Late Fantasy

Vacation Planning 101

Be sure to visit the Travel Info Page for helpful tips when planning your vacation to the Dominican Republic. Click on the ads for great deals!

Cute Carlos

Baby Doc Returns!!!

Listin Diaro interviewd a former Dominican minister of foreign relations. Victor Gomez Berges speculated "all indicates that he was brought there by the US, by the US government, seeking to establish a strong regime, capable of putting order in the neighboring republic." He went on to say "Duvalier is more inclined towards the US, more pro-US than Aristide, and the Americans are trying to find a way to organize Haiti with a strong government," he speculated. He said the DR would benefit from a government that could control the situation in Haiti.

Meanwhile, the return of Baby Doc has boosted international coverage on Haiti, with dozens of journalists expected to arrive to cover his return and possible reasons.

Duvalier fled into excile in 1986 to France. President Rene Preval, a former anti-Duvalier activist made no public statement on Duvalier's re-emergence, though he told reporters in 2007 that Duvalier would face justice for the deaths of thousands of people and the theft of millions of dollars if he returned.

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Almir

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Humpday Siesta

Brazil: A Nation Transformed

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazils first working-class president, ended his second term in triumph recently. He hands the office to his hand-picked successor, Dilma Rousseff, elected as the first female president thanks to her mentor's record popularity.

Silva, 65, leaves a nation transformed from a perennial underacheiver into one with economic and political clout, model social programs and a swagger as it prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

The middle class has grown by 29 million people, creating a powerful new domestic consumer market. Another 20 million people were pulled from poverty.

The value of Brazil's currency has more than doubled against the U.S. dollar. Inflation has been tamed, unemployment is at a record low and illiteracy has dropped. By the time Brazil hosts the Olympics it is forecast to be the fifth-largest economy, surpassing Italy, Britain and France.

But Silva's legacy goes beyond figures. The common man remembers that it was a man from the poor masses who finally delivered on the promise of Brazil.

3 KINGS

Three Kings Day is usually celebrated on January 6th across latin America. The DR has decided to make another long weekend by celebrating on Monday. In any case, have a great weekend and may you get your stocking stuffed!

Against The Wall

Happy Hump Day

Come And Gone!

Happy New Year to all the readers and supporters of Tropical Desires. I hope 2011 brings many wonderful experiences.

As I thought about how quickly the previous year has come and gone I began to remember some of the news items that I feel impacted the caribbean, latin America, travelers and blog readers. We began the year with DEVASTATING news from Haiti. We were informed about the RISE OF DENGUE in the Dominican Republic and how to avoid it when traveling. We also felt SORROW that an aquaintance had been murdered in Jamaica and that gang uprisings were threatening tourism there.

There were also several joyous reports throughout the caribbean and latin America with legalization of civil unions and gay marriage in various countries.

I am personally suffering from withdrawal. It is hard to fathom that I did not visit the Dominican Republic this year. That's a first since 1999. I pray the family health issues I have been dealing with get better this year and I will be able to return to my beloved Santo Domingo.