A-Z||D.

In this post all about the Dominican Republic I have chosen to do something a big different.. Instead of researching cool hang outs and drinking spots I have chosen to get a bit more historical and cultural.. I am going to begin with some facts about this country.

Dominican Republic is the 2nd largest island in the Caribbean. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Overall the country has an approximate population of 10.28 million residents. The capital city is Santo Domingo which can be found on the south coast and the official language spoken is Spanish. Dominican Republic is one of the lucky countries which also has a tropical climate all year round!

The country has a very rich historical background which can be found in detail HERE and as interesting and exciting it is to read all about what makes the Dominican the beautiful country it is today, It is a very complicated and long course of events. So instead I have chosen to focus on the culture of the country.

Culturally the Dominican Republic is very diverse, and it has a mixture of influences including European (mainly Spanish), African and Native Indian.

Latin America is another cultural influence especially in the food eaten here. The most common dish served is called 'La Bandera (the Flag)' and it is made with Meat, Rice and Red Beans, layered in a colourful fashion (see below). You can order one of these almost anywhere in the country and it very popular still amongst the locals. It is especially celebrated during festival time.

 As well as food Dominican Republic is also a country which celebrates its vibrant music and dance culture. As previously mentioned the country takes a lot of its influences from Spain and Latin America, this is also apparent in its musical tastes. The biggest influence however is taken from West Africa. The country is mostly known for its Merengue dance music style and Bachata. There is also a big Rap/Hip Hop scene and many artists based USA and South America originate from the Dominican. Click HERE for more info on Dominican Hip Hop and Rap music and artists.

Dancing is also a big celebration in the Dominican Republic, just like it is in most Caribbean countries. Carnivals are a major part of the culture here and just like in Spain and Latin American they are a joyous holidaying time of celebration between family and friends which lasts throughout the entire month of February, however the main holiday is held on the 27th of the month.