A cruise in the Dominican Republic, simply makes you happy: a warm evening on the harbour promenade, live music in front of colourful houses in the Background, the sound of the sea. But the Dominican Republic has so much more to offer. The excursions of the cruise lines the interior of the country to lead in a tropical garden of Eden, with sweet fruits, and beautiful Nature landscapes.
Already Columbus was thrilled
"This is the Nicest, what the human eye has ever had to face", to Christopher Columbus said, as he entered the island of Hispaniola for the first Time. The Caribbean island is now one of two thirds of the Dominican Republic, and one-third to Haiti. On his second Journey to the New world Columbus had a house with Atlantic ocean views build. Nearby, he placed a Church. The first European settlement was in the North of the Dominican Republic, one after the other. Columbus named it after the Spanish Queen: La Isabela. The ruins of this settlement can be visited, including the Foundation walls of the warehouse and other exhibits.
Our Route for a cruise in the Dominican Republic
We discover the Dominican Republic in the framework of the acquired experience report with AIDA: AIDAluna went in October of New York city from South to spend the Winter on the cross in the Caribbean rides. Such a repositioning cruise, or TRANS-travel has a special charm, as it combines several areas: On our Route Baltimore, Charleston, Port Canaveral, Miami and Nassau in the Dominican Republic, there was every day a little bit warmer. Be on the lookout for these special trips is therefore worthwhile.
In the Dominican Republic, our Route led Amber Cove in the province of Puerto Plataafter Samaná and in the state capital Santo Domingo. We dive in the Caribbean Flair of this journey...
Village visit in Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata – the silver port. Allegedly Columbus to have inspired the trees in the surrounding area with silvery leaves of this name. An impressive fortress at the port by the name of entrance Fortaleza San Felipe from the 16th century. Century is reminiscent of the discovery of the New world. As a protection against the Gold and treasure hunters from Europe built, later used as a prison, is the fortress is now a Museum.
Bright turquoise stripes in the sea, from the dark Blue of the water under our boat's bow. The wooded hills appear to be almost unnatural green. After a typical tropical rain, the humidity is about 90 percent. In the first Moment, a bit of a challenge for our German circuit.
We have in place Amber Cove on a modern cruise port with all the tourist heart. However, instead of to the beautiful beaches, it attracts us to the interior of The Safari truck jerky over moguls in an authentic village, our destination.
Colorful shacks strung together in the dense Green of the rain forest. Window needs here, in fact, no one – it is never colder than 24 degrees. We visit a family that is supported by the tour operator welcomes us into her humble and beloved home welcome. In the rustic cabin, a living room and a bedroom for the family. The kitchen is a separate building, as over the open fire in a clay oven is cooked. Is washed away on the window sill, the water line of fresh, Wet from the river directly here.
In the garden of pineapple, Avocado, and Mango to grow in addition to coriander, cocoa, and cashew nuts. Pride of the family, the father presents his seven varieties of Banana. We learn that a Perennial banana ripens, all nine months, and that Oregano against the ears helps in pain. An interesting Detail is, in fact, remained for years after that, in reminder. Several times a day, his wife, buys in the small mom-and-pop Shop, so that the foods are fresh. Stream here for a matter of hours, in a refrigerator is not to think. A simple life, reduced to the Essentials. But the eyes of the people to radiation.
Souvenirs? Rum, cocoa, cigars, and coffee!
We Germans are sitting seriously in the Truck, thinking about, whether it is poverty or wealth, what we saw there. Our Guide will tear us Libre with one of Cuba – or, as he says: "Cola with Vitamin" – from the Brood. He mixes the local Rum Brugal with coke and we must admit that it tastes damn delicious. Then he turns the music system. Salsa, the national dance, the Merengue, but also Bob Marley roar out of the speakers. After two Drinks, the tense luffs most German passenger a bit to the beat.
It's a Cuba Libre with the local Rum Brugal.
As a Souvenir, the Guide recommends Mama Juana – a concoction of Rum, wine, honey, and 50 to 60 varieties of wood, which should help to increase pleasure. The "gift shop" is an open wooden hut in the middle of the jungle. Some of the women roll of the Hand of cigars from Cuban and Dominican tobacco – one of the most important export items of the country. We are amazed that a good cigar from whole tobacco leaves that have been fermented for two years. They are pressed together in 45 minutes in the leathery outer leaf, then a silk fine cover sheet comes to the end, to close the cigar.
Rum, wine and honey, are the other ingredients.
The cigars with chocolate taste to come, surprisingly, for all the good. As well as the tea of Xocola, the gods to the Aztecs. Behind the grated cocoa, which is refined when infused in hot water with sugar and cinnamon is hidden. The pure cocoa mass to counteract the aging process, and even help with weight loss. Cocoa a week of beans for this, and dried over a wood fire roasted.
Our Guide tells us how it came to today's use of coffee: "A man had a German shepherd, the one day of coffee beans ate. The man was surprised that the dog was then, and happily so. He told it to his neighbor who did not want to believe him. Together, they sampled the coffee beans. However, they tasted bitter, so they threw them into the fire. Then the roasted flavor unfolded. The Rest is history.“
Samaná – the gateway to the national Park
The Peninsula Of Samaná cruise ship travelers presents a difficult decision: to visit the famous Bacardi Island Of Cayo Levantado or rather, the nature conservation areas in the South of the province with the highest palm density in the world? We choose the latter and visit, among other things, the Waterfall "El Limón" in National Park Los Haitises. After the conquest, the Region had long been uninhabited, and so were able to develop Vegetation in this Park in the Bay of Samaná freely.
By boat the extensive mangrove forests, typical of the rocky hills, karst Islands and caves in the national Park can be controlled. A popular photo subject is the Boca de Tiburóna rock formation that resembles a shark's mouth. Inside-created many stalactites. Since the Bay fish here is very rich, chances to see dolphins or manatees, bad. From November to March in the Bay of Samaná, with a bit of luck also whale watching, staying during their mating season is here.
In Samaná Columbus was welcomed by the way, just friendly: The Ciguayos received him with such a hail of arrows, he called the Bay "Golfo de las Flechas" (Bay of the arrows). In Santo Domingo, he was really at home. And his son Diego was there, in the distance to the Spanish Viceroy.
Santo Domingo – the capital of the Dominican Republic
From afar to greet the massive Faro a Colón the visitors – a cross-like monument built in honor of Christopher Columbus. It is next to Seville – one of the places where allegedly the Remains of the famous Explorer to rest. At night, spotlights projecting the cross with the light pillars in the sky – hence the Name Faro, lighthouse.
The Capital of the Dominican Republic their Status makes all the glory: Of the Plaza Espana with the Columbus Palace rows along the Calle Las Damas imposing buildings in the colonial style together. It is not difficult to imagine how the wife of the Viceroy Diego Columbus with her ladies-in-waiting of the oldest stone road of the New world to the mounting bulwark Fortaleza Ozama took a stroll.
Who would like to delve deeper into these times, an impression of the clothing and way of life Museo de las Casas Reales make. In this 16th-century building. Century worked on various topics from the history of the Dominican Republic impressive.
In the old town, we buy larimar jewelry – the blue-and-white stone in this Form only in the Dominican Republic and in Soave in Italy. In a colorful Restaurant, we treat our tired feet a break. Color plays really anywhere a large role, either in the houses, the sea or the greenery. Especially in the month of February, a state of emergency in terms of color prevails splendor. Then, anywhere in elaborate costumes, with rhythmic music and spectacular dancing Carnival celebrated.
Soon we must now say goodbye to the locker slight Caribbean flair. We try all sorts of local specialties, for example, Yaniqueque – salt dough. The Caribbean spring roll called Pastelito it is filled with minced meat and vegetables and sausage skewers Longanisa the fried banana is just as important.
And while we feel in front of the return journey, once again aware of the Caribbean sun on our skin, we plan to smuggle the warm and colorful joy of life in the Dominican Republic is secretly returned to Germany.
Cruise from Dominican Republic to book
Many large shipping companies such as AIDA, TUI Cruises, Costa or Norwegian integrate stops in the Dominican Republic in their Caribbean cruises. Often the start or end of the travel to La Romana, TRANS-Atlantic trips from/to Europe from this port in the South of the Dominican Republic offers. The course is very practical: you have to take a long flight for the cruise to the Dominican Republic to.
In General, it is recommended to book complete packages from flights, transfers and cruise. So you as a passenger on the safe side, in the event of flight delays or even failures and does not need to take care of the Transfer from the airport to the cruise port. The country gears, you should use preferably the offers of the shipping companies because the crime rate in the Dominican Republic is high.
Photo Sources: Title Image Nikolay Antonov/ Shutterstock.com | Post Image 1 Of Thomas Gray/ Shutterstock.com | Post Image 18 Colour Chaser/ Shutterstock.com | Post Image 19 David Pou/ Shutterstock.com