The Dominican Republic occupies two thirds of the island of La Hispaniola (now Haiti). The Dominican Republic is located in the heart of the Caribbean archipelago and here is the second largest island after Cuba, with the territory of 48 000 km2. The Dominican Republic is washed by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea in the south. To the east is Canal de la Mona, on the west border with Haiti. The nearest neighbors of the Dominican Republic - Cuba in the north-east, the west of Jamaica and Puerto Rico to the east. This is a country record: the oldest town in America, Santo Domingo, the highest mountain in the Caribbean - Duarte Peak, the largest lake in the world of salt water, in which there are crocodiles - Lake Enrico. In addition, the favorable development of the Dominican Republic the following resources: sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, tobacco and rum.
Things to Do
This area is simply breathes history. The first street in the New World, the first church in the New World, the first customs office in the New World. By the number of attractions Dominican Republic prevailed over other Caribbean countries. Ancient
history is intertwined with the island life of the great explorer
Christopher Columbus, so there are many landmarks associated with him
and his family. A very popular way to brighten up the evening with tourists is a visit to the tomb of Columbus. Day is a gray concrete building produces a very dark impression. But at night from the roof into the sky hit the powerful multi-colored spotlights. And on top of colored luminous column, the height of three hundred meters there is a bright white cross. Eyewitnesses claim that for the first time "just creeps tear." Entertainment in the Dominican Republic, a great many. First
of all, this is, of course, great fishing, which is organized
everywhere - and on the north and the south coast of the country. Nightlife in the Dominican Republic is also available. To
see this, it is enough to go in the dark quay at Santo Domingo, which
is located at the confluence of the Rio Ozama in the Caribbean Sea. At
night, hanging out here a diverse audience, chic pet Dominican coffee,
rum, eating mangoes and cashew nuts, listening to merengue and salsa and
dancing. In any locality is full of discos that do not close until the morning. So that the nightlife in the Dominican Republic's all right. Beaches
with palm trees, turquoise water, cheerful people, excellent food - and
most importantly, everything is already paid for from the beginning. Dominican Republic - a paradise for vacationers.Culture and Art
One of the most common and fire-dances in the world is Merengue (merengue). Previously, he was not so popular, but in recent years has managed to conquer a lot of people who live outside of Latin and North America, and, after t
riumfalnym march to occupy the minds for a long time and, of course, the bodies of people around the world. This is confirmed by the emergence and rapid growth of all kinds of clubs, which can not only enjoy an hour or Merengue, but also giving it the whole night, as well as courses that you teach not only basic moves but, if you will be on the forces, merge with it and feel it inside.
Nature and climate
A moderate tropical climate. The average annual temperature varies from +23 C to +28 C. In the hottest season of 33 C. The rainy season lasts from late spring to early autumn, when are frequent, but short showers. A good time visiting - from December to April.
Polity and Languages
1 national district - the capital of Santo Domingo, 29 provinces (Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaiallat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, SanPedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde Mao.) 50 municipalities, 110 municipalities official language - Spanish. But in resort areas used English, German and Italian.
History
The Dominican Republic opened the great navigator and explorer Christopher Columbus on December 5, 1492, after long months at sea in a grueling journey that has begun to engender despair not only among the team, but also near the seafarer. The island, discovered by Columbus, he was named "La Española" ("La Espanola"). The local residents called it "Kiskeya" ("Quisqueya"), which means "mother of all lands." December 25 in the "La Espanola" from the wreckage of the caravel "Santa Maria" was built a fort, "Christmas" ("La navidad"), in which Columbus left 30 of its people. He himself went to Spain to tell the good news about the successful outcome of the trip. Initially, relations with the locals were friendly. But then, there have been disagreements between kasike (cacique) - local tribal leaders - and the Spaniards. And to return in 1493, Columbus discovered that the fortress was burned and nearly all the people killed. No matter what Columbus was trying to establish the relationship between the "two worlds" and gave it the rest of his life. He married the daughter of one of kasike and in his will asked to bury him on Hispaniola. Today, the remains of Christopher Columbus are buried in the Dominican Republic in Faro Colon - a place guarded by naval guard, which is a large building with a sarcophagus in the middle of the composition, as well as a museum, where you can see many objects of different cultures around the world and take a fascinating tour to learn more about the history of the Dominican Republic. At night, from Faro Colon comes a beam of light directed at the sky, which can be seen from almost anywhere in the country's capital. Just Faro Colon, surrounded by a large beautiful park, where you can be happy to walk and relax.
Holidays and weekends
1, 6, 21 and 26 January, 27 February, 14 April, 1 May, 10-12 July, 16 July 24 July 16 August 24 September 12 and October 24, November 1, December 25, religious (Catholic) the holidays.
Money, currency exchange
The Dominican peso, $ 1 = 45-50 AM
Transport
Shopping
Tourist areas of the country to offer tourists there are numerous boutiques and souvenir shops where you can buy various products from wood, bone, amber, Larimar, ceramics, coffee, rum, cigars, souvenirs Tainos Indians, Creole dolls. Especially recommended are also tapes of tunes "merengue" and Salza. In Santo Domingo are the largest commercial centers, where you can buy clothes, shoes, light industrial products of national and foreign companies of good quality and at affordable prices
Tips
The cost of service in hotels partially included tip. In the restaurants to leave a tip of 10% of order value.
Religion
The main group of the population professes the Catholic religion, but there are many different small religious groups.
Medicine
Tourist areas of the country to offer tourists there are numerous boutiques and souvenir shops where you can buy various products from wood, bone, amber, Larimar, ceramics, coffee, rum, cigars, souvenirs Tainos Indians, Creole dolls. Especially recommended are also tapes of tunes "merengue" and Salza. In Santo Domingo are the largest commercial centers, where you can buy clothes, shoes, light industrial products of national and foreign companies of good quality and at affordable prices.
Food
Culinary traditions of the Dominican Republic, built on a combination of European, African and local recipes. The main feature of it - the widespread use of beans, bananas and other vegetables (including exotic) in the original combined with meat products and fish. In this case the abundance of spices used in cooking, at first glance is huge, but it is not - all spices consumed in moderation and almost no "hammer" the original taste of the product. Used for frying bananas only a certain kind of "Platano" - green and hard enough, they do not eat raw. Considered the most traditional thick soup with meat, rice and vegetables "asopao", the original stew of assorted meats, beans, rice, salad and fried bananas, "Bandera" (the daily food of the Dominicans, often in lieu of all dishes on the table), a bit like it by the abundance of ingredients "service" baked in banana leaves meat with vegetables "Pastel en Ohashi," roast pork "puerko en Puyana" or "puerko-Assad", the famous stew of vegetables and meat in all sorts of combinations - " sankocho "pork served with fried bananas and already quite exotic - entirely braised pig's carcass in a pit, braised with vegetables and herbs chicken, the rumen by-Dominican" monfongo "etc. are used as a garnish rice and red beans in various combinations, cassava, banana puree of wild onion "manga" and various salads. Constantly on the table there are cakes of cassava "Kasaba" (as usual, and with various fillings) and "tostones" - fried bananas. Fish and seafood, in spite of their abundance and diversity are almost absent in the traditional Dominican cuisine, but lately they are in greater numbers appear in the menu restaurants and cafes. The most popular fish, grilled on a skewer or a lattice, fish fried with coconut crumbs, fish cooked in coconut milk "Pescado con Coco," a variety of seafood "mariskos" crabs in the sauce "kangreho gisado" etc. Well, Of course, the widest spread have a variety of tropical fruits - bananas, coconuts, pineapples, arable land, guava, mango, green lemon "Zest" and other exotic fruits. They are used in its natural form, in the form of juices and fruit cocktails. Overall a good brew of coffee, especially good grade, "Santo Domingo".