Bienvenidos a La Republica Dominicana!
A half-term to remember! Welcome to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic
Copius amounts of sun, sea and smiles ahead!
I had the extreme blessing and opportunity to visit the sunny Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic during the half-term school holiday (17th - 21st February 2025). While this unfortunately meant Emerald Bridges needed to take a short hiatus, it did mean I could return with renewed vigour, rested mentality and recharged batteries ready for another 8 months of hard work (can you believe Emerald Bridges CPAS has only been around for 8 months!). So, in a bid for transparency and a hope of helping spread awareness of this beautiful country, I’d like to share a fantastic portion of my trip: my visit to the seaside town of Puerta Plata. Vamanos!
The unity of culture, art and history
Just one of the many pieces of street art on the sides of buildings.
A sunny and beautiful welcome to Puerto Plata awaits you.
Puerto Plata, located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, is a breathtaking destination known for its golden-sand beaches, lush green mountains, and rich history. The city is home to the famous Malecón (similar to a boardwalk), a scenic oceanfront promenade, and the San Felipe Fortress, a colonial-era fort that offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. But even before you reach these amazing sights, beautiful artwork done by local artists adorn buildings on the way via Avenue Gregorio Luperón, such as the one above. The painting by street artist “Leralex” depicts a vibrant beautiful young girl in a traditional Dominican dress. The colours are the national colours of the country and not only, to me, evoke peace, joy and serenity but also natural beauty and a sunny disposition that is common amongst the people of the Dominican Republic. I was in awe of this artwork for so long and wish I could have taken it home, but this photo from my phone will have to do! Below are some select snaps from the Malecon and Fortress.
Umbrellas but no rain
After the cultural trip, we walked into town to visit the famous “Umbrella Street.” As you can see, it's a short section of a closed off-road canopied by beautiful and colourful umbrellas. The road is also lined with great souvenir shops, restaurants, and an adorable coconut milk-based ice cream parlour whose flavours range from the exotic “Mango and honey” to the mysterious but equally yummy “cake” flavour. You can actually see the ice cream parlour tucked away on the left of the photo below.
Food that heals the soul and planet
Midday looming, we were beginning to need our lunch and while there were no shortage of delicious looking options, my friend’s vegetarianism meant we needed to be extra selective. Enter the amazing Casa 40 restuarant, located just off Umbrella street.
Casa 40
A rare find in the D.R. is an ecologically conscious restaurant that focuses on recycling, sustainable food choices and service with a smile! Casa 40 is that exact find!
Casa 40 is a vibrant cultural hub and restaurant renowned locally for its diverse menu that blends Dominican and traditional Western dishes. It also prides itself on being an eco-friendly venue. Over 90% of its decor, cutlery, and furnishing are provided through re- and upcycling projects. From the chair you sit on to the glasses you drink from, everything started life as a different object that the caring team lovingly handcrafts into what you use today.
They say love transcends all, even language barriers, and this was more than demonstrated by the staff’s love of providing high-quality service and dining experiences, albeit in Spanish. While this wasn’t an issue for me, my friend, who doesn’t speak a word of Spanish, still felt listened to and valued by our waitress, Rosa, as she used all means available to ensure we were both attended to. We both ordered our salads (a prawn base and a chicken base) alongside naturally blended pineapple juice. While I’m not a person to take pictures of my food (I’m too busy eating it), I can say it was simply amazing, blending exotic vinaigrettes with a healthy range of salads and a hint of spicy salsa at my request.
Suffice it to say it was a fantastic dining and cultural experience and one I can confidently recommend. Below is a selection of my photos, but if you’d like more information, why not connect with them on their Instagram @casa40rd
Tickled pink!
Fuelled with protein, happiness and photos, our next stop is the Paseo de Doña Blanca, otherwise known as Pink Alley. This is an odd but charming stop on our tour through Puerto Plata. A completely pink alleyway with benches, art installations and walls all in a bright pink hue. The alley is a homage to Doña Blanca, an Italian pioneer who contributed significantly to the city’s early tourism efforts, even establishing the country’s most successful and significant hotel - “el hospedaje del comercio” later renamed “Hotel Europa”.
A great, playful stop that only takes a few minutes of your time but has the potential to create memories that last a lifetime. See the photos below to see what I mean, and in case that’s not enough, the Dominican Tourist Board has, of course, got you covered with more information, including directions and history.
Carnival time
Serendipity clearly had plans for us that day!
How often do you stumble into a Carnival to book end a trip?
Fortune favours the bold it seems as apparently we had arrived to Puerto Plata on one of the days of Carnival! Completely unbeknownst to us when we set out, the Puerto Plata carnival is a vibrant annual celebration that showcases the country’s rich cultural heritage through colourful costumes, loud music and exotic parades. The Carnival is held every Sunday throughout February around the Malecon area. My friend and I couldn’t believe our luck as originally we had planned and prepared to visit Puerto Plata the previous day, Saturday, but were rain-checked by an almighty tropical monsoon that ordered us to make rearrangements for the following day.
The carnival was such a fantastic experience with an electrifying atmosphere of smiles, laughs and energy. Not a single frown could be found as the elaborate costumed participants danced, posed and played their way through the parade.
“Tap here for good luck??”
While the cultural significance and heritage of the carnival customs are vastly complex, blending African, Taíno and Spanish cultures, one custom of the festival that was hard to comprehend or ignore initially was the hitting of women’s bums with small oval cushion-like balls attached to strings! This wasn’t just men hitting women, but women hitting other women, too. Believe me, We were just as confused and shocked as you are. Still, soon, we were starting to clue into the likelihood that this wasn’t random incidents of assault but a playful cultural custom as nobody batted an eyelid at the “attacks”. In addition, an announcement in Spanish by one of the DJs requested that Carnival-goers not hit tourists as they may not understand the meaning of the custom (we certainly didn’t, at least). Only through research upon returning to the hotel room did we learn that, alongside some of the costume choices, is the presence of “Diablos Cojuelos” or “Mischievous Devils”, iconic figures that represent trickery and fun by playfully tapping spectators on the bum with “inflated pig bladders”. Historically, each tap was meant to bring good luck and fertility, but now it represents more of a playful custom. Of course, as modern sensibilities evolve, the act has been considered controversial as it becomes interpreted as “outdated” and “intrusive”, which is not hard to see why!
Regardless of your position on that small aspect of the carnival, the overwhelmingly positive atmosphere, vibe, and fun the Puerto Plata carnival brought with it cannot be overstated. It honestly is an experience that mustn’t be missed if possible. I know photos won’t do it justice, but here goes anyway!
And there you have it. Just a snapshot of one of the most enjoyable days of my break. A fantastic experience on a beautiful tropical island isn’t something I take for granted. I am forever grateful for the interactions I’ve had throughout my life, both professional and personal, which have made any of this possible. This break is just one example of the recharge one needs to carry on giving 110% effort, as we aim to do, particularly in this industry. And while it's not necessary nor feasible for every walk of life to hop on a 12-hour flight to the Caribbean. Self-care in any form is vital for the maintenance of mental health, resilience and well-being required to “keep going”. So I wish everyone who has arrived here many opportunities to rest safely, soundly and contently before we all get back to rolling that stone uphill.
Bendiciones para todos (Blessings to all)
Dr Mickel KW Johnson
