Guests of Dominican Republic resorts or a Dominican Republic villa rental will quickly discover that the island offers varied terrain including tall mountains and countless historical sites. Whether touring the palatial home of Don Diego Columbus, visiting the villages of Sosua and Cabarete, or perusing the markets, visitors will not be disappointed.No trace remains of the islands' original Indian population; today's inhabitants are mostly descended from slaves or slave owners. The hybrid Caribbean culture is evident in the food, in the music and in the handmade sloops that many locals use for fishing. Islanders reflect a mixture of British and West Indian influences when playing their dashing style of cricket and when they wash down a plate of conch fritters with a pint of ale.
Virgin Islanders are suckers for a beat. Fungi bands play scratch instruments such as gourds and washboards and sing songs that often comment on local social and political issues. Calypso, known originally as kaiso, was brought here by African slaves and used as a form of communication and rebellion. It's still an integral part of the islands' Carnival, which began as a celebration of slave emancipation.
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