Central Highlands - Dominican Republic - page 349

variety of restaurants and bars and an on-site casino. It's several kilometers from down-
town but the surrounding neighborhood has a handful of good restaurants within walking
distance.
DON'T MISS
CARNIVAL!
Held in February, Carnival is big all over the country, but especially so in Santiago and La Vega. The
latter hosts the largest and most organized celebrations in the country, and Santiago is famous for its
artistic and fantastical caretas (masks) and hosts an annual international careta competition in the
lead-up to the big event. Rival neighborhoods in Santiago, La Joya and Los Pepines, make up the bulk
of the parade with onlookers watching from overpasses, apartment buildings, even the tops of lamp
posts. In La Vega, townspeople belong to one of numerous groups, which range from 10 to 200 mem-
bers. Regardless of the city, it's the costumes - colorful, baggy outfits with capes and diabolical masks
- that are the highlight. Watch your backside though - participants swing vejigas (inflated cow blad-
ders) and hit each other - and onlookers - on the behind.
If you decide to come to either city for Carnival, be sure to make reservations - rooms fill up fast
this time of the year.
Eating
Quality eating options in the downtown area are few and far between. There's a handful of
Dominican and international fast-food joints on and around Calle del Sol and hole-in-the-
wall comedors in the surrounding blocks. Virtually all the bars and lounges around the
western and southern side of the Monument serve good food as well - La Brasa MAP
GOOGLE MAP (Calle Beller; mains RD$200; 10am-3am) is a friendly and informal open-air
parrilla and Kukara Macara Country Bar & Restaurant MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 809-241-3143;
www.kukaramacara.net ; Av Francia 7; mains RD$475; 10am-2am) , a sprawling, kitschy western
themed place, fun for a meal or drink. A woman selling empanadas sets up her cart on the
south side in the early evening.
Francepan (Av 27 de Febrero; 9am-10pm Mon-Fri, from 8am Sat & Sun) and La Campagna (Av
Juan Pablo Duarte; mains RD$300; 8am-midnight Sun-Thu, to 1am Fri & Sat; ) are similar
restaurants in the Jardínes neighborhood east of downtown. Both are relatively upscale
cafes with outdoor patio seating areas and large menus, with everything from healthy
smoothies (RD$110) and salads (RD$200) to burgers (RD$180) and heavy soups
(RD$300).