**Important** Save time at Las Américas airport
by marielexoteria
The airport is the place where you get the first and last impression of a city/country, and of course you want to spend the least amount of time possible there as well as having a smooth check in and out - at least I do! So here I share my little guide on how to spend less time there and more time enjoying your vacation.
On arrival
(1) Make the line to buy the tourist card and have your passport and your 10US handy (or the exact money if you're more than one person). Do check with your airline if they include this in their flight fare because some do. The airlines who include the card will most likely give it on the plane, prior to landing. You can also buy the tourist card at the nearest Dominican embassy (contact them to double check this info). Those with a residency permit do NOT need to pay for this tourist card.
(2) All non Dominicans must fill in the blue Migration form (one per person) and every head of family must fill in the Customs form (Edit Apr 2009 one per family).
Edit Apr 2009: if you have Dominican residency then fill in the white embarkation form (the one on picture 3).
(3) Hand in the blue form, the tourist card and your passport at passport control.
(4) After picking up your baggage, there's some other guy in Customs to whom you give the white form.
On departure
(1) After checking in, take off your belt, shoes and anything that might make the machine beep at the security check. Also remember to take out your laptop and/or the bag with the liquid items, if applicable, from your carry-on bag.
(2) Make sure you have the 20US departure tax handy (or exact money if you're more than one person). Again, do check with your airline/travel agent in case the tax is included in your airfare.
(3) Fill in (again) the blue Migration form (if you're a resident then the white embarkation form). I was told to fill in another white form called International embarkation-disembarkation card but Mr. Sweden didn't have to, although other tourists did fill it in.
(4) Give it together with the passport and the departure tax (IF they ask for it, sometimes they don't. This tax is supposedly paid by everyone but I've never paid it and Mr. Sweden didn't either). If you overstayed the tourist card (only "good" for up to 29 days), you might have to pay a small fine. I say might because Mr. Sweden overstayed his for 3 days and nobody asked him for any money. The fine prices are available here but let them ask for the money. Do NOT pay more than the specified price, which is printed in big signs at the airport.
Of course I don't have to say "be there on time for the check-in process" and what not.
Translation of the Customs form
1) Name: last names, first and middle names
2) birth date (day/month/year)
3) Passport number
4) Number or relatives traveling with you
5) Airline and flight number
6) Address in Dominican Republic
7) Purpose of your trip (business, pleasure, other - specify)
8) Residency country
9) How long are you planning to stay in Dominican Republic? (only for non residents)
10) I bring any kind of electrodomestic/household item (yes/no)
11) I bring fruits, vegetables or any other agricultural product (yes/no)
12) I bring more than US$10,000 (in any currency or negotiable monetary document) (yes/no)
13) I bring articles for gifts or business (as in sell them) (yes/no)
If yes, write the total value in US$
Sign here.
Dominican Art
by mikey_e
I'm not going to give an overview of Dominican art since, for something more complete and meaningful, you can always look up the section on art in a Rough Guides or Lonely Plant book. Nevertheless, the works of art in the Dominican Republic are quite impressive, and, unlike many other countries, painting and artistic expression are huge parts of daily life and the tourist industry, from the Museums of various types of art to those who sell works along El Conde to the contemporary artists workshops along Isabel la Católica. The earlier (19th century and earlier) painting exhibits clear Spanish and European influences, as many of the artists, especially the earlier ones, were born in Europe. Modern art has been influenced by a wide variety of movements, and it one of the things that mirrors the bright and vibrant colours of life in the Dominican Republic. Unlike in Cuba, where socialist realism has dampened, in some respects, the modes of expression, Dominican artists are fond of cubism and abstract art. Many amateur painters and artists mimic their style, and their output provides unique forms souvenirs to help you remember your trip to the DR.
Street vendors
by marielexoteria
These people sell their merchandise (usually fresh fruits, herbs and veggies) on the streets. They start shouting or talking through a megaphone from early in the morning to sometimes early in the afternoon in the neighborhoods. These vendors are found everywhere in the country but since the pictures were taken in SD, I made the tip here.
These people are important for those who don't want or can't go to the supermarket everyday if they're missing something for lunch or dinner.
On the pictures on this tip you'll find 2 plantain and fruit vendors, a bread vendor and a drinkable water vendor (in that order).
Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos
by marielexoteria
Los Tres Ojos are 3 lagoons inside 3 caves, and then there's a fourth eye, an "open lagoon", that's not considered an "eye". All of them are fed by a subterranean river. The taíno people, the islands first habitants, used these caves for religious ceremonies.
At the beginning all 3 caves were one but an earthquake made them in the shape they are today. The lakes are fed by an underwater river called Brujuela. All caves have stalagmites and stalactites, some even joined together.
Lake 1 = Lago de azufre (sulphur lake): it has beautiful bluish water which doesn't really contain sulphur but calcium carbonate. There are fish in this lake, some imported from Venezuela that you'll see closest to the sunlight and some national fish who like the dark parts of the cave.
Lake 2 = La Nevera (the fridge): it's called like that because the sunlight never comes in. It has clear water. From this lake you take a boat to the fourth lake (or eye) called Zaramaguyones lake (Los Zaramaguyones) and back to the second lake so that you can continue on to the third one. On one of the stones on the fourth lake you can see a petroglyph made by Taíno indians, sort of in the shape of a happy face.
Lake 3 = Las Damas (ladies' lake): in this lake the Taíno women would bathe with their children while the men would bathe in the first and second lakes.
And we have lake 4, also known as Zaramaguyones lake.
The boat trip costs 10 pesos for adults and 5 pesos for children if you don't take a guide, if you do then the trip is included in his fee. We can recommend the guide Nicolás, who charges 300 pesos or 10US. The admissions fee is 50 pesos for adults, 20 pesos for children and 30 pesos for students with a student ID.
Address: Av. Las Américas.
Tel. nr: 809 472 4204.
Access: About 1.5km from Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse) - walkable if you're armed with comfy shoes and you don't feel like paying for a taxi. If you do take a taxi, negotiate a fare before getting in.
Motoconchos (mototaxis)
by marielexoteria
Another alternative when it comes to means of getting around. These are the most expensive and most dangerous. They're not as cheap as the buses or the share-a-taxis and they definitely do NOT have the same long routes.
Dominicans also use motoconchos for transporting stuff.
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JumpingMARIELEXOTERIA, Zona Colonial, Dom Republic
Carnival!
Lunar eclipse from my backyard 2
Lake 4 (zaramaguyones lake)
