The Dominican Republic is not just the country with sun, sea and beautiful beaches, subtropical temperatures and merengue and bachata music. The Dominican Republic has more to offer. Besides the beautiful and highly varied landscape, the country also has several impressive festivals that are celebrated every year.

Hispaniola

The Dominican Republic, along with Haiti, is located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. The Dominican Republic is located in the center and east of the island and covers about two-thirds of the island. The capital is Santo Domingo and in addition to the island of Hispaniola, the country includes three other reasonably sized islands. The best travel advice for the Dominican Republic is from December to April. The months of June through November are hurricane season with the highest chance of hurricanes in the month of September.

Besides enjoying the sun, sea and beautiful beaches on the island, the country has much more to offer. Dominican Republic excursions are very diverse. The island has many mountain ranges including the Cordillera Central with the highest mountain in the Caribbean (3175m). Furthermore, the island has several waterfalls and national parks. There are also many lakes including Lago Enriquillo, the largest lake on the island and also the largest lake in the Caribbean.

Carnival in February and in August

The Dominican Republic is also known for its carnival. This feast is celebrated twice a year nahetmically in February and in August. However, carnival in August is celebrated somewhat less exuberantly than in February. In 1510, the first carnival was celebrated in the Dominican Republic, in La Vega, hence the name Carnaval Vegano. The celebration was organized by Christian who wanted to get the "wild" out of their slaves. Wanting to enjoy the feast themselves, they added their own influences to the carnival. The Haitian occupation caused costumes to disappear from the streets in the period between 1822 and 1844.

On Feb. 27, 1844, the Domincian Republic became independent. Since then, Carnival has been known for its colorfulness and the masks people wear. The masks are made by "carreteros" and are made of feathers, burlap and mostly paper maché. During the month of February, a parade takes place every Sunday in a different town each time. The big national parade takes place on the last Sunday of February in Santo Domingo, in honor of the country's independence. During these parades, all the "comparsas" (carnival associations) are dressed in costumes typical of their region. Every year more than 100,000 people from home, and abroad, descend on Santo Domingo's national parade. Since the Dominican carnival has expanded throughout the island, this celebration is called the "Carnaval Dominicano".

Cuba is best known for its rum and cigars. Cuba is the number one country when it comes to cigar production. Rum and cigars are one of the island's main export products.

Cuban cigars

There are 180 million cigars produced in Cuba. Cigars have been produced in Cuba since the 15th century. The word cigar is derived from the Spanish verb turn "girar." Being one of the island's main exports, Cuban cigars are still very important to the Cuban economy today. There are 40 types of Cuban cigars and the most famous of them is Cohiba. Pinar del Río province is one of the most beautiful areas of the island and also the center of the Cuban tobacco industry. A cigar roller is called a "torcedor. A torcedor rolls an average of 120 cigars a day. While working, cigar rollers are allowed to smoke as many cigars as they want, are read to to combat boredom, and are allowed to take home two cigars each day.

Tobacco Plants

To make cigars, one needs tobacco plants. First, the tobacco plants are sown on a special bed where they must remain for 6 weeks. Then they are put in a field where they are given the opportunity to grow and after about 3 months the tobacco leaves have the right size and the leaves are picked. After these leaves are picked they are hung on long sticks for a period of about 7 weeks to dry. The final process is letting the leaves ferment in a dark room. Here, among other things, they are selected for color and packed per 25 leaves for the cigar factory. To this day, all work on the tobacco plantations is maintained manually, this is what makes Cuban cigars of good quality. It was a Cuban tradition to give cigars as business gifts. Only since the 1980s have cigars been available for sale to everyone.

Cuban rum

Columbus discovered Cuba. Already on his second voyage to the island, he brought sugar cane with him. The African slaves who were in Cuba had their own drink, "guarapo." When Columbus brought sugar cane to the island they started applying the same process to the sugar cane. This created the first Cuban rum. It wasn't until the 19th century that Cuban rum became a high-quality product.

There are three types of Cuban rum. The youngest type is the white rum, it is mostly used for making cocktails such as the mojito. The amber rum is about 3 years old and is usually drunk pure or used for exclusive cocktails. The oldest rum is the dark brown rum. This rum is as much as 7 years old and is almost always drunk pure or with a little ice, which ensures that the flavor is better released. The rum brand "Havana Club" is one of the most famous rum brands and dates back to 1878, the brand was nationalized in 1959.

Photo by artofmanliness.com

What Spanish stereotypes exist and are they true?

Every country is known for a particular stereotype, it doesn’t matter if it is actually true or not. Whether it’s a cup of tea, fish and chips or brussel sprouts in England, to cheese, wine, snails and frogs in France. The question is though what are the Spanish stereotypes and are they actually true? I am British and this might be a completely biased point of view but this is what I think when it comes to Spanish stereotypes:

Do Spaniards work less hard than other European countries?

Something that I have found to be completely misconstrued is that the Spanish work less hard than other Europeans, truth be told it depends on what your definition of working hard is. According to statistics they actually have the longest average working week, at 38.4 hours. You could go out to the country to find people doing 3am shifts and napping all day, to people putting in 50 hour shifts in city centres or businesses etc. People are adamant that because there appears to be a holiday nearly every day that the Spanish don’t work. This has grown more so post economic recession, with the uninformed blaming the Spanish unemployment and financial crisis on this misinformed idea. This is something that is
false through and through. 

What time is it? Siesta time!

The siesta is supposed to be a short nap or a quick shut eye after lunch. Most places in Spain give you 2 hours for lunch, from 14.00 to 16.00, and then you carry on working. Although some people have a siesta,  most people use this time to pick up their kids, go home, cook, eat, drop their kids, and go back to work. Not much time for siesta in reality is it…
Some truth.

They love bullfighting

This is not true. Bullfighting is no longer classed as a sport but rather a cultural tradition. In a lot of communities bull fighting has been banned and is considered quite controversial. It might be a tradition but it is one fighting a losing battle.
Not true.

They only speak Spanish

It might be the second most spoken language in the world and something definitely worth learning, but they do speak Euskera, Catalan and Galego in different areas of Spain. Places like Benidorm, Marbella, Madrid and Valencia have a massive amount of tourism and in all likelihood you can go around just speaking English. Unlike the English, waiters, receptionists and service staff are usually very proficient at speaking a multitude of other languages.  
Wrong.

Tacataaaa, livin la vida loca, salsa and flamenco

Especially when in it comes to music the majority of Europe tend to believe that music, dance and culture all roll into one. Contrary to popular belief Ricky Martin is not Spanish, you are not born with the ability to dance flamenco, and Spain is not Mexico with mariachi bands on every corner. Flamenco is a very difficult dance and needs a lot of practice; it is not something you can improvise.  Truth be told though from what I have seen Spain does play Euro top 10 trash in clubs and bars nearly all night.
Some truth.

They are loud

I’ll admit that when you are in England you can tell there is a Spanish family there from a mile away. They do sound quite loud, but whereas in England we would raise our voice if we are angry, it’s not the same for Spaniards who may quickly raise their voice when discussing something but this clearly does not imply anger.
This one might be true.

Dark hair, dark eyes, dark skin

I won’t bother go into detail but although the majority tend to be brunette and slightly darker, you still get blonde Spaniards with blue eyes so
it’s not true.

Sun, Sea and Beach

Geography seems to go right out of the window when people think of Spain. It somehow becomes invincible to winter or the cool chill it might bring. To be clear, summer is hot, winter is cold. Again the Mediterranean is really nice to swim in and generally is quite warm, but not all year round.
False

Argentine cuisine is known for being mostly meat-based. Residents of Argentina eat an average of 65 kg of meat per person per year. Besides the delicious cuts of meat, there is much more food and drink available in Argentine cuisine.

• The large group of immigrants has allowed Italian, Indian, French and Spanish cuisine to have a major influence on Argentine cuisine.
• Argentina is among the top five countries in the world with the largest wine production.
• In Argentina, eating is a social event; eating alone or on the road on a bus or train does not happen at all.

Argentine cuisine consists of influences from all over the world. Immigrants who came to Argentina have had a great influence on Argentine cuisine. Influences from Spain, Italy and France, among others, are well reflected in the cuisine. In addition to these influences, Argentina uses many local products such as beans, zucchini, corn, peppers, squash and sweet potato.

Meat dishes

Argentina is the country for meat lovers. Per year, residents eat an average of 65 kilograms of meat. This mainly involves beef. Argentine food is often prepared on a barbecue or grill. Eating in Argentina is quite a social happening. Eating alone is rare, and eating while on the train or bus is completely out of the question. On Sundays, the whole family often gathers and barbecues on a huge barbecue. Some typical Argentine dishes include asado (food prepared on a large barbecue), milbrillo (jam made from cultured pears, which are similar to hard apples) and locro (a hearty stew).

Breakfast in Argentina is only a light meal, often nothing more than toast with some jam or a croissant with coffee or tea. Lunch is more substantial and can vary greatly. Often lunch consists of a hearty sandwich or a hot meal. Breakfast and lunch take place at about the same time as dinner in the Netherlands. However, dinner does not take place before 9 pm. At dinner a good piece of meat is the basis of a dish. On the coast or in other fish-rich areas, fish tops the menu.

To bridge the long period between lunch and dinner, Argentines often eat minutas. These are small snacks or meals that can be made quickly. Some examples of minutas are coripan (hot dog), tostada (sandwich) and a chivito (a hearty sandwich topped with a juicy piece of meat).

Maté tea

Food in Argentina is often shared. If a pizza is ordered, it is eaten by all. Maté is also shared. Maté is the national drink. It is a kind of tea made from yerba (spicy leaves). To drink maté you need a special cup, yerba leaves, hot water and a bamboo straw. Yerba is put into the cup, the straw is inserted into it and then hot water is added. The creator of the drink tries the drink first and then people alternate between drinking and enjoying this national drink.

Tourism in Spain

For a country which has always been a tourist powerhouse, Spain still suffers from high unemployment, one of the highest in the Eurozone. This might be quite hard for people to understand considering Spain attracts over 55 million tourists every year, bringing 1,500 million euros worth of income into the country. Spanish tourism is actually generating more income than before the economic crisis, so what else do they have to do to? The Answer: Sponsorship, gambling, construction, price hikes and privatization:

Selling out to corporate giants

Vodafone have now apparently taken over the Madrid underground system, purchasing the rights to rebrand the entire line for an estimated 3 million euros. Madrid’s central metro station Puerta Del Sol has been renamed Vodafone Sol, with line 2 being rebranded line 2 Vodafone. This has undoubtedly been greeted with some resentment, a possible reminder of the Franco regime where street names were changed without any prior warning. The site was also the focal point for protests during the recession.

What happens in Vegas…

If that wasn’t enough, backed by the American Gambling Association powerhouse Las Vegas Sands, there are plans to build the largest casino in Europe just outside of Madrid in what was a fierce battle between the Catalan giant and the Spanish capital. The 35 billion dollar project is set to bring 10,000 new jobs to Spain with a further 160,000 directly and 90,000 indirectly, and is estimated to be completed by 2025, with 6 casinos, 4 hotels, 9 theatres and 3 golf courses. EuroVegas though has been met by fierce competition, especially Conservative politicians, the Catholic Church, and outraged citizens. They share the opinion that the project is set to open Spain up to human trafficking, prostitution, drugs and gambling addiction. To add insult to injury the Madrid government are bending tax evasion laws for the American powerhouse and are even trying to overturn a ban which will stop smoking in enclosed indoor areas.

The belief is that this is the answer to Madrid’s economic problems, but this may be a gamble too far for the Spanish government. Leading experts say that this mass construction frenzy was what got Spain to where they are now, and that their economic model is not suitable for gambling, construction, but more on tourism and exports.

More Construction…

While excessive construction may have got Spain into this miss, they are also planning to tear down a belle époque building and courtyard in Madrid’s Plaza de Canalejas, in lieu of plans to construct a 5 Star hotel and shopping mall. 18 Major architects have signed a petition against the destruction of the building claiming it as a historic monument, but it seems as if the plan is to go ahead.

Privatization and Price Hikes

Privatization of hospitals may be on hold due to a ruling from the Spanish high Court, but plans to raise Spanish tuition fees are certainly moving forward. Madrid’s public universities will increase in price by 20% next year, a 65% rise in two years. This is in a country where the value of a degree is imperative no matter what job prospects you have.

While these moves may be considered quite controversial, considering the state the economy is in I’m unsure whether they have any other choice. The real test will come after the summer months are over and will definitely be a reality check for the Spanish economy when tourism drops, if EuroVegas falls through maybe their bid for the 2020 Olympics will be the answer they are looking for.

Carlos Ruiz Zafón was born on Sept. 25, 1964, in Barcelona. He is one of the best-known Spanish novelists. All the books written by Zafón are set in Barcelona. He became famous with his first novel "La sombra del viento," the shadow of the wind. All of Zafón's books have been translated into Dutch, by Nelleke Geel.

Until today there are 7 books by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Including 3 novels and 4 juvenile novels. All his novels have been published in more than 40 countries in 30 different languages. Ever since Carlos was five years old he has wanted to be a writer, working at a large advertising company until the 1990s. But then quit this to focus fully on his passion: writing! In his own words, Zafón's novels are a biography of his own life.

The shadow of the wind

His first novel was the 2001 book "La sombra del viento," which in Dutch means "the shadow of the wind". This was also the book that brought him great fame. This book is about the main character, Daniel, who one day is taken by his father to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Daniel gets to pick one book and chooses the book; "The Shadow of the Wind. From that day on, the book changes his whole life, and even seems that the people Daniel meets in his life from then on are part of a game in which the book is the centerpiece.

Juvenile novels

In 1993 Carlos released his first book, a juvenile novel called 'El príncipe de la niebla' (the mist prince), this was a mystery horror novel. In 1994 he released his second juvenile novel called 'El palacio de la medianoche' (The Midnight Palace). His last juvenile novel was "Marina," which he released in 1999. After this, Zafón began writing novels for adults.

The Spanish Civil War

Besides 'La sombra del viento' Zafón released two other novels. 'El juego del angel' in Dutch is called 'Het spel van de engel' this book was released in 2008 and in 2011 he released the book 'El prisionero del cielo', 'The prisoners of heaven'. The remarkable thing is that all these novels are set after the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona. Consequently, there are several individual and group tours available in Barcelona that visit all the locations from the books. Carlos has mentioned several times that his three novels are part of a four-part series, "the quartet of Barcelona. So it is only a matter of time until his next novel comes out and his four-part series is complete.

The Argentine tango

Tango originated in Argentina more than 100 years ago. To be precise, at the end of the nineteenth century in the working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Like flamenco, tango is not only and dance style but also a music style and a poetry style. There are two types of tango, Argentine tango and ballroom tango.

Argentine tango originated in the late 19th century when many European men went to Buenos Aires for a better life and work. These different nationalities all had their own input into tango. For example, the Spanish brought influences from flamenco and the descendants of African slaves knew the candombe, but Italians, Russians and other nationalities had also had their influences on tango.

All these influences created a confident, restrained, emotional and challenging dance. The most important thing in tango is the connection between the dance partners. Argentine tango is known for its improvisation. This ensures that no two dances are the same. The tango contains many tempo differences and sharp footwork. Because there is so much improvisation, making a mistake is not a problem as long as you improvise together with your partner. The basic steps of the tango are la caminada (the basic step), el paseo (the same basic step but with the partner together while moving) and la cadencia (the same as el paseo but without moving).

The tango in Europe

In the early 20th century, many members of wealthy families from Argentina came to Paris. This caused the tango to become popular in Europe. In Europe, however, the tango had many opponents. People considered the dance vulgar and vulgar. It even went so far that in 1923 the pope banned the tango in Europe! This caused the ballroom tango to emerge. You could think of the ballroom tango as the corrected version of the Argentine Tango. The ballroom tango was characterized by its tight music and the tango dance of this dance style was much tighter and less improvisation took place. This, together with the entrance of other music and dance styles, was the reason why the tango became less popular in Europe.

However, in the 1980s Argentine tango became popular again in Europe. This time there were no opponents of the dance and since then it is impossible to imagine Europe without it. In every major city in the Netherlands you can find a tango dance school.

Citytrip Valencia

Arriving early in the morning at the airport of Valencia, I can't wait to start my day with a freshly squeezed zumo de naranja á la Valencia. Instead of a hotel in Valencia, we opted for a hostal right in the center. Drop your bags and then quickly into town! From the airport you can very easily take the metro to the center of Valencia. So we did. The subway takes us straight to our hostal. This hostal is located at the "Plaza Ayuntamiento" from where you can easily walk to the other two squares of Valencia (Plaza de la Reina and Plaza de la Virgen). The temperature gauge in the square reads 34 degrees. Fortunately, there is a constant wind blowing through Valencia, so it is perfectly bearable. Valencia is the^3rd largest city in Spain, but this does not feel like it at all. It has a quiet center with not too much traffic, where you can stroll through the many narrow streets.

Thinking about tasty snacks for tonight, the so-called pinchos, we first have breakfast. As we walk towards the first square we see that you can sit on the terrace of Horchatería El Siglo in the sun. This is definitely the place where we want to have breakfast and catch the first rays of the Spanish sun. On the menu is horchata de chufa (almond drink). According to the camarero, this is something typically Valencian you must have tried. You drink this local thirst quencher ice cold and eat fartons (stems of croissant dough) with it. The waiter manages to seduce me anyway so, in addition to the zumo de naranja, I order the horchata with fartons. The horchata tastes like a slightly sweet milky drink and is wonderfully refreshing. The combination with the fartons completes it!

To explore Valencia properly we´all Dutch´re going to explore the city by bike. Everywhere you can rent bikes, but on the recommendation of our hostal we rent them at ´Solution Bike rental´ at a great price. Very nice is to cycle through the 10 kilometer(!) long city park ´Jardines del Turia´ in the old river bed of the Turia. This park runs right through the city like a green strip. I have never seen such a versatile park with playgrounds, work-out machines, playing fields and beautiful picnic areas!

After an active bike ride through Valencia, our stomachs begin to growl again and we look for a restaurant where locals enjoy the almuerzo. We plop down at restaurant ´Taberna Española Pasodoble´. Like the valencianos do, we order the daily menu. This is a complete 3-course meal for about 10.00 euros. Very tasty and a cheap solution that can fill you up well.

What you must have tasted when in Valencia is the paella. This cocina típica de Valencia, is available everywhere. Just outside Valencia, in Albufera, you can visit the rice fields. We decide to eat paella on the beach of Valencia in the evening. It is easily accessible by metro from the city center. We were told that the most famous restaurant is "La Pepica", but that "L'Estimat" serves the best paella and that it is surrounded by Valencians. That is the best tip: eat where the locals are sitting.

We end the evening at the ´Café de las Horas´ with Valencia´s most famous cocktail, Agua de Valencia. The alcoholic version of Valencian oranges, mixed with cava brut (Spanish champagne) and cointreau.

Before we go home again, I go to the Central Market in the morning to buy something for home. This market with its food stalls of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish and meat makes your mouth water. This is also where all the restaurants in Valencia get their fresh produce. On the side of the ´Mercado Central´ I quickly buy paella rice and a paella pan so that later I can try to make the real paella Valenciana at home.

Valencia, with about 1500 restaurants, is a delight for culinary lovers. It is a versatile city where you can fully enjoy Spanish life in all its facets. I will definitely come back here!

Beat the heat with this top ten Summer drink selection!

1. Pisco sour

The origins of this sweet drink are a bit of a controversy; the bordering countries of Chile and Peru both claim it as their own. What everyone agrees on however is that the drink must be made with a good pisco, some syrup (water + sugar) to sweeten, an egg white, and a bit of lemon.

Mix these ingredients in a cocktail mixer and then add a a few drops (no more than just two or three) of angostura bitters.

2. Margarita

Can you imagine Mexican food without a refreshing margarita? Take 50 cl. (16.9 ounces) of your favorite tequila, 20 cl. (6.7 ounces) of Triple Sec or Cointreau (the latter is sweet), and some lemon.

Shake and serve in a glass with a salted brim.

3. Sangrita

Not to be confused with sangría, this drink is made with tomato juice (3 parts), orange juice (1 part) and lime (1/2 part), and seasoned with a dash of salt and pepper and even Tabasco sauce if you like spicy flavors, or perhaps Worcestershire sauce.

This drink goes perfect with tequila añejo before lunch.

4. Sangría de cava

Here's a white version of this Spanish classic. It's made with semi-dry or brut cava, the juice from one lemon and half of an orange, a pinch of sugar, and perhaps a bit of rum or triple sec.

Then add an orange, a peach, and strawberries that have all been cut into small chunks. We recommend serving immediately to not lose the sparkling magic of the cava.

5. Sangría

Make this perfect summer drink with a nice red wine, the juice from three oranges and one lemon, sugar (as desired) and a stick of cinnamon.

Then add cut pieces of apple, peach, apricot and banana. It's best to cool it in the refrigerator to serve cold without adding ice.

6. Rebujíto

Anyone that's been to the Feria de Sevilla must remember the rebujito: a wine from Jerez or Manzanilla with the added touch of a carbonated lime refreshment and a few hierbabuena leaves (like sweet mint) to create a refreshing and aromatic beverage.

7. Mojito

The mixed drink loved by Hemingway and known the world over comes from the Caribbean island nation of Cuba.

White Cuban rum and grinded hierbabuena leaves in the bottom of a glass with a spoonful of sugar, a little carbonated water and plenty of ice make up this popular drink.

8. Palomita

This drink reminds us that Spain is indeed a Mediterranean country: the palomita (anisette, sweet or dry, plus five parts cold water) is the Spanish version of the French pastis, the Greek ouzo, the Turkish raki and the lebanese arak.

Refreshing and fragrant.

9. Daiquiri

Our list of summer drinks wouldn't be complete without this marvelously simple cocktail made with two parts white rum and one part lime juice and served in a glass with sugar on the brim.

10. Piña colada

For experiencing the South American tropics, there's nothing like filling your drink mixer with equal parts of white rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream.

Shake and serve with a slice of pineapple decorating the brim of the glass.

Photo credits by: Reese Lloyd (Pisco Sour), Pfau 910 (Sangría de cava), Colonnade Boston (Sangría), German Laullon (rebujito), Kenn Wilson (daiquiri).

Increasingly popular, also in the Netherlands, are the Spanish dances. Flamenco and salsa, we have all heard of them. But where do these dances come from, are they real Spanish dances or did they originate elsewhere in the world?

Flamenco is one of the most complex dances in the world. Flamenco originated in the second half of the nineteenth century in Andalusia, southern Spain. When people think of flamenco they often think of flamenco dance, but flamenco is more. Flamenco is a combination of baile (dance), toque (guitar playing), cante (singing) and palmas (hand clapping). It is a spirited, expressive and powerful dance and is characterized by its footwork, rhythms, attire and castanets. Today flamenco is one of Spain's most important cultural exports.

Another dance thought to be Spanish is salsa. In the Netherlands, salsa dancing is very well known and therefore there are many opportunities to learn this dance. Salsa is a collective name for different types of dances and rhythms such as son, mambo, guaguancó, cha-cha-cha and the dázon. The rhythm of the dance consists of 8 beats divided into two times four beats, where of every four beats one beat is rested.

When you dance salsa, you don't have to memorize complicated choreography; you can certainly improvise as well. So you don't have to be a professional dancer! With the right rhythm, basic steps and turning technique you will come a long way. The footwork is fortunately not complicated, with these you make the basic steps and the rest of your body does the remaining (dance) work, such as graceful arm movements that are characteristic of salsa.

Salsa is found both in Spain and in the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America and is a melting pot of different cultures of peoples who came to Cuba, each bringing with them their own music and dance style. African slave music and Spanish singing were especially influential in the creation of salsa. Today some 15 million Latin Americans dance salsa.