Dominican culture — merengue, bachata, baseball, sancocho. Taino-Spanish-African blend. Vibrant Caribbean.
Language
Dominican Spanish — distinctive accent, dropping final S. Taino and African influences. English in tourist areas.
Music — Merengue and Bachata
Merengue — UNESCO 2016. Juan Luis Guerra — world legend. Bachata — rural origin, now global. Romeo Santos, Aventura. Mandatory music at any party.
Baseball
National religion. 30% of MLB players are Dominican. Pedro Martínez, David Ortiz, Alex Rodríguez. Dominican winter league — elite.
Cuisine
Sancocho — national soup with 7 meats. La Bandera (rice + beans + meat). Mangú (plantain mash), mofongo, fish with coconut. Brugal rum, Barceló — world export.
Religion
95% Catholic. Syncretism with African santería. Patron Virgins. Carnival (February) — pre-Lent celebration with devil costumes.
Punta Cana and Tourism
60% of GDP is tourism. All-inclusive resorts. White beaches — Bávaro, Macao, Saona. 4 million annual tourists.
History and Trujillo
Santo Domingo — first European city in Americas (1496, UNESCO). Trujillo dictator 31 years (1930-1961). Mirabal Sisters murdered — International Day Against Violence to Women November 25.