October 28, 2009

Fall Interns Visit Cueva de las Maravillas and Altos de Chavón

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On Saturday, October 17, InteRDom’s 2009 fall interns became the first ever to visit the Cave of Wonders (known by its Spanish name Cueva de las Maravillas) in Cumayasa, Dominican Republic.

The cave is located off of the main thoroughfare between San Pedro de Macoris and La Romana, and features magnificent natural formations and over 500 black and red paintings done by the indigenous Taino tribe both before and after the arrival of the colonizers to the island of Hispaniola.

The excursion to the caves was combined with the annual visit to Altos de Chavón, a small town on the Casa de Campo resort property built in the 1970s to look like a 16th century Mediterranean village.

It is an artistic center with a picturesque setting; the cobblestone streets and tiny shops and restaurants overlook the Chavón River and house the most renowned art school in the country. InteRDom students were impressed with Chavón’s celebrated 5000-seat amphitheater, which serves as a concert arena.

The students were also given a brief history of the eastern zone, exploring different historical landmarks in both San Pedro de Macoris and La Romana.

Often one of the highlights of the program, the students had nothing but glowing words for this trip to the eastern part of the island.

“The excursion was really great,” said Quentin Morel, a current InteRDom student. “Edwin, the guide, always manages to get us excited. The caves were beautiful… it was a very enjoyable day.”

InteRDom, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), offers students the opportunity to gain professional experience by interning with Dominican organizations and businesses related to their field of study.

Los pasantes de Otoño visitan la Cueva de las Maravillas y Altos de Chavón

Los pasantes de Otoño visitan la Cueva de las Maravillas y Altos de Chavón

Los pasantes de Otoño visitan la Cueva de las Maravillas y Altos de Chavón

Los pasantes de Otoño visitan la Cueva de las Maravillas y Altos de Chavón