10 – El Zapato aka The Shoe in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic

El Zapato aka The Shoe in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps by Mercedes.. Life as I Pictured, Wikipedia

9 – Shores of Barahona, Dominican Republic

Shores of Barahona, Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps by Michelle Brea (busy-away), Flickr

8 – Fighting Iguanas in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Fighting Iguanas in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Snaps by shashchatter, Flickr

7 – Ruins by Sunrise Near Riu Mambo Resort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Ruins by Sunrise Near Riu Mambo Resort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps by Vishal, Flickr

6 – Dominican Republic Flag in Punta Cana

Dominican Republic Flag in Punta Cana, Vacation Snap by Mihnea™, Flickr

5 – Palm Trees on a Beach on Isla Saona, Dominican Republic

Palm Trees on a Beach on Isla Saona, Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps by .and+, Flickr

4 – Humpback Whale Calf in the Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Humpback Whale Calf in the Silver Bank, Samana, Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps by twin_sis, Flickr

3 – Crystal Clear Water on Juan Dolio Beach, Dominican Republic

Crystal Clear Water on the Juan Dolio Beach, Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps by Marialé =), Flickr

2 – Sunset at Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic

Sunset at Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps by Scarlet O

1 – Fishing Boat in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

Fishing Boat in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic Vacation Snapshot by daveog

As you can see, Dominican Republic is a beautiful, and varied country. There is so much to see and enjoy, one never gets bored of it. And to make it all so much better, the country is a postcard perfect place for vacation snaps, even if you’re not a professional photographer. You don’t need any fancy cameras, Dominican Republic will offer amazing photo opportunities on its own. Just point and snap and the memories will be captured for life.

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Further Reading:

• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• Dominican Republic Best Beaches (with photos)
• The Dominican Republic Flag
• Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor
• What is a Quinceanera
• Top Reasons to Choose Dominican Republic for Quickie Divorce
• Dalia Fernandez – Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011
• La Isabela
• Dominican Republic Music
• Bargaining in the Dominican Republic

Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Photo: Lapo Luchini, Wikipedia

Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor is built as a mixture of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. Its exterior is decorated with allegorical friezes and detailed sculptures while the interior boasts a mahogany altar, old furniture, ancient monuments and large stained-glass windows. One of the most revered pieces of art found in the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor is a 1523 painting of the Madonna in the Chapel of the Virgin of Antigua. At one point in time, one of the cathedral’s 14 side chapels also housed the remains of Christopher Columbus (in the Chapel of the Virgin of the Light) – the remains can now be found at Faro a Colón (aka The Columbus Lighthouse).

One of the interesting things is that the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor does not have a bell tower. Because of lacking funds, it took the Spanish 29 years to build the cathedral yet even as it was nearing the completion, some features had to be omitted because there simple was not enough money. The biggest toll the cathedral took was when British pirate Sir Francis Drake captured it and used it as his fortress. The damage the cathedral sustained during the Drake’s attacks and subsequent looting and plundering left many of the artifacts and artwork damaged beyond recovery. As a matter of fact, the cathedral’s most valued artwork – the above mentioned Madonna from the Chapel of the Virgin of Antigua was stolen and spirited off to Spain in 1520. It was not returned back to the Dominican Republic until 1892.

Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor Dress Code

Dominican Republic is a deeply religious country and Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor is one of their most important religious buildings. Strict dress code disallowing shorts and tank tops used to be heavily enforced, however it’s not as strict anymore. It’s still expected that visitors take off their head coverings and sunglasses but unless your shorts are really short or otherwise inappropriately revealing, you shouldn’t encounter any significant issues stepping in. Do pay the interior a visit though. The cathedral may not look like much from the outside, but the feel of old and its history take you over once you walk within.

Female visitors are also expected to wear skirts entering the cathedral (one that goes below the knees), not pants but should that become an issue, there is usually a vendor outside the main entrance who would rent skirts out which you can drape over the pants to gain entrance to the building. Keep in mind that Dominican Republic is a tropical country with boiling hot temperature year round.

Address and Location

Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor is located next to Parque de Colon (aka Columbus Park – one of main plazas in Santo Domingo with a bronze statue of Columbus at its center), between Isabel la Católica and Calle Arzobispo Merino in Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo. The address is:

Catedral de Santa María la Menor
Calle Arzobispo Meriño esq. Arzobispo Nouel
Centro Histórico Santo Domingo de Guzman
Republica Dominicana

Phone: (809) 689-1920
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9am – 4:30pm

Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many museums, historical buildings and shops selling souvenirs all of which are within walking distance from one another. There is no entrance fee to the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor.

Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor Side Entrance and Statue of Colombus at Parque Colon, Photo: Siso84, Wikipedia

Called by the locals “Catedral Primada de America”, Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor is one thing you don’t want to miss when you visit Dominican Republic’s capital Santo Domingo. To remain particular, the full name of the cathedral is Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of our Lady Holy Mary of the Incarnation – but we’re just gonna stick with the most common name – Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor.

Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor Video

Check out this video tour of Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor which gives beautiful visual representation of how stunning the cathedral is. Definitely worth a visit.

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Further Reading:

• The Grave of Christopher Columbus
• What is a Quinceanera
• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• Dalia Fernandez – Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011
• La Isabela
• Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps
• Top Reasons to Choose Dominican Republic for Quickie Divorce
• Museo del Ron y la Caña aka Museum of Rum and Sugar Cane
• El Meson de la Cava Restaurant
• The Dominican Republic Flag

What is a Quinceanera

To use western analogy, a Quinceanera is akin to a Sweet Sixteen Party, only Hispanic women celebrate it a year earlier – when they turn 15, rather than 16. Fiesta Quinceañera is not just another birthday party. It is far more grandiose, elaborate and showy.

Quinceanera in the Dominican Republic, Photo: Jose Kevo, Flickr

Quinceanera is a very religious celebration (see paragraph about Quinceanera and Virginity below) and is strongly honored among the Catholic population. Most communities in Latin America are deeply religious and if parents are Catholic, there is a very strong probability that their daughter will have a Quinceanera for her 15th birthday.

Quinceanera and Virginity

If you trace the celebration of Quinceanera back through history, you’ll find out that its original purpose was for parents of a young woman to celebrate the honor of having a 15 year old who’s still a virgin. Quinceanera used to be reserved for girls who are celebrating their 15th birthday AND have maintained their virginity.

However as with many other customs of old, Quinceanera is not what it used to be and nowadays it’s not unusual to see girls who already have kids at a tender age of 15 throwing their own Quinceaneras. The only tricky part would be to find a priest who would be willing to perform the ceremony despite the girl’s impurity. Other than that, it is unlikely a girl who’s not a virgin anymore would encounter any problems setting up her own Quinceanera.

Can Guys Have Quinceañeras?

While Fiesta Quinceañera is primarily a girls’ celebration, and is primarily about the girls, it is not unusual to also see boys celebrating one of their own. Unlike female Quinceaneras, males’ Quinceaneras are not as opulent and flashy and are often held just for the sake of having a party, rather than to uphold the ages old tradition with its rites and proceedings.

Quinceanera Traditions

Traditional Quinceaneras involve 14 pairs of guests known as the Court of Honor, who accompany the birthday girl (Quinceanera) and her Court (The Man of Honor). Like in a wedding, the Quinceanera has the most beautiful dress and is a center of attention. The Court of Honor consists of people chosen by the Quinceanera. They are usually people who mean something to her – closest friends, siblings, cousins, etc. Females of the Court of Honor, whose purpose is similar to that of bridesmaids in a wedding, are called damas and their male counterparts are chambelanes.

A Quinceanera Takes Her Photos in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Photo: Ulises Jorge, Flickr

The Quinceanera celebration would traditionally begin with a mass in a local Catholic church. To have the memories captured on camera, after the church the party usually heads straight for a park (or photo studio) to take pictures. A reception is then held at the family’s house or a banquet hall which is where the festivities, which include food, drink and music take place.

Quinceanera Dance

Traditionally, Quinceañeras perform a choreographed waltz (special dance) for the audience to open the reception. To start the dance, the Quinceanera would dance with her male escort who then passes her to her father with whom she finishes the waltz.

The Dominican Republic Quinceaneras

It is very common for the Dominican girls turning 15 to celebrate the Quinceanera. This tradition is well established and never missed. Similarly to other Latin American countries, the Quinceaneras in the Dominican Republic start with a mass in the Catholic Church where birthday girl receives blessings.

Traditionally, the reception part of the Dominican Republic Quinceaneras is kicked off with a choreographed waltz. Guests are treated to a buffet with abundance of drinks and in order to keep the mood up, live band is booked to perform throughout the reception. Invited guests traditionally sign an album as a reminder of their presence at the party and when an opening dance is over, all eyes turn to the Quinceanera who will cut the traditional cake of fifteen years. These cakes are very elaborate and are nothing short of works of art.

Quinceanera Video

The video below is a summary of the best moments from a Quinceanera celebration in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The quality of the video is not much, but it shows nicely how the entire tradition of celebrating the Quinceanera progresses from start to finish, including the tradition of changing shoes which involves the removal of flat bottom shows to change them for high heels. This tradition symbolizes what Quinceanera is all about – a transformation from a little girl to a young lady:

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Further Reading:

• Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor
• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• Dalia Fernandez – Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011
• Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps
• Top Reasons to Choose Dominican Republic for Quickie Divorce
• Merengue Music
• La Isabela
• The Grave of Christopher Columbus
• Museo del Ron y la Caña aka Museum of Rum and Sugar Cane
• El Meson de la Cava Restaurant

Had Quickie Marriage? Get Quickie Divorce, Photo: billjacobus1, Flickr

Dominican Republic is very foreigner friendly and divorces are no different. If both people agree to the terms of the divorce and just want to get it done and over with avoiding legal hassle of divorcing in their home country, taking care of business in the Dominican Republic could set them up with a quickie divorce that would ultimately end their marriage in as little as 15 days. No more private detectives to gather evidence of your spouse’s wrongdoing, no long, drawn out affairs – just sign a few documents before the Dominican Consulate nearest to your jurisdiction, have one of you attend a hearing in the Dominican Republic (no need for both parties to fly south) and your divorce decree will be dispatched to you by courier within 10 to 15 business days. Granted, things don’t move as fast and as reliably in the Dominican Republic so your quickie divorce papers could take a bit longer than that, however after simple paperwork has been taken care of, the rest is merely about waiting for your divorce decree to get delivered to you.

Dominican Republic Quickie Divorce Disclaimer (fine print)

It goes without saying that every country, every jurisdiction is different. Before considering a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic, you should make sure such divorce would be recognized in the court of law in your home country (consult legal counsel in your jurisdiction to determine its legality). Some countries may restrict the power to grant a divorce to their citizens/residents to their local courts only.

As a general rule of thumb, a divorce obtained in a foreign country would be considered invalid by most jurisdiction, including most states of the USA. However under the legally recognized Estoppel principle, if both parties consented to the divorce, then its legality, even if obtained in a foreign country would be normally recognized.

It is furthermore important to recognize that this article is a guide, not a legal advice. All precautions were taken to ensure statement accuracy, they are however not a replacement for a lawyer. Dominican Republic Real Estate website makes no guarantees concerning the information contained herein and will not be responsible if you choose to follow it instead of consulting with a lawyer.

Let’s take a look at some of the top reasons to choose Dominican Republic for quickie divorce:

1 – Obtain a Divorce in Less Than 24 Hours

The 1971 amendment to the Dominican Republic’s divorce law (1306 Act) allows foreigners to obtain a divorce in the Dominican court of law in one day. Only one spouse is required to be physically present in the Dominican Republic for the proceeding to take place and could be on their way back home the following day (or even the same afternoon as the proceedings are usually finished by 10am). The other spouse can be represented by a lawyer with the power of attorney authenticated at the Dominican consulate abroad.

2 – No Dominican Residency Required

According to the same 1971 amendment to the divorce law, foreigners wishing to obtain a divorce in the court of the Dominican Republic do not need to live or reside in the Dominican Republic. As a matter of fact, you can get a quick divorce taken care of by the Dominican Republic’s court even if you’ve never been to the Dominican Republic before.

3 – It’s Discreet and Confidential

Aside from being the quickest divorces in the world, the quickie divorces from the Dominican Republic are also some of the most discreet and confidential in the world. The emotional burden of a divorce is big enough to also have to worry about it going with the bang. Taking your divorce to the Dominican Republic will help to keep the going-ons quiet, allowing you to move on with your life faster. The only shout out would occur in a local newspaper (in Spanish, only distributed in the Dominican Republic) in compliance with legal requirements.

4 – It’s Cheap

Most law firms specializing in the Dominican Republic Quickie Divorces charge between $1,500 and $2,000 in total fees. That includes all of the firm’s legal fees and all Dominican Republic’s court taxes. You may find different prices offered by different law firms, but in general you could have your divorce papers on their way in under $2k US. That’s a cheap divorce no matter which way you spin it. The following is a more detailed list of what is included in the fees:

• Court costs
• Taxes
• Two certified copies of the final decree of divorce
• Certifications by the Secretary of the Court, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Foreign Relations
• Authentication by the consul in Santo Domingo
• Notarised translations of documents you have provided into Spanish for the court
• Notarised translations of decrees into English for both of you
• $400 deposit to the Central Bank as required by Dominican Law

5 – It’s a No Fault Divorce

In order to proceed with your divorce in the Dominican Republic, you don’t have to allege bad conduct or adultery of your spouse. All you need is mutual consent. As such, there is no plaintiff and no defendant. All there is are two petitioning parties.

6 – Celebrities Use the Dominican Republic Quickie Divorce Too

The Dominican Republic quickie divorces are so effective, hassle free and inexpensive, even celebrities who found themselves in a failed marriage took advantage of them to get divorced. Some of the recognizable names who used the services of the Dominican divorce court system include:

• Mariah Carrey
• Lisa Marie Presley
• Diana Ross
• Marc Anthony
• Tommy Mottola

Word of Caution

The Divorce Law 142 of the Dominican Republic allows foreign citizens to file for a divorce by mutual consent even if they don’t live or reside in the Dominican Republic. The requirement however is that BOTH spouses must consent to the divorce. The consent must be authenticated before the Dominican authorities at the embassy/consulate in your jurisdiction. And finally, at least one of the spouses must attend the hearing before the Dominican judge. This hearing usually only takes 20 to 30 minutes but it is a requirement that at least one spouse physically attends.

Beware of Dominican Republic Quickie Divorce Scams. The requirements are clear and they are strict. It is impossible to get a divorce without due process pursuant Dominican Divorce Law 142. If somebody promises you a Dominican Quickie Divorce by mail, without travelling, you should be suspicious. Similarly, if somebody promises you that you will be able to get a divorce decree without your spouse’s knowledge or consent (Unilateral Divorce), you should again be very suspicious. One more common scam is to guarantee that the Dominican Divorce will be accepted worldwide, regardless of where you are from. Whether your jurisdiction accepts foreign divorces depends on that jurisdiction, not on a lawyer operating from out of the Dominican Republic or wherever else in the world.

Is the Dominican Republic Quickie Divorce For You?

If your marriage is falling apart and there’s no way to salvage it, you can save yourself from a lot of headache and financial drain by having a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic. For a reasonably low nominal cost averaging $1,600 you could be a free man/woman and start over with a new partner (or as a single person for the time being, if you so incline). Divorce doesn’t have to be a pain in the neck as experienced by most people who went through it. Be smart, make it easy on yourself and if both of you agree with the divorce (and if it’s not illegal in your jurisdiction), then go for an easy way out – a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic.

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Further Reading:

• Dominican Republic Music
• Bargaining in the Dominican Republic
• Dominican Republic Spanish Dialect
• Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps
• Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor
• What is a Quinceanera
• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• Dalia Fernandez – Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011
• The Dominican Republic Flag
• Dominican Republic Culture

10 – Golden Sky Sunset Photo Over Santo Domingo

Sky Over Santo Domingo Turns Golden in the Rays of Setting Sun, Photo: Michelle Brea, Flickr

9 – Photo of Beach Sunset in Bayahibe, La Altagracia

People Watching Sunset on a Peaceful Beach in in Bayahibe, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic, Photo: photon, Flickr

8 – Photo of Purple Sky Sunset Over Boca Chica

Sunset Gives the Sky Unusual Purple Hue in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, Photo: Kraftwerck, Flickr

7 – Photo of Family Going to Watch Sunset Over the Caribbean Sea

Family Enjoys the Sunset Over the Caribbean Sea in the Dominican Republic, Photo: photon, Flickr

6 – Photo of Sundown on a Beach in La Romana

Deserted La Romana Beach as Beachgoers Left Before Sunset, Photo: richiebits, Flickr

5 – Photo of Sailing Boat In the Sunset

Sailing Boat Watches the Sun Touch the Horizon in Bayahibe, Photo: photon, Flickr

4 – Photo of Sunset at Barcelo Premium Beach, Punta Cana

Palm Trees Stand Tall Against Dark Blue Sky as Sun Sets Over Barcelo Premium Beach in Punta Cana, Photo: Juan Eduardo Donoso, Flickr

3 – Photo of Sunset at the Occidental Grand Resort, Punta Cana

Sunset at the Occidental Grand Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Photo: Elvis Pepin, Flickr

2 – Photo of Sunset Illuminated Clouds Reflecting in a Pool of a Dominican Republic Resort

Dominican Republic Resort Pool Reflects Clouds Illuminated by Setting Sun, Photo: Duane Storey, Flickr

1 – Photo of a Setting Sun in Samana, Dominican Republic

Sun Setting Over a Tree Fringed Beach in Samana, Dominican Republic, Photo: Melina, Flickr

I hope you enjoyed this nice gallery of the Dominican Republic Sunset Photos. I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder so you may not agree with how I ranked my top 10 sunsets, but you are welcome to put your own top 10 Dominican Republic sunsets list together in comments. Please note one more time, that this is not a collection of images taken by professional photographers (such as stock photographers, or photojournalists). These are pictures taken by vacationers who visited Dominican Republic to take time off from hustle and bustle of their jobs, or came to enjoy their honeymoon. Still, even if you don’t have formal photography training or fancy, expensive camera – as can be seen from this gallery, sunsets in the Dominican Republic are so beautiful, anyone who visits the country can take a picture of a sunset to die for.

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Further Reading:

• Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps
• Dominican Republic Best Beaches (with photos)
• Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor
• What is a Quinceanera
• Dalia Fernandez – Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011
• El Meson de la Cava Restaurant
• Top Reasons to Choose Dominican Republic for Quickie Divorce
• Merengue Music
• La Isabela
• The Grave of Christopher Columbus

Dancing to Merengue Music in the Dominican Republic

The Merengue Music is composed in the 2/4 time style that sounds happy and festive. It’s a fast music style with tempo at about 120 to 160 beats per minute (BPM). The primary instrument used in Merengue Music is diatonic accordion. Other traditional instruments used are the guiro (a scraper with origins dating back to the Arawak Indians – the original inhabitants of the Hispaniola island), and African percussion, such as conga or tambora. More contemporary Merengue composers also use other instruments, including saxophone, electric guitars and synthesizers.

Needless to say – Merengue is very popular throughout Caribbean and Latin America, but its popularity is also widely spread throughout the United States, especially in cities like New York where communities of immigrants from the Dominican Republic are substantial. Being the national music of the Dominican Republic, a visitor to the island is bound to have bountiful encounters with this musical style.

But enough of written word. When speaking of music, there is no better way to understand it then by listening to a song. Video below is a good example of Modern Merengue Tipico. I present to you El Hombre Mas Guapo:

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Further Reading:

• Dominican Republic Culture
• Dominican Republic Music
• What is a Quinceanera
• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• The Grave of Christopher Columbus
• El Meson de la Cava Restaurant
• Dominican Republic Best Beaches (with photos)
• Dominican Republic History – Facts, Events, Figures

Between 2005 and 2008, Dominican Republic’s export industry steadily grew but come 2009, the country experienced sharp decline. According to the latest report by Industries Association of the Dominican Republic (Asociación de Industrias), everything seems to be back to normal as export industry registered growth of 7.2% in 2010 compared to 2009.

Unlike in Central America or the United States, Dominican Republic’s trade balance in all except petroleum products with CARICOM is positive. United States remains the Dominican Republic’s most important trading partner (accounting for 75% of export revenues) with markets in Canada, Western Europe, and Japan accounting for much of the rest.

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Also Check Out:

• The Dominican Republic Flag
• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• El Meson de la Cava Restaurant
• Merengue Music
• Collecting Rent – an Easy How-to Guide for Home Owners
• Museo del Ron y la Caña aka Museum of Rum and Sugar Cane
• Bargaining in the Dominican Republic
• Dominican Republic Culture
• Free House Staging Ideas That Don’t Cost a Penny
• Building a Custom Home

21 year old Dalia Fernandez, who was crowned Miss Dominican Republic 2011 pageant will represent her country in Miss Universe 2011 pageant at the Credicard Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 12, 2011.

A native of the Dominican Republic’s town of Santiago de los Caballeros, the psychology student Dalia Fernandez was crowned by the former beauty queen Eva Arias, who thanked her family for their support and said she was “proud” to have represented the Dominican Republic in the last year’s Miss Universe pageant.

The new Miss Dominican Republic Dalia Fernandez was all smiles when she heard her name announced by the jury, chaired by Miss Universe 2010 – Mexico’s Jimena Navarrete.

Katherine Cruz, representing Santo Domingo North, was the first runner up, while Kirssi Abreu, who represented the National District was the second runner up. Kirssi Abreu was also awarded the Miss Photogenic title. Both runners up will represent the Dominican Republic at the Miss Continente Americano and Reina Hispano-Americana pageants.

The Miss Dominican Republic 2011 pageant was held at the Renaissance auditorium of the Jaragua Hotel in Santo Domingo on March 8, 2011.

About Dalia Fernandez – Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011

Dalia Cristina Fernández Sánchez is 21 year old, 1.78 meters (5’10″) tall beauty from Santiago de los Caballeros. Crowned as Miss República Dominicana Universo 2011, Dalia Fernandez will represent the Dominican Republic in Miss Universe 2011 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

After Dalia Fernandez was announced Miss Dominican Republic 2011, the crowd at the Renaissance auditorium of the Jaragua Hotel booed in disagreement. There were rumors that Dalia Fernandez bribed the judges with US $100,000 to vote in her favor which many say was possible because she made acquaintances with some of panel representatives through dinners and outings. Regardless, the decision holds and she is officially Miss Dominican Republic and set to represent her country in Miss Universe.

Check out the video below, which contains many images of Dalia Fernandez and you be the judge whether she’s hot enough to successfully represent Dominican Republic in Miss Universe 2011 or not:

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Further Reading:

• Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor
• What is a Quinceanera
• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps
• Top Reasons to Choose Dominican Republic for Quickie Divorce
• La Isabela
• The Grave of Christopher Columbus
• Museo del Ron y la Caña aka Museum of Rum and Sugar Cane
• El Meson de la Cava Restaurant
• The Dominican Republic Flag

Aerial View of La Isabela in the Dominican Republic, Photo: Florida Museum of Natural History

La Isabela was established by Christopher Columbus on the northern coast of the Hispanola island in 1494 but was completely abandoned in 1498. Columbus and 1500 colonists arrived at the La Isabela site with 17 ships loaded with livestock, and building materials. A stone wall was built around the site to protest thatched huts in which the settlers lived but two major hurricanes, crop failures, famine and disease drove them all away.

Built after his second voyage to the New World, La Isabela was not the Columbus’ first construction on Hispaniola. On his first voyage – in 1942, Columbus built the fort of La Navidad (meaning Christmas, because it was founded on Christmas Day) at Concepción de la Vega – today’s Haiti. However, when Columbus returned from Spain two years later during his second voyage, instead of finding a bustling village, he found La Navidad destroyed and all of the settlers murdered. As he had learned from some of the Taino people whom he had met nearby, the settlers had been killed as a response to their mistreatment of the natives.

Columbus realized that he had underestimated the Tainos whom he originally deemed incapable of an offensive (after his first encounter with them, he wrote in his diary that the Tainos were naked, didn’t have any arms and were cowardly). He abandoned La Navidad and decided to build a new settlement further east (present day Dominican Republic), built a sturdy wall around it and named it La Isabella. This settlement was not meant to be either.

Site of Former Church in La Isabela (Iglesia means Church in Spanish), Photo: Tom Giebel, Flickr

The first major hit came with one of the first Atlantic hurricane observed by the Europeans in the Caribbean. La Isabella was mere one year old and after another major hurricane swept by its site a year later, settlers started to get restless and attempted to mutiny upon some of the ships to escape the island and return back to Spain. Repeatedly hit with hunger and disease, La Isabella was eventually abandoned and a new settlement was built on the southern side of Hispaniola, at the site of present day Santo Domingo.

The site where La Isabella once stood can still be visited today, but only stone basis of the surrounding wall and some of the more important structures (such as the church) can be seen. The rest was reclaimed by nature.

Video below is a document about La Isabella. It contains images of the site and many relics from history, but the commentary is all in Spanish:

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Further Reading:

• Dominican Republic History – Facts, Events, Figures
• El Meson de la Cava Restaurant
• Dominican Republic Culture
• Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor
• The Grave of Christopher Columbus
• Dominican Republic Vacation Snaps
• What is a Quinceanera
• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• Dalia Fernandez – Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011
• Museo del Ron y la Caña aka Museum of Rum and Sugar Cane

Christopher Columbus Painting by Ridolfo Ghirlandaio, Public Domain Image from Wikipedia

Christopher Columbus’ Death and Return to Hispaniola

Christopher Columbus died in Spain in 1506 in the town of Valladolid where he was immediately buried. Shortly thereafter, his son Diego had his remains moved to the monastery at Seville. However, Columbus’ final wishes were to be interred in Hispaniola so Diego started planning to complete a cathedral and have his father’s remains moved to the island. However, Diego died in 1526, before the cathedral could be finalized and was buried next to his father in Seville. In 1542, the cathedral was finally finished and Diego’s widow arranged for both father and son to be moved there, where they remained for two centuries.

The Tomb of Christopher Columbus, Seville Cathedral, Spain, Photo: Miguel Ángel, Wikipedia

Second and Third Voyage at Sea (Perhaps)

The Spanish were ousted from the island in 1795 and took the remains of their beloved explorer with them to their Caribbean base in Havana, Cuba, leaving Diego’s remains on Hispaniola. A century later a construction worker found a box with a short inscription, indicating it bore the remains of “Admiral Columbus”. However, both Christopher and Diego used the title “Admiral Columbus” while they were alive making the identification based on inscriptions tricky. The question quickly arose as to who had which explorer. In 1898 after the Spanish-American War, the Spanish were routed from Cuba and returned to Spain, once again carrying the remains of their intrepid explorer, or so they thought.

Controversy

The Dominican Republic and Spain both claim they possess the remains of the famous admiral and that the other nation has the lesser-loved son. Even DNA testing is inconclusive as to which nation is right, and the theory has been floated that Christopher Columbus’ remains may have been split up and may actually reside in both countries. To date, the controversy rages on and the location of the real grave of Christopher Columbus remains uncertain.

Faro a Colon aka The Columbus Lighthouse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Photo: Jefry Lagrange Reyes, Wikipedia

The remain purported to be of Christopher Columbus currently located in the Dominican Republic can be seen in The Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colón), in Santo Domingo. If these are the real admiral’s remains, then Faro a Colón is the grave of Christopher Columbus, as well as his mausoleum and a museum.

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Further Reading:

• Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor
• Dominican Republic History – Facts, Events, Figures
• La Isabela
• What is a Quinceanera
• Dominican Republic Sunset Pictures – The Most Beautiful
• Merengue Music
• Dalia Fernandez – Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011
• Museo del Ron y la Caña aka Museum of Rum and Sugar Cane
• El Meson de la Cava Restaurant
• The Dominican Republic Flag