through South Africa.
I moved through the Zona Colonial, the first city of the Americas. Ate traditionally food like Tostones, Mofongo, Asado de Pollo, Sanocho. I toured through 3 Ojos caves. Partied at a club that blasted Dembow and Reggaetón. My favorite artists are El Alfa, and Bad Bunny. Got a little lost in a nice area of town, and ate chicken sandwiches and had really really good Guava juice. Watched Mission Impossible 7 at the Blue Mall with Spanish subtitles. And walked through the park. It was freaking humid, oh my god!
Santo Domingo is the city motos and magic.
The traffic is terrible, everybody speaks fast Caribbean Spanish, and there are food delivery motorcycles flying by EVERYWHERE.
Santo Domingo is the Caribbean hustle and bustle.
Feels like a mix of 90’s NYC + Caribbean Islands like Barbados + with a dash of Spanish.
It’s cool, chaotic and wonderful all at the same time. With a ton of personality. It mixes the old colonial era with the new city that has a cinema within the mall.
The best part of Santo Domingo is the people.
They’re warm, nice, helpful.
And here’s the kicker — they all looked like me. To the point where I was able to dodge the tourist traps!
Only until I opened my mouth or walked a little differently, that’s when my cover was blown.
Coming from the states, it was surreal walking into a grocery store and seeing people with brown skin and no other races.
In closing, my first solo travel was a success.
And I can’t wait to travel to other places in Latin America.
If you want some travel tips or want to talk about learning languages, you can tweet me @JAKLC.
Nos Vemos,
Jamual
