Blogs from Dominican Republic, Central America Caribbean - page 7

I can't mark quite where Batey Isabela is on this map, because it's hard to locate on the somewhat contradictory online maps. It's about where I've placed the route marker. Bateys are sugar cane plantations, and as a quick look at the DR/Haiti border reveals, many of the people in this region were brought over/came over to harvest. New legislation in the DR has disenfranchised multiple generations of people of Haitian descent, effectively rendering them stateless: Now, intensifying a long and furious debate over their place in this society, the nation’s top court has declared that the children of undocumented Haitian migrants — even those born on Dominican soil decades ago — are no longer entitled to citizenship, throwing into doubt the status of tens of thousands of people here who have never known any other ... read more

Unlike our previous trips, the Dominican Republic didn't offer much in the way of sight-seeing. While we were able to walk around New York to window shop or Europe to enjoy the historic alleys, this country didn't have the means for us to do that. Instead, this island provided natural beauty not found on its storefronts or cobbled roads. If you truly wanted to engulf yourself in this culture, you'd have to get your hands dirty and feet wet (literally). You'd have to ride in crowded minivans, barter your way through every sale, and sweat the pollution out your skin. If you didn't pack good shoes and a ton of hand sanitizer, you're S.O.L. But if you're indeed prepared, get ready for the most exotic landscape on this side of the Meridian because white-sand beaches are ... read more

Après quelques jours sur la plage, où nous voyons beaucoup de pratiquants de kite-surf. Nous partons ensuite faire une balade en mer à bord d'un catamaran. Le capitaine me laisse prendre la barre puis va se promener à l'autre bout de l'embarcation. Je ne suis pas fier car il y a quand même du monde à bord, mais tout se passe bien. Nous visitons ensuite la rhumerie Brugal en compagnie de l'héritier, qui en a depuis pris la direction. Ensuite, nous prenons l'avion du retour après ces 15 jours de superbes vacances... read more

Ce 28 mars, nous partons faire une excursion vers le centre de l'île. Il y a plus de pistes que de routes, mais elles sont très praticables. Nous en profitons pour visiter le ranch de monsieur et madame Brugal (les parents du marié)... read more

"On the first day we went on a plane to go to the Dominican Republic. It was a long flight. But then, the ride to get to the apartment was longer. When we were in the car it was such a long ride that I even counted the cars that passed by. I go all the way to 509. Whoa. Then when we got to the apartment I saw my friends - Luna, Tati, and Le-Le. We had bunk beds woo-hoo, I was on the top bunk. We mostly just played on the ipad that night. The next day we went to the beach. The salt hurt my eyes and throat. But then we went to the Rio Frio and it was cold but I liked it because I like being cold. It was not salt ... read more