We spent some time in Amber Cove and then took a coach trip to the town Puerto Plato. The trip was 2.5 hours. Our guide was Pablo - he told us he was one of over 20 children!
Geography
The Dominican republic has a population of about 10 million. religion largely Catholic.
Our port town Puerto Plata stands 800 meters above sea level, has a beautiful mountainous backdrop, and is surrounded by the largest amount of amber deposits worldwide. Amber is still mined extensively in very dangerous and unregulated conditions. Mt. Isabel de Torres is located 5 km southwest of Puerto Plata city and using the Don José Ginebra highway one can drive to the very top of the mountain. Being the largest city on the northern coast, Puerto Plata consists of several subdivisions. Puerto Plata Province is both tropical and mountainous, featuring beaches, ocean, mountainous regions, tropical jungle and city streets. There are several rivers and streams running through Puerto Plata, including San Marcos, San Piñez, Corozo, Muñoz, Camú del Norte, Maimón, El Violón, Río Seco, Blanco, San Cristóbal, Caballo, Fú, and Culebra. The waterfront running through Puerto Plata is called El Malecón
The importance of Hurricane George in 1988 on the economy and community became apparent. It had damaged large areas of the Dominican Republic, including the Cathedral, now rebuilt.
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| San Felipe Cathedral |
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| San Felipe Cathedral |
San Felipe Cathedral
San Felipe Cathedral
San Felipe Cathedral
San Felipe Cathedral
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| Victorian Bandstand |
The port of Amber Cove is surrounded by stunning mountains. Apart from tourism there's tobacco, coffee, sugar, bananas, cigars, rum and coconuts all important to the island economy. The DR used to be part of a Spanish owned colony, the whole island was called Hispaniola which is now divided into two: Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Haiti used to be called Saint Domingue in the 17th century by French explorers. Santo Domingo is the Dominican Republic's capital now.
Most of the population lives a near self sufficient life away from towns, in what is commonly referred to as “el campo” or the country. Here most people live in houses made mostly of palm wood, or more commonly, half concrete half wood. They grow their own fruit and vegetables and often keep pigs and chickens.
The history behind the 16th century San Felip fortress began in 1564 when King Felipe II of Spain commissioned it to be built in Puerto Plata to protect the city. Due to its location on a hill at the Puntilla Del Malecón with a perfect view of the Atlantic Ocean, it served to protect Puerto Plata from pirate invasions. During his reign Puerto Plata became an important silver and gold mining area making the Dominican Republic extremely popular and often preyed upon by pirates.
The construction time was 13 years. It was taken over by Mayor Don Rengifo de Anulo and finished in 1577.
Later, during the Quasi War or the Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor between 1798 and 1803, Fort San Felipe was again involved in protecting its city in an undeclared war between the United States and France. During this battle, Fort San Felipe launched shots at the USS Constitution as it was trying to harass a French ship. Inevitably, the Spanish at the fort were overrun by the Americans.
Following the war, around 1844, Juan Pablo Duarte, a founding father of the Dominican Republic was imprisoned here by General Pedro Santana. After Juan Pablo Duarte’s imprisonment, Fortaleza San Felipe was used to imprison many, including throughout the dictatorship of General Rafael Trujillo. General Trujillo would use secret police to arrest those he despised and left them in the prison.
These days the fortress serves as Puerto Plata’s historical museum. It opened in 1965, in 1972 was closed for renovation and reopened in 1983. There is a long list of artifacts on display in the museum that date back to its inception. It is the oldest building in Puerto Plata as all the others were destroyed throughout time
We were also alerted to the importance of donkeys in the Dominican Republic, for farming and for tourism. e.g. https://youtu.be/gw1auzfib-s There might be 200,000 - 300,000 donkeys/mules on the island!
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