A Spanish speaking country bordering next to Haiti. The Dominican Republic, La Republica Dominicana, was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The natives already living there then mixed in with the African American slaves, and European people who came from countries like: Italy, Portugal, Spain etc. And Arabs also migrated to the Dominican Republic. Unlike the stereotype that claims that the Dominican Republic is full of dark colored people, with coarse hair, the Dominican Republic is filled with variety in its people and appearance due to its rich past. Yes, there are blonds, brunettes, and red haired(I swear there are) people that are Dominican. I, myself am a white colored Dominican, some say whiter than some Irish people. Some people from the Dominican Republic have African ancestry, Portuguese, or Spaniard, like me. The Dominican Republic gained its independence in 1844.

Baseball is to the Dominican Republic like what public transportation is to New York City. Yeah, I know. Dominican Republic lives, eat and breathes baseball whether you like it or not. Famous Dominican baseball players out there right now are: Albert Pujols, Miguel Tejada, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Pedro Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero, and Alex Rodriguez.

Bachata and merengue originated in the Dominican Republic. Bachata and merengue now is pretty popular through out the Spanish community.

The Dominican Republic, like any other Caribbean country/island is beautiful, and has the most gorgeous beaches and places. But like every other country, it has its poor and poverty-stricken cities and rural towns.

Dominican Republic also was home to a brutal dictator: Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina. Trujillo reigned 1930-1938, and yet again in the years 1942-1952. He massacred 20,000 Haitians. Haitian immigrants were also murdered if they could not pronounce the Spanish r in "perejil" (parsley). He also murdered the Mirabel sisters(who were political activists against Trujillo’s regime), having them beaten and strangled to death. He was similar to all the other infamous dictators of the world. He re-named the capital of the Dominican Republic after himself, and compared himself with Jesus Christ. He put monuments and statues of himself all over the country. But it got to the point that Fidel Castro, when he got into power, trained some rebel Dominican troops to invade but they were killed. Venezuela’s president at the time(who Trujillo tried to assassinate) also wanted the infamous dictator killed, so much that he delivered an ultimatum to the US/CIA. If the US wasn’t going to do anything, Venezuela was going to invade(the US didn’t want to do anything at first because Trujillo was favored and his torture/mass-murdering policy was ignored because he was anti-communism). Finally, the CIA supplied the rebels with weapons, and those rebels killed Trujillo in a deserted highway.

Dominican Republic is home to the beautiful Punta Cana, La Romana, and Puerto Plata.

Some famous Dominican people are(excluding baseball players): Amelia Vega, 2003 Miss Universe winner; Oscar de la Renta, famous fashion designer; Juan Luis Guerra, famous music artist.

Some famous half Dominicans: Michelle Rodriguez, actress in Fast and the Furious; Fabolous, rapper; Juelz Santana, rapper.

Dominican republic has a lively and rich culture, a country which has suffered its hardships and violence, buts it’s a beautiful country and I encourage you all to visit.

The one of the most beautiful countries in the world.The first spanish speaking country to gain its independece(1844).It occupyes 2/3 of the hipaniola, which it shares with Haiti.The Dominican Republic is rich in culture also. Its capital is Santo Domingo. The Dominican Republic is also known for its beautiful women, native music(merengue and bachata), and our famouse athletes (most of the mlb).

The most amazing place in the world. Somewhat poverty stricken.
Is home to some of the nicest people you will ever meet (Marcos Deivi Jen Goodie Sunshine Adams etc)

If you go there it will change your life.

You can drive down the street and hear children laughing playing and yelling in excitement Americanos!!!

The place that stole my heart.

one of the most well-known carribean island known for Amelia Vega(miss univers)felix sanchez(olimpic gold medal for track) david ortiz ( boston red sox player #34) manny ramirez(outfielder for the boston red sox#24) pedro martinez(mets pitcher #45)and all the Bachata, and merengue singers!

A Country where 73% are mullato, 16% are of only spanish descent, and 11% are of african descent. these are the real numbers you can look them up for your selves if you don't believe me. there are also small numbers of chinese, jewish, and arab dominicans. DR forever!

A country where rich American teenagers go to get drunk off their asses.

Dominican Republic is a half-island country located in the Caribbean.

We have one of the worst education systems in Latin America; the government refuses to invest the (by-law) minimum of 4% of the budget in education.

We have a large illegal immigrant population of Haitians who cross the border seeking to re-establish themselves on this side of the island.

Underage drinking is a custom here; allowing minors to go into clubs is an everyday sighting.

Culturally rich, the Dominican Republic was the first colony in America to have a university (Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, founded 1538 if I'm not mistaken), the first cathedral, and being the birth place to the music genres of Merengue and Bachata. Other musical styles that have great popularity here are Rap and "Dembow".

Unfortunately, this country is controlled by the 5-10% of the population that in election time "buys" votes of the uneducated and gullible by bribing them with food and false promises. This keeps the country chained to a vicious circle from which it seems it cannot unbind itself.

The Dominican Republic is a poor country, ravaged by drugs and corruption, and from the looks of it, this might be the case for a while.

We got nice beaches, plantain, mangu, sancocho, red soda, a very colourful vocabulary, (mostly) kind and helpful, but retarded people, and one of the most beautiful national anthems.

To clear a couple of things off (& I quote)): "The first Caribbean country to gain its independence was Haiti in 1804, and it was followed by the Dominican Republic in 1844 and Cuba in 1902."

the best place in da world is rd
"hay tan to lo dominicano
como yo"