This Weekend

Leading merengue bands will be playing at the Plaza Juan Baron on the Malecon oceanfront boulevard in Santo Domingo for the Ministry of Tourism-sponsored traditional merengue festival. Booked to play at the city park as part of the Merengue and Caribbean Beats Festival are Los Hermanos Rosario, Krisspy, Miriam Cruz, Kinito Mendez, Mozart la Para, Chiquito Team Band, Chimbala, and Sexappeal. The event is sponsored by Brugal rum.

In The Mountains

Unfortunate News

According to the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET), a 72-year old US citizen was killed on Monday 20 July 2014 after being hit by a local passenger bus on the Duarte highway at the Cruce de Controbas between La Vega and San Francisco de Macoris. 

The victim was named as Alfred George Milton. The bus was being driven by Franklin Antonio Aquino who is currently under arrest. 

Milton was taken to the nearby Professor Juan Bosch trauma hospital, but died of his injuries shortly afterwards. 

Mystery Meat

Who IS that masked man? See more HERE.

Maybe Next Time

All hope for a Caribbean, South or Central American winner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup was not to be. Germany is the world champion team, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final match held today in Brazil.

Latin Muscle God

Marching Pride

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual (GLBT) organizations in the country have invited Dominicans to join them in their 7th Gay Pride March that will take place on Sunday 13 July 2014 from Avenida del Puerto in Santo Domingo starting at 3pm. 

Friends-Always-Friends Volunteer Network (REVASA) coordinator Deivis Ventura said that everyone who believed in democracy, human rights and freedom could come together and celebrate diversity. 

Marianela Carvajal, representing lesbians in the country, said that this year's theme would be "If you love... respect." She went on to say that they wanted to call the authorities' attention to the social exclusion suffered by thousands of GLBT men and women in the country who experience discrimination just because they love someone of the same sex. 

Read more in Spanish: http://hoy.com.do/homosexuales-dominicanos-invitan-a-creyentes-en-democracia-y-derechos-humanos-a-caravana-del-orgullo-gay/ 

Puerto Rico Is Best

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Puerto Rico has been voted the number one US Island in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Award Contest. Puerto Rico tops the list, beating such destinations as Kauai, Hawaii, and Amelia Island, Florida.

"We are delighted that the readers of USA Today ranked Puerto Rico as the premier island in the United States," said Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. "With daily flights from a range of US cities, no passport needed, and no customs lines to navigate, Puerto Rico offers US citizens an accessible and affordable five star vacation." 

Just one visit to Puerto Rico reveals why the island came out on top in the 10Best Contest. The ALL-STAR island delivers a unique mix of cultural influences, with a tropical atmosphere of beaches, rainforests and mountains. Whether you're exploring the historic, colonial beauty of Old San Juan, hiking in the stunning El Yunque National Forest – the only tropical rainforest in the US Forest Service – snorkeling in the submarine kingdom of coral reefs, or shopping in the designer boutiques of Condado, Puerto Rico has something for everyone. And getting to Puerto Rico is now easier than ever with no customs inspections, no passport required for US citizens, and direct flights available from more than 15 major continental US airports.

Dos

A pair of any kind is better than one! See more pairs HERE.