Dominican Republic
About Dominican Republic
Between Cuba and Puerto Rico lies the second largest island in the Caribbean: Hispaniola (discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492). Whilst the western end represents Haiti, the remainder of the island is taken up by the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic (not to be confused with the island of Dominica) is a developing country with a magnificent tropical climate and vegetation: there are lush green mountains, rain forests and turquoise seas. There is year-round sunshine with temperatures of 81-83°. Coffee, tobacco, cocoa and cane sugar (most of it turned into rum!) are the main produce. Amber, a fossilised resin (remember Jurassic Park?), is mined locally and crafted into ornaments.
After hundreds of years of colonialism, a distinctly Spanish influence is evident everywhere – the language, architecture, local music – merengue, and even the afternoon siesta.
