Photo from www.worldatlas.com
The Dominican Republic (The DR) is located in the Caribbean between Cuba and Puerto Rico and occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispañiola, with Haiti occupying the western portion. With 48,730 square kilometers, Hispañola is the second largest island in the Caribbean surpassed only by Cuba. Situated in the heart of the region between North and South America, the country is bathed by the Caribbean Sea on the south coast and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. The island was originally created when a volcano erupted in the ocean millions of years ago. There are, however, no volcanoes on the island.
The earth holds many splendid treasures; one of them is the national stone Larimar – the Dominican turquoise, which is found in the mountains of the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic is a land of contrasts with towering mountains and rocky cliffs, rain forests, fertile valleys, cacti-studded deserts, 1,288 kilometers (800 miles) of coastline and about 300 kilometers (185 miles) of prime beaches. The country is crossed by four rugged mountain ranges bisecting northwest to southeast. The largest is the Cordillera Central with Pico Duarte, the tallest point in the Caribbean, rising over 3,175 meters (10,417 feet).
Three large fertile valleys rest between the ranges. Lake Enriquillo in the southwest is the lowest point in the Caribbean falling 46 meters (150 feet) below sea level and the only salt water lake in the world inhabited by crocodiles.
The Dominican Republic is surrounded by a rich animal wildlife. The Atlantic and Caribbean oceans surrounding the island of Hispañola are filled with fish, sea turtles and coral reefs and more which make snorkelling or diving activities an absolute must.
From January till March around 3,000 humpback whales find their way to the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The coast of Samaná towards the north east is considered the best place in the world to see these majestic creatures.
The total population of the Dominican Republic is approximately 9,365,818 (July 2007 est.) with the largest number living in the capitol of Santo Domingo.
In the past few years, the Dominican Republic has unquestionably become one of the most popular and fastest growing tourist destinations in the Caribbean with more than 20 daily direct flights from major US and European cities.
There are now approximately 75,000 hotel rooms across the island making the Dominican Republic the largest destination in the Caribbean.
The east coast of the Dominican Republic (from Punta Cana in the south to Macao and Uvero Alto in the north), which includes approx. 35 kilometres (22 miles) of coast line and more than 45 resorts, has become a very popular tourist destination. More than 4 million tourists from all over the world come to the Dominican Republic each year enjoy some of the best beaches in the world (including Bávaro beach, Punta Cana beach and Juanillo Bay) and some of the most luxurious resorts in the Caribbean (including Paradisus Palma Real, The Reserve at the Paradisus Palma Real, Tortuga Bay Hotel and the Sanctuary Cap Cana Golf & Spa).
Getting to the DR is easy! With the most sea and air connections than any other Caribbean destination, the Dominican Republic is easily accessible from practically any part of the world. Every week more than 50 airline companies fly to Punta Cana Airport on the south east coast, more than 30 airline companies fly to Las Americas International Airport in the capitol of Santo Domingo, 15 airline companies fly to La Romana International Airport close to Casa de Campo on the south coast, and 15 airline companies fly to the newest international airport El Catey International Airport in Samaná on the north coast.
Major airline companies include American Airlines, Delta, Air Canada, Air Transat, Air France, British Airways, Condor, Continental Airlines, Copa Airlines, Sunwing, United Airlines, US Airways and many more.
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Culture
The Dominican culture is a melting pot of old Taino Indian, Spanish, French and African cultures which has created a wonderful mix that we see today in the language, music and art work of the island.
Art:
Photo: "Plumilla" (1993) by Clara Ledesma
Dominican art is perhaps most commonly associated with the bright, vibrant colors and images that are sold in every tourist gift shop across the country. However, the DR has a long history of fine art that goes back to 1865 when the country became independent and the beginnings of a national art scene emerged.
Historically, the painting of this time were centered around images connected to national independence, historical scenes, portraits but also landscapes and images of still life. Styles of painting ranged between neoclassicism and romanticism. The most famous artists of the late 19th century were Alejandro Bonilla (1820-1901), Luis Desangeles (1861-1940), Leopoldo Navarro (1862-1908), Abelardo Piñeyro (1862-1958), Abelardo R. Urdaneta (1870-1933), Juan Bautista Gómez (1874-1945), Adolfo García Obregón (1880-1931), Enrique García Godoy (1886-1947), Bienvenido Gimbernard (1890-1971) and Fernando Báez (1895-1960).
Between 1920 and 1940 the art scene was influenced by styles of realism and impressionism. Dominican artists were focused on breaking from previous, academic styles in order to develop more independent and individual styles. The artists of the times were Celeste Woss y Gil (1890-1985), Jaime Colson (1901-1975), Yoryi O. Morel (1906-1979) and Darío Suro (1917-1997).
The 1940s represents an important period in Dominican art. President Rafael Leónidas Trujillo was eager to cover up the atrocities committed against his own people and wanted to create a more positive public image. He provided asylum for Spanish Civil War refugees and a group of Europeans (including famous artists) subsequently arrived to the DR. They became an inspiration to young Dominican artists who were given a more international perspective on art. The art school Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes was founded as the first official center for teaching art. The DR went through a renaissance heavily inspired by the trends happening in Europe. The artists of the time were George Hausdorf (1894-1959), Josep Gausachs (1889-1959), Joseph Fulop, Manolo Pascual (1902-1983), Ernest Lothar (1906-1961), Mounia L. Andre, Ergenio F. Granell (1912-2001), José Vela Zanetti (1913-1999), Angel Botello Barros (1913-1986), Antonio Prats Ventós (1925-2000) and Francisco Vázquez Díaz (1898-1987).
Between 1950 and 1970 the students who had been taught by European masters began to excel and their art expressed the social and political conditions of the time. A need for a renewal of the image language emerged and as a result paintings were created in non-figurative, abstract, geometric and cubistic styles. The most noticeable artists included Paul Giudicelli (1921-1965), Clara Ledesma (1924-1999), Gilberto H. Ortega (1924-1979), Gaspar Mario Cruz (1925-2006), Luichy M. Richiez (1928-2000), Eligio Pichardo (1929-1984), Domingo Liz (1931-), Silvano Lora (1934-2003), Cándido Bidó (1936-) and José Ramírez Conde (1940-1987).
Between 1970 and 1980 artists were experimenting again with new styles, forms, concepts and themes. Artists such as Ada Balcácer (1930-), Fernando Peña Defilló (1928-) and Ramón Oviedo (1927-) count as the most influential of the decade.
Source: www.museobellapart.com
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Baseball:
Photo: Sammy Sosa
Baseball has been at the centre of Dominican culture for more than 100 years. Although the exact origins of the sport in the Dominican Republic are not clear, it is believed that baseball emerged in the 1880s brought over by Cubans fleeing Cuba. The first baseball teams in the Dominican Republic were formed in 1894 – 1895 and shortly after the popularity of the sport spread across the island like a wildfire.
In the 1920s Dominican teams began playing against other Caribbean and American teams and in the 1930s baseball became the official national Dominican pastime. Dictator Rafael Trujillo built the first major baseball stadium in Santo Domingo and founded the official, Dominican baseball league in the 1930s. Baseball games were only playing during the daytime (as long as it was daylight) until 1955 when Estadio Quisqueya (Quisqueya Stadium) was built with lights. With the building of this stadium, baseball entered its golden era in the Dominican Republic.
In 1956 Dominican baseball was brought to the United States when Ozzie Virgil became the first Dominican baseball player to play in the Majors. His success ultimately paved the way for other Dominican players. The United States began sending money, players and talent scouts to the Dominican Republic and in the 1960s baseball schools began emerging across the island.
There are 6 teams in the Dominican baseball league. Each team plays 60 games throughout the baseball season which runs from October until February. The two finalists will compete for the championship title and the winning team will go on to represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Baseball Series against Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
From 1956 until today more than 420 Dominican baseball players have played in the Majors in the United States. Today there are more baseball players in the Majors than from any other Latin American country. Perhaps the most famous Dominican baseball player is Sammy Sosa (Samuel Peralta Sosa).
He was born in 1968 in the city of San Pedro de Macoris and discovered in the early 1980s and signed his first contract with the Texas Rangers Minor League team. In 1989 Sammy has his first year in the Major League and in 1997 he signed a 4 year / US$ 42,5 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. Throughout his career he has set many baseball records and is the first Latino to ever hit 500 career home runs.
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Cockfighting:
Photo: A man placed a bet before a fight began. The New York Times.
Cockfighting is one of the most popular sports in the DR (only surpassed by Baseball) and one that is completely integrated into the Dominican culture and mentality. For many (especially foreigners), cockfighting is a controversial blood sport regarded as an extreme form of animal cruelty, but the Dominicans say it’s in their blood. The fighting rooster is a symbol of the Dominican identity and the fighting spirit of the Dominican male.
In the DR, cockfighting is legal and fights take place weekly (on weekends) in the thousands of galleras (fighting rings) across the country, where even the smallest town will have one, although not as fancy as the galleras you may encounter in the big cities like Santo Domingo and Santiago where fights are even transmitted on TV and regular competitions are held throughout the year. There is a National Commission for Cockfighting in the country as well as special magazines and websites dedicated entirely to the sport.
Raising a fighting rooster is almost an art form in itself and the ones that fight have been bred, groomed and carefully tended to for 2 years before being let to the ring. These roosters receive special food, vitamins, massages, etc. by expert breeders who invest a lot of money in the process. Potentially large bets are made during a cockfight and so the sport is a potentially lucrative business for breeders with the best and strongest birds.
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Cuisine:
Photo: Traditional "La Bandera Dominicana"
Traditional Dominican food is also a mix of Spanish, African and Taino Indian food. It is not spicy, but naturally very flavorful. Among the most popular dishes are Mangú (boiled and mashed plantains), “La Bandera Dominicana” (rice, meat and beans), Sancocho (a stew-like soup with different types of meat, vegetables, potatoes, plantain, etc.), Tostones (deep fried plantain), Chivo con Ron (goat meat cooked in rum to make a stew), Chicharron de Pollo (breaded and deep fried chicken), Empanadas (deep fried dough with e.g. meat and vegetables inside), Pasteles en Hoja (a plantain dough with e.g. meat inside that is wrapped in a banana leaf and boiled), Chuletas (pork chops), Carne Guisada (e.g. chicken, beef or pork that is cooked like a stew), Moro (rice with beans), and more.
Popular deserts include Habituelas con Dulce, Flan, and Dulce de Leche.
It is easy to find a place that serves traditional Dominican dishes on any street in the Dominican Republic. The best time to go is for lunch as this is typically the larger meal for Dominicans and many eat out. Come early (around noon) to get the food fresh and hot-off-the-stove. If you are not adventurous enough to eat at a local Dominican restaurant, most of the all-inclusive resorts have “Dominican Night” once a week where they serve traditional Dominican dishes for lunch/dinner.
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Music:
Photo: Dominican Merengue dancers
Anyone who has visited the Dominican Republic will undoubtedly have heard the fast beat and rhythms of the Merengue music, which is native to the country. Merengue is dominated by the rhythm which is the most characteristic feature of the music. The lyrics are often about political topics and sexuality, and the music was originally considered very vulgar and inappropriate by the mid-upper classes. It originated in the 20th century among the lower classes living in the country sides and valleys (e.g. Cibao Valley), but became more mainstream in the early 1930s with the rise of the Dominican dictator Trujillo. Trujillo turned Merengue into a national symbol of the Dominican Republic. In the 1960s musicians such as Johnny Ventura started mixing traditional Merengue with American R&B and Rock and Roll and in the 1980s, when many Dominicans migrated to the United States; they brought the music with them to cities such as New York and Miami.
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Official Holydays 2011:
- January 01: New Year's Day
- January 10: Three Kings Day (falls on January 06)
- January 21: Our Lady of Altagracia Day
- January 24: Day of Duarte (falls on January 26)
- February 27: Independence Day
- April 22: Good Friday
- May 02: Labor Day (falls on May 01)
- June 23: Corpus Christi Day
- August 15: Restoration Day (falls on August 16)
- September 24: Our Lady of Mercedes Day
- November 06: Constitution Day
- December 25: Christmas Day
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