Why visit the Dominican Republic?
Because it's the oldest settled European land in the western hemisphere. Because it's the island that Columbus bragged about due to its extraordinary natural beauty and genuine hospitality of its people. Because it's an island of frosty mountain peaks, flat savannahs, mangrove swamps, cactus-studded deserts, palm dominated beaches, friendly outgoing people. Because itís a country where people have figured out the secret of a happy life. There is a Dominican saying that says money can only but whatís cheap. It's so true, that is why on your way to the hotel from the airport you saw entire families gathered together enjoying each others company. Thatís why you saw smiles bigger and brighter than the light being emitted from the sun. Thatís why you saw kids enjoying life with one big laugh and simple childís play. Thatís why you heard lively music in all the towns and markets. Thatís why you saw poor people dressing as sharp as they possibly could. Itís a sharp contrast to what one sees in the streets of New York. Where Americans parade up and down Fifth Avenue with a grumpy face. Where Americans dress as if they are unworthy humans with jeans and t-shirts not being tucked in. Where bad words and bad gestures are everyday things. Where people use money to be happy and instead find a gap in them selves, a gap hard to fill. Dominicans don't have that gap. They live at peace with themselves and every body that visit their wonderful country. How do I know this? Because unlike most tourist, I left the comfortable resorts and ventured on my own. What did most tourist found? They say poverty, misery, and poor service. I saw a culture that survives around family values, a country with impressive historical sights and resonance, a country of swaying palm trees and a brilliant sunshine, a country where people despite being poor are very happy with life, themselves, and their country. Why? It's like they say, money buy whatís cheap. Once your love one dies, or you lose your dignity, or you lose a sense to live, or you lose the basic essence of life in your day to day existence, all the money in the world wont be enough to change such misfortune. I'm glad I truly discovered the real Dominican Republic. On my Dominican adventure, poor people that saw my thirst in the sun offered me water; I was helped find my way around with a thank you and a bright smile. I ended most evenings in a Santo Domingo barrio, drinking some rum with the locals, playing an intense game of dominos with them, with merengue music filling the tropical air, and the most genuine laughs and love I have ever felt. I'm in America now, and here people look at me strange if all I want is a drop of water from a stranger, they look at me strange if all I want is a companion for a day, they look at me strange if all I want for someone that I don't know to simply say hello, just for being alive. But no, America only offers me worthless material gain; Dominican Republic offers me a spiritual gain. Thatís why people should go to Dominican Republic, not to criticize the resorts or the country due to ones own ignorance of the place, but to find true happiness. A happiness that money will never offer. A happiness that exist in few places of this world.