HABLAR ESPANOL

This is basically a shout out to Simbul. Thanks for the comments. I feel anyone who plans to vacation repeatedly in one place should learn the language. It is really to your advantage! From bargaining to haggling to simply knowing what's going on around you, one can have a more enjoyable experience if you at least speak "spanglish".

A friend of mine sent me a CD from D.C. a couple of years ago that has been a big help. It's called World Talk Spanish. There is also a free learn spanish section at www.dr-tourist.tv . Look on their menu to the left. Of course, a great way to learn the language is to make sure you're able to USE the language regularly. I suggest you make friends with someone or hang out at places that are frequented by spanish-speaking people. And by all means, get a Spanish-English dictionary that helps with the pronunciation of words.

Hope this helps you, and I hope you make it to other destinations on the island soon. Happy traveling!

FINE ARTS

I personally LUV all things cultural; music, drama, dance and visual arts. I admire talented people and enjoy being around them. Not unlike any other place, the Dominican Republic is full of creative expressions.

They have a great National Theatre, an awesome artists colony (Altos de Chavon) and of course the familiar music/dance called merengue.

You should check out a movie at a local theatre or see a live concert. Maybe you'd like to see a dance recital. Art appreciation from a different perspective.

















































1. the Altos de Chavon complex
2. amphitheatre at Altos de Chavon
3. boy band Aventura
4. mask museum in Santiago

AT PLAY

Continuing with the look at Dominican life, I once again chose to point out the similarities of the two cultures, Dominican and American. No matter where you are in the world kids like to play and adults enjoy their leisure time. I find it interesting that there are so many similarities in our cultures. It can probably be accredited to the significant African influence throughout the caribbean and America, particularly in the south.

The pics below depict some of the similar ways we use our leisure time.
























































1. backyard cock fighting
2. inside cock fighting venue
3. playing dominoes
4. basketball in the street

NO DIFFERENCE

Alot of people ask me "how are the people?" in the Dominican Republic. I have found through my travels that people, in general, are the same everywhere. There is no difference between most cultures. We all want to provide for our families, we want recreational time and many people want a means to express their creative side or talents.

The manner in which this is done may vary depending on resources, traditions and locale. However, those basic needs and desires remain the same.

The Dominican Republic has a growing number of textile factories and designer brands taking advantage of the cheap labor force, but agriculture and it's related industries continue to be the biggest source of employment. In the cities, of course, there are the usual middle class jobs in finance, media, education and others. Baseball players are a strong contender and I predict that the tourism industry will grow rapidly in the next couple of years.

The following pics are of Dominicans working in traditional roles.














































1. Cigars are big business
2. Most agriculture jobs are now done by Haitians
(this Haitian is in the sugar cane fields)
3. Street vendors are a common scene