Photo Essay: A look at Santo Domingo's Mercado Modelo

by Blair Loup

I recently ate and drank my way through Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, and while at times things were very foreign to me, most of the time it felt a lot like home. It was hot, humid and I almost always had a beer in my hand.

The Mercado Modelo is full of interesting characters and beautiful produce. I had a few bites, got proposed to and snapped some gorgeous pictures.

Below you'll find a visual tour of the market. Be on the lookout for a post on all my experiences in the Dominican Republic!

Plantain carts and motorcycles. This is Santo Domingo.

Habaneros with a side of eggplant.

Peppers and potatoes.

Macadamia nuts.

Yucca is almost guaranteed to be on every table in the Dominican Republic.

Salted fish.

Drying flowers hang in nearly every booth.

Assorted hanging meats.

Bottles full of roots are strung up all over. Pour rum inside and you'll have Mamajuana, a local aphrodisiac.

While this man hacked heads of cabbage into slaw at an alarming rate, he also took the time to propose.
We haven't set a date yet.

4ft. tall cinnamon sticks. No joke.

Seeds and fresh eggs.

Flowers, grass reeds and palm leaves.

The prettiest beans in all the land.

The cashew fruit.

Bird's Eye chilis.

This trip to Santo Doming, DR was provided through trade with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism.