Owner: Dominican Republic LIVE URL:http://dr-live.blogspot.com Join Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:26:28 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Everything about the Dominican Republic from the point of view of an European expat: traditions, music, food, carnivals, and all you need to know if you plan to visit or relocate to the Dominican Republic. Site statistics:Click here
Welcome to the Dominican Republic 2007-07-08 08:38:00 Hello everyone! Welcome
to this blog where we will take you on a virtual tour across this beautiful caribbean island, a paradise close in our hearts and at the same time far away (although not that much!) on the maps.We will talk about tourism, of course; about the fascinating hotels next to wonderful beaches surrounded by palm trees, about visiting colonial cities full of history, about food and cuisine with a caribbean twist...We will also talk about landscapes and corners of the country little known by mass tourism, but full of beauty and authenticity, and of course about the Dominican
people, their sympathy and their envy to live life with true caribbean joy.Finally, for those who are seriously thinking about relocating in the Dominican Republic
, we will be posting useful information about housing and real estate.Also: Maps, information about dominican cities and useful tips about subjects such as travel, visas, work permits, and of course education, health and medical assistance.
The City of Santo Domingo 2007-07-08 07:27:00 Santo Domingo is the oldest city founded by Europeans in the Americas: founded by Bartolomé Colón, Columbus' brother, in 1496 on the shore of the Ozama river. Its current situation is not the original one, as it was moved by Nicolás de Ovando in 1502. There we can see the New World first street, the first cathedral, first university, first hospital... The so-called Colonial Zone is like traveling in time back to the 16th century.If you want to know more about those times, don't miss the city's museums:Museo de las Casas RealesCalle Las Damas, Santo DomingoTeléfono: (809) 682-42029 a.m. – 5 p.m. dailyThe building ws the siege of the Supreme court in the 16th century. This museum illustrates the rich heritage of Santo Domingo with tapestries, maps and other objects dating back from 1492 to 1821.Alcázar de ColónZona Colonial, Santo DomingoTeléfono: (809) 686-86579 a.m. - 5 p.m. DailyThis palace was built in 1500 by Diego Colón, Columbus' son, and has object that belonged to Read more:Santo
Food in Dominican Republic 2007-07-08 06:13:00 Present day's Dominican
Cuisine mixes taino Indian, European and African influences in an explosion of flavors rich in flavors and spices.Casabe, a kind of flat bread made of yucca by the taino indians, became the bread of Conquistadores tht fed the expeditions that departed from the island to conquer new territories in the continent.Other staples in the taino culture were corn and potatoes, soon imported into Europe by the Spaniards. And we must not forget the fabulous variety of tropical fruits: pineapple, coconut, passion fruit, papaya, guava and many others.Among most typical recipes of modern day dominicans the following must not be missed:Mangú, traditional Dominican breakfast, made with cooked, mased plantain and fried onions; Dominican Sancocho , similar to a stew where different meats and vegetables are cooked together forming a thick broth. Most usual ingredients include cow, chicken and pork meat, accompanied by yucca, potatoes, plantains, yautias, pumpkin, sweet potatoes Read more:Republic
Living in Dominican Republic 2007-07-08 04:43:00 Dominican Republic
is quickly becoming, for its privileged climate and the affordable price of real estate properties, in one of the preferred places to live for many European and American seniors, who can see how their purchase power goes beyond what it does back home.However, it is important not to forget that relocating to Dominican Republic isn't the same as spending a week enjoying the "All Inclusive" hotels of Punta Cana or Puerto Plata. This is a far more serious decission, and we must not forget that the quality of utilities services that the country offers, is not the same as in a developed country.But if this little caribbean paradise is the land of your dreams, then go ahead: Entry formalities aren't really complicated in this country.First of all, entry visas are not necessary for nationals of developed countries, and one can legally apply for a job having entered as a tourist in Dominican Republic. However, unemployment is quite high so you shouldn't expect plenty of jo Read more:Dominican
, Living
Punta Cana 2007-07-08 04:04:00 Punta Cana
is the main touristic hotspot in the Dominican Republic. Its miles and miles of beaches with the thinnest, whitest sand you can imagine, made it a first class tourist attractive, and all along the coastline dozens of resorts and hotels from the leading international hotel groups. Working usally with the "All Inclusive" formula, and ranging from luxury to more affordable ones, but always of great quality. In any travel agency, you are sure to find packages and flights to Punta Cana.Celebrities such as Julio Iglesias and Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta made heavy investments in this area and are partners, among other projects, in the spectacular International Airport of Punta Cana, built completely in wood and with roofs made with palm leaves.The name of the region is due to the promontory of the same name, around which lie the beaches of Playa Bávaro and others like Cortecito, Ubero Alto and Macao. The tropical climate in Punta Cana ofrecoffers constant
Non-alcoholic drinks 2007-07-08 03:35:00 Not everything is rhum and chilled beer in Dominican Republic: tropical fruit juices are a delight; for example those made from guanábana (Soursop) juice, chinola (passionfruit), tamarind or delicious combinations such as Morir Soñando, with orange juice, ice cubes and condensed milk (or evaporated milk plus sugar).Of course the ubiquitous soft drinks like Coca-Cola are present here, together with a local brand, Red Rock.Dominican Republic is also renowned because of its coffee, from the arabica variety, soft and aromatic, with medium body and medium to high acidity. The coffee bush is cultivated in mid-mountain areas, and always under the shadow of bigger trees. Santo Domingo is one of the main Dominican coffee brands.
The North Coast: Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabarete 2007-07-08 01:09:00 Puerto Plata is one of the oldest cities in Dominican Republic, founded in 1496 by Bartolomé Colón, son of Christoper Columbus. The city spreads at the feet of the impressive mountain called Loma Isabel de Torres (where you can ride to the top on a cable car), and its recently restored malecón is a very pleasant place for a stroll by the sea. When in Puerto Plata, it is worthwile visiting the Amber Museum and the 16th century San Felipe Fortress, or maybe you prefer a trip to the Brugal distillery, where you´ll be offered the chance to taste their world class rhums.The city has indeed a certain British colonial influence, and still preserves many of its old Victorian-style wooden houses. But it is probably better known in the world because of the nearby Playa Dorada beach tourist resort, which includes shops, restaurants and hotels all around a golf course.Just a few miles away are the International Airport and the city of Sosua, which is also a tourist hotspot with a very peculiar Read more:North
, Coast
, Puerto
The South of the Dominican Republic 2007-07-08 01:02:00 Southern DominicanRepublic
is the poorest and least known area of the country, but it boasts a wide range of natural riches that make the region have a lot of potential for ecologically friendly tourism.One of the region's hidden gems is Bahía de las Águilas (Eagles Bay), a place of unique beauty. There are other gorgeous beaches, such as Barahona, center of a burgeoning touristic development, and an exotic lake situated under the sea level, Lake Enriquillo, where iguanas, pink flamingos and an endemic species of crocodile have their home. Read more:South
Healthcare in Dominican Republic 2007-07-08 00:36:00 Dominican public health system is precarious and underfunded, so it is strongly advised to get a private health insurance policy if you decide to stay in the country. Privately held hospitals are quite good, and a medical insurance policy wih one of the insurance companies calle ARS (Aseguradoras de Riesgos de Salud - Health Risk Insurances), which have made agreements with the best hospitals in the country, is the best way to get access to them at a very reasonable price.A quite important remark: the term Hospital, is usually employed here for public hospitals which, as we said above, lack the most basic resources. The word Clínica, is the most used to talk about privately owned health centers.Among them, the best are in Santo Domingo and Santiago: In the country's capital there are Hospiten (which also has a facility in Punta Cana), AAA Health Centers, or Clínica Abreu.In Santiago, Clínica Corominas, Clínica Unión Medica, and Instituto Materno Infantil are among the most reput Read more:Dominican
, Republic
, Healthcare
Dominican Republic Climate and Geography 2007-07-07 23:56:00 Geographi of the DominicanRepublic
Dominican Republic is situated in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, geographically between 68° 19´ and 73° 31´ West and between 17° 36´ and 19° 59´ North. It shares with Haiti the island of Hispaniola or La Española, one of the Major Antilles, of which it takes approximately two thirds of the surface. Total country's extension is 48,670.82km², including small adjacent islands.The country has a shore line of 1,576 Km. and 488 Km. of border with Haiti.The country is mountainous in a 72%, as there are several ridges that cross the country from Northeast to Southwest: Central Ridge or Cordillera Central, the most important in the country and the Antilles, and which comprises the Pico Duarte, 3,175 m above sea level. The Northern Ridge or Cordillera Septentrional in the north, separates the atlantic coastal plains from the Cibao Valley. Its highest elevation is Pico Diego de Ocampo. In the south, the ridges of Neiba and Bahoruco. Finally, the Eas Read more:Climate
, Geography
Embassies in the Dominican Republic 2007-07-07 16:22:00 List of main Consulates and Embassies in DominicanRepublic
GermanyGustavo Mejía Ricart No. 196 (esq. Av. Abraham Lincoln), Torre Piantini (Piso 16/17), Ensanche Piantini, Santo DomingoTel.: 809-542-8949 o 809-542-8950 Fax: 809-542-8955Fax: 809-542-8961 (Sección Consular)e-mail: info@santo-domingo.diplo.dehttp://www.santodomingo.diplo.de/Vertretung/santodomingo/es/Startseite.htmlAustraliaThe Trinidad and Tobago embassy representes Australian interests in Dominican Republic:18 Herbert Street, St Clair. Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoPO Box 4640, St James. Port of SpainTel.: +1 (868) 628 0695 Fax +1 (868) 622 0659http://www.trinidadandtobago.embassy.gov.au/BelgiumConsular section (Depends on the embassy in Caracas, Venezuela):207 Padre BilliniCiudad Colonial, D.N.Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana+ (001) (809) 687.22.44+ (001) (809) 221-7369consubel@ilanguage.com secr.consubel@dom-rep.comwww.diplomatie.beColombiaCalle Fernando Escobar, No. 8A, Ensanche Serralles, Santo Domingo D.N.T
A few useful tips 2007-06-30 12:39:00 Emergency phone: 711Equivalences between US measures and metric measures (both being often used in Dominican Republic):1 ft = 0,3048m. 1 meter = 3,2808 ft1 pound (often used for food) = 453,6 grams1 US gallon (often used for petrol) = 3,785 liters1 tarea = 627,27 square meters (old surface measurement unit, used in agriculture).Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz, American type plug (2 flat blades). European appliances will require a transformer and a plug adaptor. Small electric devices like shaving machines or hairdryers will probably need only the plug adaptor, as many of them can run on 110 or 220V just turning a little switch. Laptops actually include the transformer so you only need the plug adaptor (available at any electricity shop).TV signal system also follows American standards (NTSC). Most modern TV sets are able to display signals in any of the main systems, so they will work here, although you'll probably need to change some settings.
Buying or Renting in Dominican Republic 2007-06-29 13:36:00 Dominican Republic
Real EstateA valid property certificate (certificado de título) is the proof of the right to property over a building or a plot of land.Most purchases begin with the signature of a sale promise (promesa de venta). Then, both buyer and seller must sign a contract in front of a notary public (Notario) which must include the legal description of the asset to be sold, the sale price and all other conditions and clauses if necessary.The contract must then be taken to a local branch of the Revenue Service (Dirección General de Impuestos Internos), in order to pay transfer taxes which consist on about 4.4% of the sale price, which can be broken down as follows:a) 3% Tax on real estate transfers (Law 288-04)b) 1.3% Tax on documents (Law 835-45).c) Miscellaneous expenses: stamps, certificates...Taxes are always calculated from the value estimated by the authorities and not the efective sale price.Purchase of Dominican properties by foreigners:There are no restrictions to f Read more:Dominican
, Buying
, Renting
Traveling to Dominican Republic 2007-06-29 13:36:00 Indeed, the immense majority of people who travel to the DominicanRepublic
do it by plane: cruising industry is little developed although seaside cities such as Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata offer enough attractive and there are sea ports able to receive cruise lines: the tourist port of Sans Souci, Don Diego and the Cristobal Colón ferry terminal in Santo Domingo. La Romana has a marina and an international tourist port, and in Puerto Plata a modern port, that will be able to admit cruise boats is being built.But there is little doubt that almost every one of the three million tourists who visit the country every year do it in the "All Inclusive" formula, buying a tourist pack that comprises flight and hotel. There are of course regular flights: Main airlines fly regularly to the Dominican Republic and have offices in the country:IberiaAve. Lope de VegaTel : 508-0288Air FranceMáximo GómezTel : 686-8432American AirlinesEdif. In Tempo, W. ChurchillTel : 542-5151LufthansaGeorge Washi Read more:Traveling
Taxes in the Dominican Republic 2007-06-29 13:33:00 Main taxes existing in the country:There is a tax called ITBIS - Impuesto sobre la Transferencia de Bienes Industrializados y Servicios, with a current rate of 16%, applicable both to national or imported products and services. Only a set of basic products are exempt.The Revenue Tax (Impuesto sobre la Renta - ISR) is applicable to every person, following this table (year 2006):Revenues up to RD$276,422.00: ExemptRevenues from RD$276,422.01 up to RD$414,632.00: 15%Revenues from RD$414,632.01 up to RD$575,878.00: RD$20,732.00 plus 20% of the surplus beyond RD$414,632.01Revenues from RD$575,878.01 up to 900,000.00: RD$52,981.00 plus 25% of the surplus beyond RD$575,878.01Revenues from RD$900,000.01 onwards: RD$134,012.00 plus 30% of the surplus beyond RD$900,000.01The 30% tax will be gradually reduced every year to become 25% from 2009(29% on tax year 2007; 27% on tax year 2008).Company Tax (Impuesto sobre Sociedades) is set at a rate of 30%.Tax year for physical persons runs from Janu Read more:Dominican
, Republic
, Taxes
Visa, Residency, Naturalization and documents. 2007-06-29 13:23:00 Visas and entry formalitiesWhen coming to Dominican Republic on vacation, most nationalities do not require a visa, only a valid passport and the purchase at the arrival airport of the $10 Tourist Card, valid for 15 days.Business or official trips require different kinds of visa. Here below you can find a brief description:Visa Diplomática - diplomatic visa (DM) valid for multiple entries, up to 60 daysVisa Oficial - official visa (OM) multiple entries, up to 1 yearVisa de Cortesía - courtesy visa CS: single entry, 60 days, CM: multiple entries, up to 1 yearNegocio NS Negocio simple -simple business visa (single entry) 60 daysNM Negocios Múltiples - multiple business visa (multiple entries) 1 yearDependencia - dependency (DPM) multiple entries, up to 60 daysTurismo - tourism TS single entry, 60 days (for those countries that require it)Residencia - residency RS single entry, 60 daysEstudiante - student E multiple entries, 1 yearThese visas are issued by the Consular Service (Servici Read more:Residency
Money, Banks and Dominican currency 2007-06-29 13:20:00 The Dominican
currency is the Dominican Peso, whose symbol is RD$. In tourist areas it is also possible to pay with American dollars, or even Euros athough the exchange rate is usually less advantageous.The exchange rate fluctuates freely acording to market supply and demand. In order to know the going rate, you can ask in a bank, or on th internet, in sites such as xe.com or oanda.com .At the moment of exchanging money, remember that casas de cambio (bureaux de change) usually provide a good rate, with moderate commissions,even slightly better than banks some times, although it is always good to know the official exchange rate to avoid surprises.Something we do not reccomend is to use the services of the street "exchange agents" that can be found in some corners waving a handful of dollars: they frecuently try to cheat their customers. Another, much safer option, are the ATM cash machines, which always deliver pesos, and can be found in every major city and most tourist resorts.Finan Read more:Money
Travelling around Dominican Republic 2007-06-29 12:19:00 Transport and infrastructuresVirtually all transport inside DominicanRepublic
is made by road: There are no operating train networks in the country. The state of the roads is on average better than in surrounding countries, although maintenance is often quite neglected. This, added to the facts that roads traverse every village and cars have to share them with all kind and vehicles, some of them very peculiar, makes time spent in travel quite longer that what you'd probably expect.That makes it worth considering interior flights within the country: there are several domestic companies that fly from and to Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Samaná, such as Sapair, Caribair, Air Century or Aerodomca.Busses are also a good choice for shorter distances: they are comfortable, air conditioned and reasonabily priced. There are two main companies: Metro and Caribe Tours. The first one only services the country's main corridor Santo Domingo - Santiago - Puerto Plata, while the se Read more:Travelling
Dominican Music 2007-06-29 07:54:00 It is often said that Dominican
s have rhythm running through their veins. It is a true passion, that make them move and thance with the slightest bit of sound. Dominican Republic is one of the very few nations in the world that has its own true national music and dance, the Merengue.Dominican Merengue, pretty much like its Haitian and Venezuelan counterparts, first appeared in ballrooms in mid-19th century, as a transformation, due to afro-american influence, of the European contredanse.Later on, and imitating the good society, peasants in several regions of the island transformed this first merengue into their own style, using their own traditions and musical instruments. What today is called Dominican Merengue was born in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic.Instruments used in traditional merengue (also commonly called perico ripiao) are the Güira, tambora and the accordion, and that is how it is still being played in the central valleys of El Cibao.Güira is a percussion ins Read more:Music
Education 2007-06-29 05:35:00 Dominican Republic's public educational system is really precarious and its lack of resources is sadly chronical. If you want to settle down in the country with your family, you should seriously consider a privately run school.There are very good schools for all levels, from primary education to prestigious universities such as Santo Domingo and Santiago. Some of them are bilingual, and there are some where every subject is taught in English, and in some cases, French. However, These schools are quite pricey, and this is something to be taken into account when estimating a monthly budget.English-speaking or bilingual schoolsNursery schoolsFroebel Nursery School. Calle Haim Lopez Peña 14. Tel. 227-2839.Kids Create. Calle Virgilio Diaz Ordoñez No. 4. Tel. 683-6685. Email: burgonza@codetel.net.doMy Little School. Calle Boy Scouts No. 10. Tel. 565-1370. Email: avance.ind@codetel.net.doTiny Ones. Calle Roberto Pastoriza 358. Tel. 541-9433.Elementary school and onwardsThe Carol Morgan Sch Read more:Education
Inland Dominican Republic: Cibao, Constanza and Jarabacoa 2007-06-28 12:17:00 Dominican Republic
is not just beaches: Its interior also contains other other surprises and interesting places:For example, the Cibao Valley is an extraordinarily fertile valley that produces food for the whole country, and is also a center for tobacco and rhum production. Its capital is Santiago de los Caballeros, second city in importance in the country and first with that name in the Americas.Situated in the geographical center of the country, there is the highest mountain of the Caribbean: the Duarte peak, which, boating its 3175 meters of height, dominates the Central Ridge and is so high that temperatures fall below freezing point in winter, in spite of being in a tropical latitude.At the feet of the ridge lay the cities of Constanza and Jarabacoa, which enjoy an, unlikely for this region, cool climate in summer that turns definitely cold in winter. The region's landscape, covered by pine trees, gives the region the somewhat excessive name of "Dominican Alps".Due to the beauty Read more:Dominican
Samaná 2007-06-28 10:53:00 The Samaná peninsula, at the northeastern end of the island, has always been a hidden diamond, because of its distance from main cities and the difficult communications. However, the brand new international airport has placed Samaná, for good and evil, at the reach of tour operators and tourist packages.Those who have seen Samaná say that it is one of the most beautiful places in the island. Unlike other places like Boca Chica or Punta Cana, whose flat, dull geography has no other attractiveness than sandy beaches, Samaná's beautiful beaches, with thier white sand and turquoise water, contrast with the deep tropical green of the mountains that surround them.Also in Samaná there is the beach of Playa Rincon, considereded one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and also a few other beaches that can be compared to it, such as Las Terrenas, famous because of the thriving colony of French (and other nationalities) expatriates.For lovers of nature observation, Cayo Levantado i
Juan Dolio and Boca Chica 2007-06-28 10:28:00 Boca Chica
is a long strip of beach along a shallow water bay, almost closed by a coral reef, whic virtually turns the bay into a natural swimming pool. Due to its proximity to Santo Domingo, it is considered "the Santo Domingo beach" where working class Dominicans go, although there are also several luxury hotels.Going further East of Santo Domingo, we can find the beaches of Guayacanes and Juan Dolio. 40 Km. away from Santo Domingo, and about 20 from the international airport, they are an interesting choice for their quality and the infrastructure that links them to the counry and beyond.
La Romana and Bayahibe 2007-06-28 10:00:00 Towards the East of Santo Domingo, and about two hours away on an almost deserted highway, one can find the city of La Romana, which is also a very important tourist pole.The city has been prosperous for a long time. Initially, it was due to the sugar industry, where the Central Romana Company was the owner of the country's biggest sugar mill, and immense sugar cane fields. Later, during the 70s, part of the cultivated areas became one of the most luxurious residential and leisure resorts in the world: Casa de Campo, home of many celebrities such as singer Julio Iglesias and fashion designer Óscar de la Renta. There are a marina and sports harbor, several golf courses, luxury shops and private beaches.On the top of a hill near Casa de Campo you can find a picturesque place, imitating a mediterranean village: it is called Altos de Chavón. It is actually both home and school of artists, and boasts an open air amphitheater for 4000 people, which has witnessed many international artists
Drinking in Dominican Republic 2007-06-27 12:48:00 Having already published a brief description of Dominican
food, it's about time to talk about drinks: We will deal with alcoholic beverages in this post, and we will dedicate the next one to soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages.Let's start with beer, which as you will see, is highly appreciated in the Dominican Republic
.The main brand is indeed Presidente. It is everywhere, and it is so popular that when you ask for "una fría" (a cold one, i.e. a beer) this is the brand you'll get. If you want something else, you have to ask for it specifically. By the way, now that we mention it, Dominican beer is served chilled, whis is something very nice, as it helps a lot to combat the Caribbean heat.The company that owns Presidente also owns another popular brand, Bohemia, softer and much less consumed. Together, they probably own 90% of market share. Other brands, such as Ambar or Quisqueya are much less widespread.Quite recently, the Brazilian beer company Brahma, entered the Dominican m Read more:Drinking
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