Category Archives: Events

Hurricane Isaac Updates

Aug. 24, 2012 We all got ready for the Tropical Storm Isaac. Got supplies, candles and batteries. Made sure the water storage stuff was filled and the plastic and tarps were ready. All was ready to go for a big one.

Thank goodness the big one did not happen. We were spared again here in Dominican Republic. We got some rain in Santo Domingo. We got some wind. Nothing out of the ordinary. It will still be bad for many people because of rain, wind, mud slides and the angry sea.

Yes, the sea is rough my friend here on the Malecon in the Colonial Zone area. I might walk down later a little closer to the Malecon to get some better pics all depends on how much I feel like fighting the wind.

Teli, my dog, did not really enjoy her morning outing. She was jumping at every little thing banging and there were lots of little things banging around.

I went to the roof and took some pics and a video. So here they are. Some pics are from yesterday and now today. You can see the difference in the sky and the angry sea.

Isaac from my roof 8-23-2012 at 11.45am

Isaac from my roof 8-23-2012 at 11.45am


The picture above and below are almost the same views. You can see the difference 1 day makes.

Hurricane Isaac from my roof 8-24-2012 about 1PM

Hurricane Isaac from my roof 8-24-2012 about 1PM

Hurricane Isaac from my roof 8-24-2012 about 1PM

Aug. 25, 2012 We passed the night here in the Colonial Zone area with out many problems. The electricity was on and off, mostly off. The night was hot and sticky without a fan and could not open the windows. I’m hoping that maybe I sweated off a few pounds. Yea, right.

My poor baby Teli was not really pleased with the entire thing. Shes still afraid of lots of things and wind and rain are some of the many on the list. She pretty much was at my side at all times. That was fine with me.

Something exploded in Parque Colon, probably a transformer which happens often in this country. A tree branch went down on the road at the corner of Isabel la Catolica and Jose Gabriel Garcia but the neighbors cleared it off the road as soon as it happened. It is laying at the park entrance.

I had my computer covered with plastic and the front balcony area also covered with a tarp. I did not want anything getting to my dear old puter.

My computer is covered and safe

Here are a few pictures a taxi driver friend, Juan Carlos of JC Taxi Services, sent me this morning. He took these on the Malecon in Santo Domingo. I will try and get some more pictures throughout the day and post them here so keep checking back for updates.

The waves from Hurricane Isaac as seen from Hotel Jaragua, Santo Domingo

The waves from Hurricane Isaac on the Malecon is Santo Domingo

Many areas of the country have problems. Houses gone, people cannot return to their homes because of high water, trees down, roads damaged. I will keep you posted.

Aug. 26, 2012 Teli, the Dominican Dog, and I went out for a walk-about to see what we could see after waiting and waiting for the rain to stop we finally decided we would just get wet. I was checking out the window and one of the guys in the street had a new type of umbrella. He has a piece of foam stuck on the top..interesting..

The electricity was good early in the AM. I got to write yesterdays update but soon after the electric went out again. It went out about 10ish, not sure exactly. I got my trusty Kindle out and laid in bed with the flashlight and read with Teli at my side. I had to use the flashlight because I had to have all the windows closed because of the rain. Since the windows are the slat metal type not glass there was no light coming in at all.

By around 2:30PM I figured we might as well just go out. The rain was not going to stop and I was tired of laying and reading with no electric.

I got a cold shower (no hot water when the lights are out and no sun to make it warm either) and Teli and I were off. Here are some pictures we took. Remember here in Colonial Zone it is much different than other parts of Santo Domingo and the entire country. Here we do not have as much flooding and wind damage.

Teli is checking out her park. Some branches down and puddles that she has to walk around but all good so far.

Teli checking out her park, Parque Rosado

There is a part of the Parque Rosado where water does not drain into the dirt. There must be lots of coral below. So this pool appeared in Telis park.

Parque Rosado new swimming pool..lol

The stairs were covered with branches and puddles looking down toward the Malecon.

The stairs at the end of Calle las Damas.

This poor tree lost its hold on Mother Earth and went down. I hope it can be saved. I love this tree.

Tree down in Parque San Jose

Someone seemed to have lost their shoe in the Park San Jose. Poor lost shoe. It looks so lonely.

A lonely shoe in the park

The sea was not as rough as the day before. But thus lone 3-legged chair had a good view of the sea at the Parque San Jose and the Malecon at Calle 19 de Marzo.

Chair in Park San Jose watching the sea

These 2 pictures made me laugh. This man is all alone watching the waves in the Caribbean Sea deep in thought it seems. Until a group of ladies pass by. He must stop to contemplate on them also.

Man watching the sea

Man watching the ladies

The view up and down the Malecon which is the road that runs along the Caribbean Sea here in Santo Domingo.

The Malecon and Caribbean Sea in Santo Domingo


The Malecon, Santo Domingo

Calle Arz. Nouel being cleansed by the hard rains of Hurricane Isaac.

Calle Nouel in Colonial Zone drenched it the rain

Calle Nouel with Hurricane Isaac rains

When it rains hard you mush watch for water streaming out of peoples roof pipes. The water comes down hard and fast. I have been caught off guard many times and got soaked in a second not paying attention to this water.

Calle Sanchez and Nouel

Calle Arz. Portes at Isabel la Catolica always has a drainage problem. A little rain and it fills up fast. We who live in the area always know never to walk that section of street when it rains unless you want to get your little toes wet.

Calle Arz. Portes drainage problem

So this is my report for this day. Tomorrow is another and it is still raining off and on. There are roads and bridges collapsed in other parts of the country. People displaced and homes lost. Thank goodness this was not a strong storm.

Political Campaign Noise

The Presidential Elections are in one more week here in Dominican Republic. All will return to their home town, where they are registered, and get their black inked finger. Place your vote and get inked. Then all know that you voted.

All the different political parties are out in full force this week. They play deafening music as they set up their posts in the parks, plazas and street corners. People waving their flags, yelling, dancing and showing their support for their chosen candidate.

They drive around with large trucks loaded down with speakers. Not just a few speakers but the truck beds are filled with giant speakers playing as loud as they possible are able. No important if people and babies are sleeping, resting comfortably in their homes, or hanging out on the street. The speakers are no respecter of persons. It is so loud that I cannot hear the tv in my own home. Teli, the dog, runs for cover. My windows have vibrated a few times. I cannot believe how loud these speakers are.

Here are a few videos I took out my window.


Carnival 2012 Is Over

I love the Carnival but from afar. I am amazed at the creativity of the humans that design costumes and floats. Some of the masks are so intricate and imaginative.
Diablo Cojuelos

I was nervous about going down to the Malecon in Santo Domingo to watch and take pictures. A few years ago my camera was stolen right out of my hand. I cannot afford this to happen each year. I had asked a friend to come and be my Guachiman but he could not make it. He said his daughter was visiting and in their barrio, near to Zona Colonial, they were having big problems with thieves and tigres coming in from other areas hoping to take advantage of and rob non-suspecting spectators. He said there were even gun shots. So he did not make it to be the guarding of my camera.
people watching dominican carnival

When I got to the spot where I wanted to take pictures I scoped the area for the police and there was a man inside the fence. I asked him how I could get inside and explained to him about my fears. He let me come in to the press area and take pictures. I was so grateful. He kept laughing at me at first when I lifted the camera to take a picture. I would check around me, making sure it was safe. He kept telling me it was not necessary and that I was safe inside the fence.
the doctors carnival dominicano

I stayed and took pictures and videos until close to dusk. I wanted to be back home in my own area before dark hit. I was so glad I left when I did. It took me forever to go 2 blocks. The people were jammed in tight. There was no sneaking through the crowds. I just pushed forward trying not to bump into too many people. I really am not into crowds.
giant stilt creature laying on the street carnival dominicano 2012

One masked man stopped me and told me not to go down one street as there was trouble happening there. I asked what was happening but he was talking so fast in Spanish I could not keep up with his words.
farmer walking slow with cow carnival dominicano 2012

I got home and all was safe. I only got hit on the butt once by a little boy with his rubber ball called a vejiga. I did come close a few times to being whipped with one of the latigo snapping masked creatures. I took Teli, The Dominican Dog, out for her evening walkabout. Came home and went to work uploading all the pictures and videos to share with the world.

Enjoy all the pictures of Carnaval 2012.

This video is one of my favorite troupes. They made me laugh they looked so silly.
Carnaval Dominicano 2012 Africanas on Stilts

Here are lins to all the videos I took on You Tube. Please be cautious, some of these videos are very LOUD so take care with the speakers. ENJOY!
*Carnival 2012 Gaga Esperanza and Los Liones del Diablo
*Carnival Dominicano 2012 – Ucave Carnaval Vegano
*Carnival Dominicano 2012 – Haiti
*Carnaval Republica Dominicana 2012 – Sparkle Men
*Dominican Republic Carnival 2012 – The Group From Samana
*Carnaval Dominicano 2012 – Los Brujos
*Carnaval Dominican Republic 2012 – Lechones and Facebook
*Carnival Dominicano 2012 – Ali Baba and Other Groups
*Carnival 2012 Los Pintao Barahona
*Carnaval Dominicano 2012 Africanas on Stilts
*Roba la Gallina, Dominican Republic Carnival 2012
*Republica Dominicana Carnaval 2012 Los Indios and Fire Blower
*Carnaval Dominicano 2012 Dragon, Devil and Cavemen
*Gaga de Boca Chica Carnaval Dominicano 2012
*Dominican Republic Carnival 2012 Diablo Cojuelos

Irene All Gone

Hurricane Irene is all gone for the most part. she is leaving us with a nice breeze, humidity and no sun for the day.

I took some interesting pictures from my rooftop in Zona Colonial this morning around 5:30AM. I posted a few on the Colonial Zone News Blog. The header for the blog that is there right now I took this morning also.

A small panoramic view from my rooftop at 5:30AM after Hurricane Irene passed looking towards Rio Ozama. Click to enlarge.

Hurricane Irene – Update 3

I have been trying to post all morning and each time I got a few pictures fixed up and the electric went off again. So here goes again. I guess the breeze is messing with the lines as the lights only stay out for 15 minutes or so.

We did not get hit here in my side of Dominican Republic. Irene was gracious to us. We got some rain, mostly sprinkles and some drizzle. there is a nice breeze, not too strong but it picks up at times. The sky is gray and the Caribbean Sea is a bit choppy and dark. But all in all, it has been fine.

I went out around 8 this morning to walk down to the sea and see what was happening there cause I could see there were some white caps from my balcony view. There was one spot where some spray was coming up onto the Malecon but that was it, at least for the Colonial Zone area.

The sky from my window north towards Parque Colon.

The sky over Colonial Zone at 6:30AM facing east

The sky facing south toward the Caribbean sea at 6:30AM

8:45AM Irene passing by on the Caribbean Sea in Colonial Zone


8:45AM Irene passing by on the Caribbean Sea in Colonial Zone

Hurricane Irene – Update 2

It is 10:20Am and the electric went out for about 10 minutes around 9. Not hurricane related as this happens alot these days just for about 10 minutes. I think they are doing some type of construction and shut the electric off for this.

Just got a big wind burst. My ladder is on the balcony ready to put up the plastic and it blew over. The guys on the scaffolding are taking it down right now. I heard a few big “¡diablos!” being yelled after the gust. I think it was the guys on the scaffolding. They are working fast taking it down.

We had a shot of rain but now nothing. The sky is getting darker as I am typing.

The third picture you can see the sea in the distance. Hard to make out in the picture but I can see some movement in the water and it is really gray looking.

The sky from my window north towards Parque Colon. The tree is waving slightly.

The sky when Irene is on the way at 10:20AM facing east.

The sky facing south toward the Caribbean sea at 10:20AM. Irene is on her way.