Dominican Republic Life
Life in the Dominican Republic is brilliant at the best of times and while not perfect in anyway, life is pretty damn good and should be experienced by everyone, at least once in their lifetimes.
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There is something to be said about arriving in a foreign destination, what with all the sounds and smells of a new country, coping with the heat impact, dodging the local taxi drivers and the like, there is that king of thoughts surfacing somewhere between jetlag and new arrival excitement that you just can’t put your finger on. Then it comes to you in a flash and you almost want to slap yourself in public for even slightly forgetting it’s…
The Dominican Republic lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, at 18.30N Latitude and 69.59W Longitude (Santo Domingo). Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the north coast and the Caribbean Sea to the south, the DR enjoys a year round tropical maritime climate. The terrain in the Dominican Republic varies greatly, from the highest mountain in the Caribbean at over 10,000 feet to the lowest elevation at Lago Enriquillo at 140 feet below sea level. With three mountain…
There is something to be said about arriving in a foreign destination, what with all the sounds and smells of a new country, coping with the heat impact, dodging the local taxi drivers and the like, there is that king of thoughts surfacing somewhere between jetlag and new arrival excitement that you just can’t put your finger on. Then it comes to you in a flash and you almost want to slap yourself in public for even slightly forgetting it’s…
A Little story.. While sitting in the local bar I idly began contemplating what was in my glass. The orange juice was freshly squeezed from local fruit and the ice was ordinary but the rum? Before ordering I had to think about which one I would have and to remind the bar tender to cut the portion of rum down to a quarter of the normal serving. If you have ever visited here in the Dominican Republic you may have…
Halloween is a pretty spooky time of year around the whole world, but for the Dominican Republic it is an extra special spooky time. As a country already seeped in myth, with voodoo influences abounding, it is no wonder the Dominican’s themselves are a superstitious race! Here are some superstitions and beliefs carried out on a day to day basis, so to keep safe and curse free, read up on what the local witches (Brujas - in Spanish) practice! This way…
The "official" religion in the Dominican Republic is Roman Catholic however the Constitution provides for freedom of worship and the Government respects the right to practice your religion of choice. There are two Archdiocese on the island, one in Santo Domingo and one in Santiago. There are nine diocese in the country, in Barahona, Bani, Higuey, La Vega, Mao-Montecristi, Puerto Plata, San Francisco de Macoris, San Juan de la Maguana, and San Pedro de Macoris.In 1954 The Roman Catholic Church…
The Dom Rep has a bewildering barrage of festivals . On every day of the year, there seems to be some kind of celebration somewhere, the majority of which are regional fiestas patronales , held in honour of the city's or town's patron saint. These traditional fiestas are one of the great pleasures of a trip to the DR. JANUARY Virgen de Altagracia January 21, the most important religious day in the Dominican calendar, including a several-day pilgrimage to Higuey.…
Primary education is provided free for all children from the ages 7 to 14, and although this is compulsory it is rarely enforced, especially in the rural areas. Uniforms are required to attend school and these are not provided by the government, therefore those families that cannot afford to buy them do not send their children to school. Books, pens, pencils, scribblers, and other necessary supplies are also the responsibility of the families and this too adds to lack of…
Music in the Dominican Republic Sexy, swaying, hot Latino sounds will be one of the first things you hear after landing at any of the airports here in the Dominican Republic. The origin of Merengue is literally right at your footsteps and both the music and dance will seep into your soul during your stay in the Dominican Republic. It’s hard to ignore the pulsating rhythms of any of the island music and even harder still not to get up…
According to some historians, the choreography of the Dominican Merengue was originated between 1631 and 1700 as a dance that entertained the pirates of the island Tortuga every night. They called it "the dance of the wooded leg" because of the movements involved. The Merengue dance is of slave origin, mainly from those belonging to the Bara Tribe from Madagascar. Every Caribbean country gave this dance its own identity, influenced by melodies of European origin. Slaves had to mix their…
Dominican food is a mixed blend of African, Spanish and Taino Indian influences, and if you just stick to your meals in your all-inclusive hotel buffets then you will not get a real taste of the island flavours at all. The food whilst not heavily hot spiced like neighbouring islands of Jamaica and Trinidad draws a different range of spices to tingle and tempt taste-buds with plenty of fresh herbs, garlic and tangy sauces. Rice and Beans! The most common…
Whilst around the globe, those winter nights are starting to draw in and there is a distinct chill in the air, BUT the only chill you’ll find over in the Dominican Republic – is everyone chilling out at the beach! Beautiful Autumn/Fall weather for this week, with temps at a very comfortable mid 80F during the day and falling to a high 70F for the evening and night time.
