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LA VEGA,
just 30km south of Santiago, started out as one of
Columbus's gold-mining towns. Aside from the ruins of this
old settlement, La Vega Vieja, there's little in
today's noisy, concrete city to hold your attention.
However, La Vega's Carnival celebrations in February
are generally acknowledged to be among the most boisterous
and authentic in the nation. A twenty-block promenade is set
up between the two main parks, along which parade platoons
of demons in impressively horrific masks, the making
of which is somewhat of a local specialty craft.
There are no good in-town hotels ; most lack even the
most basic amenities like toilet seat, mosquito net or hot
water. San Pedro, Cáceres 87 (phone
809/573-2844; up to US$25), is the least seedy and cleanest,
but is still not especially comfortable. You'll fare
slightly better with local restaurants, notably the
second-floor Salón Dorado above Engini Car Wash,
Cáceres and Restauración, which has a hip décor, fun crowd
and pool tables.
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The bus stations, Caribe Tours (phone
809/573-3488), Metro (phone 809/573-7099) and
Vegano Express (phone 809/573-7079), are all on
the Carretera La Vega, just off the Autopista Duarte.
Guaguas to Jarabacoa set off from the corner of 27 de
Febrero and Restauración.
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Dominican
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La Vega
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