My grandson, he always watching this phone, say something about what Dominican Republic, what British Virgin Islands. He ask me which one better. I say, boy, you ask the wrong person. I never been to those places. But I can tell you what I know from what he show me and what I see on the TV.
This Dominican Republic, I hear it big place. Lots of people live there. They speak a language, I don’t understand. Spanish, they call it. Sounds fast. Like they always in a hurry. My grandson show me pictures. Big hotels, they got. Beaches, you know. Like we see in movies. People swim, eat, drink. Look like fun, I guess. But too many people for me. I like it quiet.
Then this British Virgin Islands. Smaller, they say. Not so many people. Still got beaches, though. Pretty water. Blue, like the sky when there no clouds. They got boats there. Big ones, small ones. People go on them, look at the water. They say it’s peaceful. I like that, peaceful. Reminds me of sitting on my porch back home, watching the chickens scratch. Not much to do, just relax.
- Dominican Republic: Big place, lots of people.
- British Virgin Islands: Smaller, quieter, they say.
- Both got beaches, I see.
I see pictures of the Dominican Republic. They got these big, fancy buildings. Like those rich people live in. Palm trees, they got. Lots of them. Like a jungle, almost. But a pretty jungle. Not like the one behind my house where the snakes hide. My grandson, he say people go there to dance. They dance all night, he say. I used to like dancing, when I was young. Not anymore, these old bones. They tired.
Then he show me these British Virgin Islands. Not so many big buildings. More like little houses. Colorful, some of them. They look like they made of wood, mostly. Reminds me of old Mr. Johnson’s place down the road. He never did paint that porch. But they look clean, these houses in the pictures. Not like Mr. Johnson’s. And they got these hills. Green, like the grass after a good rain.
He tell me about the food, in the Dominican Republic. Spicy, he say. Lots of rice and beans. I like rice and beans. Reminds me of my mama’s cooking. They got fruit there, too. Mangoes, pineapples. We used to have a mango tree in the back. Sweetest mangoes you ever taste. They probably got good mangoes there, in that Dominican place.
- Dominican Republic Food: Spicy, rice, beans, mangoes.
- British Virgin Islands Food: Don’t know, probably fish.
He don’t say much about the food in the British Virgin Islands. Probably lots of fish, I guess. Being an island and all. I don’t mind fish. Fried fish, with some cornmeal. That’s good eating. Maybe they got that there. I don’t know.
Now, which one better? Hard to say. That Dominican Republic, it sound busy. Lots to do, lots to see. If you young, maybe you like that. Me, I’m old. I like quiet. That British Virgin Islands, it sound more like my speed. Just sit on the beach, watch the water. Maybe read a book, if I can find my glasses.
My grandson keep talking about snorkeling, something like that. Swimming with a mask and looking at the little fishes in British Virgin Islands. I told him, boy, you can do that here too, in the creek if you want to. Ain’t no colorful fish in that dirty water, though. He just laughed. Kids these days.
He also say people in Dominican Republic is very friendly. Always smiling, always want to help. That’s good. People should be friendly. Like back home. Everyone know everyone. We help each other out. Like when old Mrs. Davis’s cow got loose. Whole town went looking for it. Found it in Miller’s cornfield. That cow, she sure loved corn.
I ask him, people friendly in that British Virgin Islands, too? He say, yes, but maybe not as many people to be friendly with. Less people, less friendly, I guess. Makes sense. But I think, even a few friendly faces is better than none.
He showed me on his phone again, this map thing. Dominican Republic, it’s part of a bigger island. Share it with another country. Haiti, he call it. Don’t know nothing about that place. British Virgin Islands, they just a bunch of little dots in the water. Look like you could swim between them, almost. But he say, no, you need a boat. Water too deep.
- Dominican Republic: Part of a big island.
- British Virgin Islands: Lots of little islands.
- Both in the water, that’s for sure.
So, Dominican Republic vs British Virgin Islands. Big vs small. Busy vs quiet. Lots of people vs few people. Both got beaches. Both got water. Both probably got good food, if you know where to look. Which one better? I don’t know. Depends on what you like. Me, I think I’d like that quiet. That British Virgin Islands sound peaceful. But that’s just me. Maybe you like all that dancing and noise in the Dominican Republic. To each their own, I always say.
My grandson, he should go to both places, I think, then he can tell me which one better. For now, those are my thoughts.
