Boy, Have I Got A Resort For You!

There are so many wonderful things about the Dominican Republic, but I'm going to talk to you about most likely the #1  anyone wants to know about, when discussing the the Dominican Republic. What is that thing,  you might ask? THE RESORTS OF COURSE!!!

Everyone going on vacation or just reading into places, especially in the Caribbean, are going to want to know about the best resorts and what their like etc. So, since there are so many awesome resorts in the Dominican Republic, that I have personally had such outstanding experiences at, obviously talking about all of them would basically take a couple days and way too much too read.

So I've decided to share with you all,  my absolute favorite resort in the Dominican Republic, which happens to be called, "The Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace".

The Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, is an all inclusive beach resort that is located deep in the heart of La Romana, which just so happens to be the third largest city in the Dominican Republic. This is a place where the Caribbean waves combine with endless fun and relaxation to make up one surely awesome vacation! The guests there are not only lucky enough to escape to this tropical paradise, but also get to enjoy at their leisure, the unique thrill-seeking amenities offered, such as a trapeze, nightly shows, diving and dance lessons and much more.

Being a guest at this all-inclusive vacation resort you get to enjoy a variety of outstanding services and amenities. For one, guests get the pleasure of  sunbathing on the gorgeous shores of the Dominicus beach. The clear blue sparkling water and soft white sand will have you relaxing and enjoying yourself in no time. Just grab one of the hundreds of beach chairs strung along the shores and get ready to soak up some Caribbean sun island style!

Now, if the beach isn't quite relaxing enough for you, or you just want to take relaxing to the next level, the staff at Metamorphosis spa will fix you right up. They provide some of the most soothing massage treatments out there, that are guaranteed to make you feel rejuvenated. They also offer professional salon services,  this is more of a special treat for the ladies, whether it be getting your nails done fancy or even getting a new exotic hair-do! These are definitely some amenities you are going to want to take advantage of!

Also located along the beach, are facilities that offer canoeing as well as wind surfing! These are two activities you won't want to miss out on, I promise. Paddling out on the canoes and over the waves of the beach, is just such an invigorating experience, and will surely not be forgotten. And for windsurfing, let me tell you I am not very coordinated and going into it I thought I was going to bite it. But the instructors here are so patient and helpful, so like me, they'll have you standing up and riding those waves in no time!

Now being at this resort, guests are offered a variety of dining choices, whether it be grabbing a snack at one of the multiple snack bars during a day out at the beach or going to one of the many exquisite onsite restaurants for an unforgettable breakfast, lunch or dinner, or even maybe one of the big dining halls that always have a buffet style with a massive selection of the local Dominican foods and more. So you have an idea of what dining here looks like, below is a picture of one of the big dining halls and below that is a picture of just one of the many onsite restaurants, this one in particular is called the Atlantis.

Any route you take when it comes to dining here, you can rest assured you'll leave a full and happy belly! So you have an idea of what dining here looks like, below is a picture of just one of the many, as well as my favorite onsite restaurant, called the Atlantis Restaurant.

After all of the excitement and fun of the day the guests are reluctant to go back to their rooms. Whether that be in one of the fabulous on site hotels, or one of the on-shore bungalows, both of which come equipped wonderful beds, bathrooms and more. Some of the hotels and bungalows are shown below.

I have been lucky enough to stay in one of the hotels and as well as the chance to experience the bungalows both of which were top notch! Personally I think I prefer the bungalow, but only because it was literally beach front. I just woke up threw on my bathing suit stepped outside and the beach was right there, it was awesome. But the hotel was absolutely magnificent as well, it was more roomy and had bigger bathrooms and such, but either one you pick your'e to love!

Overall, "The Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace Resort" is definitely the place to go if your'e ready to have an amazing and unforgettable caribbean adventure in the Dominican Republic.

Dance Or Be Disowned

So here it goes…Iv'e found that you know you are a true Dominican if you: 1) love plantains with all your heart 2) Can tan like a boss 3) Can't count how many cousins you have on two, three, or even four hands if you tried, and of course, 4) If you have basically been blackmailed into learning to dance, starting from the moment you could hobble out on to the dance floor.

So you see, dancing and music are vital components to what makes up the Dominican culture, which is why growing up in a half Dominican family learning to dance was not really a question it was more of a "do or die" kind of thing.

Since I was a little girl, my family has always had these huge parties, basically any chance they got, and at each party they would play some very loud and very fun dancing music, that over the years I have come to love…as well as learn the dances to. Granted, I am not the best dancer out there, it doesn't matter as long as I get out there and have fun with my family.

Now there are three dances in particular we Dominicans love to shake it to, and the first one on the list is Salsa!

Dominican Salsa originated from the "Guaracha" and the Cuban "Son". It is a dance that unusually begins with the left foot. It is similar to the Puerto Rican style in its figures and leg moves (knows as shines) but it still remains unique in its free and easiness as a whole. Above all, it is basically a street dance. It requires very precise timing in each movement, but still manages to appear relaxed, which is definitely one of the biggest challenges in learning it. Dominicans tend to dance and vibrate on every musical note, showing off their talent where they can!

Here is a link to watch what Dominican salsa is really all about!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EHU8ImSfOM

This next dance is definitely one my favorite of the Dominican dances, it's called Bachata. 

Dominican bachata dance is the original style of bachata. Bachata actually originated from the Dominican Republic as did the music for it. The basic steps of the dance involve moving within a small square (side, side, forward, and side, side, back), and is inspired by the dance of Bolero, but danced slightly different including a tap and also steps in between the beats, which depend on the dynamics of the music that is being played. The hand placement will vary with the dancers position, which can be very close, semi-close, or open. Either way learning to dance bachata is a really exciting experience and the better you get at it, the more moves you can do which in turn just makes it more fun! I definitely recommend trying it out!

Heres a link showing how to dance Bachata!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbn7lYVgYxs

Last we have probably the most important Dominican dance, that is actually said to be the national dance of the Dominican Republic, this is called Merengue.

Merengue is very popular throughout the Caribbean and South America, and is one of the standard Latin American/Caribbean dances. It is essentially a "fun" dance that is actually one of the simplest Latin dances to learn, which I would recommend to any of you that aren't as gifted with dancing like in my case! The beat is clear and the rhythm is constant. As opposed to Bachata, the emphasis is on simplicity in step patterns, rather than drama and style, so it's just overall easier to pick up on. The dancers do few, if any turns in Merengue, but when the turns are used, they are casual walking steps rather than the spin turns seen in Salsa.

Heres a link to show the basic steps of how to dance Merengue!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXybpeZcZz8

Overall a very worthwhile experience that I urge any and everyone to take a shot at! You never know you might just end up falling in love with Latin music and dance in general, I know I have.

6 Surprising Dominican Delicacies

Every culture seems to have its own unique set of dishes, dishes that for some people, when eaten make them feel at home. You know what I'm talkin' about. As for me, I grew up under a roof with parents from two different cultures (American and Dominican), so my "homey meals" range from not just your typical american foods, like hot-dogs and hamburgers but also some very unique dominican dishes, that I can thank my Nana and Mom for exposing me to!

So without further a do, here are a few of my most treasured Dominican dishes...

First off we have probably my favorite meal of all time, Mangu. Funny name I know, but what is it exactly? Mangu is boiled plantains that are mashed up and topped with "skivechi"(fried onions with lemon juice) and is usually complimented with a fried egg, fried cheese, or "salchichon", which is basically dominican style summer sausage. It is typically a breakfast meal, although I personally enjoy having it for any meal of the day.

This next dish is probably one of the more far-fetched dominican delicacies, it's called, Morir Sonando. This is a delightful little beverage, that is a mixture of milk and orange juice. Wait….MILK and ORANGE JUICE? Yes, that's right. To any non-Dominican this might seem like a highly unappealing concoction, and you might think to yourself "Ew, gross!" But, I encourage you to try it out sometime. Just throw some ice in there and you'll see, scratch that….taste, that it is indeed, a truly wonderful and refreshing drink that cannot be compared

Next we have a tasty little side dish given the name, Tostones, also known as twice-fried plantains. It's no secret we Dominicans love our plantains but unlike mangu, which is boiled then mashed, tostones are made from unripe plantains that are fried, mashed, then fried once more and then sprinkled with salt for good measure. These tasty morsels are the perfect side to complete any chicken, fish, or even a pork dish. You won't meet a single Dominican who doesn't love these little fried plantains, try them for yourself sometime and you'll understand why!

It would be a crime if I didn't tell you all about this next dish, which just about sums up Dominican culture in one big meaty pot, it's called Sancocho. Sancocho is a meaty stew, that is actually found in many other latin cuisines, such as Columbia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, etc, but none of these variations can top the Dominican version! The Dominican style sancocho, which is the deluxe version, is also known as the seven meat stew. It is made with yes, seven meats, mixed with root vegetables and plantains to make a very hearty and of course, very rich in flavor stew. This meal is typically only served for important events or big family get-togethers, due to its very lengthy preparation time.

Now here's a dish I bet most people don't even think about eating, but to Dominicans is considered a treat. This is called Con-Con. Con-Con is actually the burned rice at the bottom of the rice pot that contains most of the oil and consequently the most flavor. It might seem odd or even silly, but in my big family everyone wants the "burned rice" and since there is only about one layer of it, it's always a big win to get some on your plate!

Now at last, but certainly not least, I will tell you about one of the dishes that hits home for me every time. It is probably the most typical Dominican meal eaten for lunch or dinner, that I myself probably ate at least once or even twice a day up until I left for college. This meal is called Arroz Con Habichuela y Carne. Arroz is rice which is usually white, habichuela is the beans usually pinto or black and cooked with a generous amount of cilantro, and carne, which is meat, and can range from my Nana's practically famous lemon chicken to my moms perfectly seasoned pork, and any other meat in between. Though this might not seem like a solely Dominican dish, but it is definitely a staple when it comes to meals, one that no Dominican diet would be complete without.

So there you have it, just a couple of my personal favorite Dominican dishes. I hope you get a chance to try some of these delectable treats out for yourself, and hopefully enjoy them as much as I do!

To learn how to make some of these delightful Dominican delicacies and more, here is a link to "The Latin Kitchen" with some full recipes. Enjoy!

http://www.thelatinkitchen.com/dominican-republic-food-recipes