My Visit To Santo Domingo

Hi community it has taken me near three months to get back in here and report, as it were, my opinion of the Dominican Republic. I have been extremely busy with work and projects (book) that I genuinely couldn't find time to get back in here. This is my first weekend away from work this year.
I visited Santo Domingo in December.
The journey from the airport was in the evening. They took photo's and finger prints of every passenger that came through the airport. And I took a taxi to my hotel in the colonial zone.
It was upon entering into Santo Domingo that I came to the conclusion I had left planet earth. And arrived on Mars. A motorcycle with the driver and two passengers passed by my taxi. Followed by vehicles without doors, bonnets and front gills missing. Thank goodness I wasn't a sales person for the M.O.T (vehicle test) as at first impression I was convinced there couldn't be vehicle test in the Dominican Republic. The traffic leading into the colonial zone was like something from the film 'Mad Max'!
By the time I got to my hotel I was tired from the flight and a little confused by what I'd seen so far. The heat was stifling and I knew would take some getting used to.
Anyway I met my friend the following morning, the purpose of my visit, and together we walked the colonial zone. My biggest draw back while in Santo Domingo was not being able to speak Spanish. I picked a little of it up as I went along, and luckily I brought along one of those technological wizardry of invention- a mobile phone translator.
Great stuff.
Not being able to speak Spanish kind of kept me on the outside, and it was difficult to strike up meaningful conversation with people I'd come into contact with in the street/ colonial zone. The hotel staff had a great grasp of English, luckily, and it was here I made some meaningful relationships with them.
I ventured out on my own and walked the streets during day time away from the colonial zone. I went to the british embassy, some walk that was. And back, in the heat (for me). I could have taken a taxi but I wanted to walk and see/ feel the city and its people. Santo Domingo is very different at one point I got lost but new enough Spanish to ask a traffic policeman for directions!
Next day I walked along the outside of the colonial zone wall which was very impressive. I was beginning to settle and felt calmer. Being a lone European walking along the sea front I felt a bit naked, and was set upon by an old, same age as me 60's, guy who wanted to know where I came from. Unable to hold a meaningful conversation I kept going.
Much of my time was spent in or around the hotel and the colonial zone. Eventually I took to strolling the shops, ate at a few restaurants and asked for directions as well as I could do. It was a purpose, one at least, to visit the city- and not sit in a tourist hell hole and not get to see real Dominican Republic people and how they live. 
Life is very different in Santo Domingo, and I understand working there would be a real challenge I'm a trades person and that would be the first obstacle to finding work. Even so there are certain paths into work there.
I did find that I enjoyed my stay, and I have seen nothing yet of the country, until I can speak Spanish which I'm in the process of learning. I will be returning in June or July, and looking forward to it too. If I can break the language barrier I know that the country holds a gem of a people, and great experiences.