Memories of Casa de Campo: La Romana Landmarks

This post is also available in: Spanish

In this week’s ‘Memories of Casa de Campo’ post Carol Burke, our weekly writer take us on a journey through La Romana in the 1980’s – it’s interesting to see how La Romana has changed.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. -– John Muir
I’ve searched all the parks in all the cities and found no statues of committees. — Gilbert K. Chesterton

A few hours spent in La Romana, in the late 1980s, was always memorable. La Romana had some architectural treasures to study, as well as some peaceful places to pass the time.

The La Romana park was a shady cool square with wide avenues opening to the surrounding streets. There were plenty of sturdy stone benches, leafy trees, and a stunning space-age concrete bandstand in the center.

Space-age Bandstand / Dance Floor in Park

From the center of the park one could easily walk to any of the neighboring streets. One avenue out of the park would take you to the main street shopping area.

Main Street Shopping View from the Park

On this corner was a sculpture of Juan Pablo Duarte, an early patriot who fought for Dominican Independence, and is considered to be the Father of the Dominican Republic.

Juan Pablo Duarte Memorial

One of La Romana’s most picturesque churches is located across from an entrance to the park,

Park Entrance View of La Romana Church

and from another park entrance one could see an attractive restaurant located on a quiet street.

Lovely La Romana Restaurant Across from Park

The main avenues inside the park were always full of people. Some were busily on their way to another part of town,

Passing Through the Park on a Busy Day

or sitting on a bench observing what was happening.

People-Watching in the Park

The park was a good place to take a rest under the shady trees,

A Shady Place to Rest in La Romana

and to take some time for conversation.

Conversation in the Park

The La Romana City Hall was across the street from the park. Everyone always looked at the city hall to check the time on the bell tower clock.

On the front of this colorful symmetrical building, four bright turquoise columns, enclosing ornamented windows, rose two stories on either side of the tower where two much taller turquoise columns brought the eye all the way up to the clock and bell at the peak.

City Hall of La Romana

Entering the park across from City Hall, one would usually encounter working children waiting for shoe shine customers.

Child Waiting at Park Entrance

The La Romana park was one of the main places for shoe shining in town.

Shoe Shine Locations in Park

The main Guagua (bus) stop was located near the park so it was a natural place for people to go to neaten up the look of their shoes.

Shoes are Shining at the Park

and when you’re ready to go somewhere else, the park offers plenty of transportation opportunities from moto-conchos to guaguas.

Leaving the La Romana Park

Many thanks to Carol Burke for another wonderful article! If anyone would like to view Carol’s photos in higher resolution or download them, you can do some by visiting her flickr account here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelion-tree/collections/72157624697056850/

Also below are links to all of Carol’s previous articles!

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