Sunday, February 26, 2006

Dominican Independence - PART-A-A-A-A-Y-Y-Y!

Yes, it's that time again! 27th February and 'Independence Day' in the Dominican Republic. As we have tried to summarize on the main site, http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com,
it may not have been an easy ride since that day back in 1844 when General Pedro Santana was proclaimed the first President of the new Dominican Republic. Although Dominican Republic history has been chequered since that time - just now, in 2006, it may be that this Caribbean gem of a country is finally putting its problems into the past, and has a healthy future to look forward to!

Although times have not been easy for many ordinary Dominicans over the last few years - especially with the need for some tough economic measures to be applied in order for the current Government to pull the country back from the brink of bankruptcy (the legacy of the previous 'gangster' regime!) - it is now the case that the Dominican Republic is benefitting from huge investment, as it makes steady progress towards becoming the latest 'luxury destination' in the Caribbean.

The shaky period that the Dominican Republic experienced back in the early/mid nineteen-nineties when, for a time, tourism entrepreneurs made the questionable choice to become the 'Benidorm' of the Caribbean, seems to have been consigned to the past. Those days of shoddy quality hotels, poor service and 'food poisoning' did a good deal of damage to the destinations budding reputation as a serious tropical tourism contender. But in this new millennium the accent, as far as tourism development goes, has been on quality and luxury. With the latest developments in the Dominican Republic set to number amongst some of the best of the luxury Caribbean resorts, the country is set to have more than merely Independence to celebrate in the years to come.

With Independence Day also comes one of the Dominican Republic's biggest and best Carnivals, which will be passing along George Washington Avenue - otherwise 'El Malecon' - in Santo Domingo City itself! A great time is sure to be had by locals and tourists alike as the celebrations and the procession winds its 'well-oiled' way through the area known as 'the planet's biggest disco'!!

Congratulations - Dominican Republic! Let's drink to the hope that, at last, your time has really come!

A&R









Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Where does the time go? What's been happening at...

What's been happening at... www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com ?

1) During January new Dominican real estate and Caribbean property pages were added. They will soon be up and running fully with useful links to reliable real estate agents in the Dominican Republic - and details of one of the hottest luxury developments in the Caribbean...NOT to be missed by serious investors.

2) New resorts pages added in recent times include a brief look at Samana town on the Samana Peninsula the place to go for whale-watching in the Dominican Republic as thousands of Hump-backs make their way to the Bahia de Samana to frolic, cavort...and generally 'do what comes naturally'! The whales and dolphins can be seen close-up from January 15 to about March 15 - a spectacle for visitors to the Dominican Republic not to miss.

Take a look at http://visiting-the-dominican-republic.com soon - and if you are planning a trip we hope you will find the advice, contacts and information of use to you!

Ruth