VERY INTERESTING: THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about

FAST FACTS ABOUT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Dominican Republic is a breathtaking destination featuring a variety of Spanish and Mexican architecture. Here are some conversation starters at the pool-side bar next time you go on vacation in the Dominican Republic.

HERE ARE 17 REMARKABLE FACTS ABOUT THIS CARIBBEAN NATION:

• Baseball is by far the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic. There are over 100 players of Dominican origin across American professional baseball leagues, including David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, and Hanley Ramirez.
• Merengue, the fast-paced, rhythmic music and dance originated there.
• Remember the amber stone with a prehistoric mosquito preserved inside from Jurassic Park? That’s fossilized tree resin, which is on display at the Amber Museum in Puerto Plata.
• Samaná Bay is home to a humpback whale sanctuary from January to March.
• 25% of the Dominican Republic’s land and shoreline are preserved as national parks, reserves, and sanctuaries.
• Flamingo Animals in Dominican Republic
• Oscar de la Renta, the acclaimed fashion designer, was born in Santo Domingo, DR.
• The Dominican Republic is a very sustainable nation because it produces nearly all kinds of food served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner across the country.
• It's the site of the oldest colonial settlement in the Americas, and home to Christopher Columbus’s first New World landing point in 1492.
• More firsts in the Americas: First Catholic cathedral, first university, first hospital, and the first capital city (Santo Domingo).
• Any fans of The Godfather Part II? The Cuban Revolution scenes were actually filmed at the Presidential Palace in Santo Domingo.
• Dominican Republic Presidential Palace
• Armed forces personnel and members of the national police aren’t allowed to vote.
• The DR is the only place in the world where Larimar, a rare form of blue pectolite, is mined.
• Pico Duarte is the highest peak in the Caribbean (3,098 meters).
• The Dominican Republic is the only country in the world with a Bible on the flag.
• In the 17th century, islands around the DR were bases of operation for buccaneers who raided Spanish trade ships.
• Puerto Plata features the only cable-car system in the Caribbean.
• Mama Juana is an alcoholic drink unique to the Dominican Republic. It’s made from rum, red wine, honey, tree bark, and herbs. It’s also considered an aphrodisiac.

and as always have a chilled day from the Viking