A Journey of the Spirit, Part 1

I was enjoying an ice cream cone in the park when the older man, whom I had interacted with while I was having lunch across the street, recognized me and came up to talk to me. I had earlier donated some money in exchange for a book he gave me to help a local orphanage.

"I appreciate your donation," he cordially said in Spanish. "People come to Santo Domingo and spend money on many things except that which will inculcate knowledge and wisdom to help those in need."

I agreed with his heartfelt (and passionate) belief and faith in the power of literature and knowledge to make us better humans.

"Did you know," he said pointing at the cathedral across the park, "that this is the first cathedral in the Americas? Oh yes! The Spanish put it there soon after discovery in one thousand five hundred and four then completed it in one thousand five hundred and fifty. It was ransacked by the pirate Drake."

Side entrance to cathedral

"The English man?" I said in surprise. I didn't know if he was pulling my leg with a yarn, but he seemed like the bookish type who genuinely knew his stuff.

"Si, ese mismo! He came here and destroyed the city," he said with a smile and a glint in his eyes. "They took over it and wouldn't give it back until their demands were met."

My mind was blown. I knew of Drake but little of his exploits. From the Canadian perspective, which historically speaking is a British-based perspective outside Quebec, Sir Francis Drake is a hero. There's even a street and an island named in his honour here in BC.

"I'll have to check out the cathedral later," I said.

"Oh, yes. This area is all full of history in la zona colonial. The first hospital is that way. The first street. Calle las Damas, Isabela la Catolica, Fortaleza Ozama, all the colonial history. There are many museums. I could give you tour at no cost. I'll take you here in this area where you can see the port. Where are you staying?"

I told him I already had plans but was thankful for the offer.

We exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then he left.

I decided to go look around somewhere else and would return to see the church later.

Tickets for the Cathedral Basilica of Santa María la Menor are purchased in a booth near the gate at the entrance, and then one has access to the grounds around and inside the church. I cannot begin to impress upon you how amazing this building is up close, especially given its surrounding environment at the time. Just imagine what this region was like in 1504, barely more than a decade after European arrival, when construction began. Santo Domingo was a quickly growing outpost as colonization got fully underway. This building with its high vaulted gothic ceilings and archways must've seemed like an alien spaceship to the locals once it was completed a few years later. These are some photographs I took of this cathedral during my visit.