We would like to wish all our web visitors a Very Merry Christmas and to thank everyone for their continued support of the website so Feliz Navidad!! If you are fortunate enough to be in the Dominican Republic over the holiday period we know you are going to have a fabulous time, so make the most of it and enjoy youselves out of the snow and take a Christmas Cocktail or 2 under the nearest palm tree! Blessings to you all from everyone working here behind the scenes at therealdr.com! 

Using delicious dark rum from the Dominican Republic and home grown vanilla extract our Classic Dominican Christmas Egg Nog brings a scrumptious twist to a traditional and favorite holiday time drink. The only problem with this recipe is – “Can you wait long enough for it to cool before you try a tipple?” The recipe room at therealdr.com had to beat the newsroom reporters off with a wooden spoon earlier this morning! Check out this scrummy Christmas treat and enjoy making this for your family and friends…

Here is a fantastic recipe to try out at home especially if you have been to the Dominican Republic on vacation and taken home with you some of the delicious cocoa chocolate powder which is organically grown here.  The cocoa industry is big business in the Dominican Republic with much of it being exported to fine chocolate makers through out the world. Also ginger is grown nationwide in the Dominican Republic and fresh ginger root is available in all supermarkets.

During the Christmas period many Dominican's returning to the DR take advantage of the Duty Free break given by the Dominican Custom Agency! It's not just people returning by plane as those folk travelling by ferry from Puerto Rico back into DR waters can also take up the great tax break! Instead of paying the normal taxes on gifts and presents brought into the country at this time of year the Customs Agency will allow gifts amounting to US$2,500 to pass into the country! So Get Shopping!!

Shipwreck Hunters have discovered another wreck in the ocean waters around the Bay of Samana in the Dominican Republic, Marine Exploration Inc., and Burt Webber's Hispaniola Ventures - LLC, have joned forces to combine their new venture. Marine Explorations research vessel the R/V Hispaniola has been working in the waters of Samana Bay for the last two weeks now.  Paul Enright who is the MEXP Founder stated "Our crew has been very busy operating training and reconnaissance missions in the waters to the North of the Coast on sites of great interest."

Today (Friday 12th December 2008) will see the new highway from Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic's Capital city) to Samana being officially opened by the Public Works Ministry.  The highway has cost more than US$151 million to construct.  Autopista del Nordeste are the company that built the new highway and it is to be called Juan Pablo II.  Construction first commenced during the current presidents last term of office in 1996 - 2000 and was opened earlier this year in June of 2008. 

Mr Eddy Martinez who is the director for the Dominican Republic's Export and Investment Center said Thursday (11th December 2008) that foreign investment in the country has jumped to US$2.35 billion up to September, or US$836.5 million more than the US$1.5 billion in the same period for 2007.  He aslo continued to state that the figure sets a record in new foreign capital inflow to the Dominican Republic. 

It's Fast and Its Furious and being held in the North Coast town of Cabarete in the Dominican Republic! The 7th Caribbean Laser Midwinter Competition this year is scheduled for the 16 - 18 January 2009. This event commences the world's laser regatta calendar and brings together all caliber of sportsmen and women from past Laser world champions to Olympic medalists and master sailors! The competition is held just a week before the Miami Olympic Regatta and has a winning prize of US$50,000! Winners and runners up also will get recognition by the ISAF with their results included in world rankings!