There were at least 6 motorbikes with police and at least 5 police vehicles speeding down the road. Every police person in the area was standing in the street along with all the money change guys and many of the neighbors. All yelling and making a ruckus.

It took a little bit for my camera to turn on but these are the pictures I got out my window.

There was still lots of commotion so I decided to be a Dominican and go to the street with my neighbors and see what was happening because I could not see down Padre Billini to Calle las Damas from my balcony vantage point.

They said a thief was caught. I asked why did it take so many police to catch a ladrone. Then I got the story. Men (I did not get the answer as to how many men there were) robbed a Colmado, from what they said, in La Altagracia, but not really sure. The police caught them and brought them here. They were in a white truck and all the police were escorting them to the station at the Fortelaza Ozama. I still did not understand why they had to have so many police and then block off the street where they all were with the thieves and their truck.

Then it was explained to me that these bad guys were very dangerous and had weapons. The police had the guys outside of the truck, not sure what they were doing to them, I did not really want to stand around and gape at them.

So here I am back at my puter sharing the action. On the spot reporting from the Dominican Gringa. Many of the neighbors are still on the corner looking down the street and discussing the event amongst themselves. Teli, my brave dog, is hiding under her favorite shelf in the bedroom.

Shoeshine Boy, Money Changers and the ChuChu

This is a normal day in the Colonial Zone. The money changer guys are rubbing their index finger and thumb together at all passing vehicles hoping to find someone who has money to exchange for pesos.

The neighbor kid is out on most Saturdays shining shoes to get his own spending money for the week. He goes to school on the weekdays. If he is in the mood he goes out on the weekends to make a little extra cash. A little entrepreneur. His family does not let him out to work on school days.

The man that owns the gift shop across the street is getting a shoe shine while greeting a friend walking by.

The ChuChu Colon is passing by with its speakers on telling our history to the tourists in their own language. The train conductors helper gets out at every crossing to make sure the coast is clear for the train to enter the intersection.

There are some beat-up road blocks on the corner ready for who knows what reason.

A typical afternoon in my beloved Colonial City.

Coro de Niños de Rita Almonte 12-27-2012

OK. So I am not a poet but I did take this short little video of what I saw from my balcony. I thought Santa was a little late. I thought he was on vacation now after all the hard work delivering gifts on Christmas Eve. I guess he decided to show up just for the kids. What a guy that Santa Claus is!

Coro de Niños de Rita Almonte 12-27-2012

Putting up the pole and lines

While they were putting up the lines I was watching in amazement just waiting for the bucket truck guy to hit a line. But he was really good at controlling that bucket. I can always remember my dad who worked for a tree cutting company saying, “I hate bucket trucks”. Every time we would see a bucket truck he would say that. After a while we all would say the same when we saw a bucket truck. Now, when I saw these guys in their bucket truck, it made me laugh sitting here in my apartment with Teli thinking about my dad hating bucket trucks.

Bucket truck guy

Finally they were all finished and the electric lines appeared in front of my window.

Power lines out my window

Now, a few weeks later the local pigeons found everywhere in the Colonial Zone, like to sit on the line and coo their little bird hearts out. Before they had to park themselves across the street on the rooftop and I could not see their beady little red eyes looking at me. Well, now those rats with wings can sit really close.

I catch them looking at me while I am working at the computer (there is 1 out there right now as I am writing this). You know how you can feel it when someone is watching you? It is a very strange feeling it when you know you are in your home alone. Now when I get the feeling of being watched I can look out the window and see the birds, sometimes there is a row of them, at least 5 gawking at me in one window! That means 10 beady red bird eyes peering at me. They all seem to be bobbing their little nasty feathered heads in sync to get a good peek at me through the window. They perk up their heads when Teli comes into the room and usually fly away. They get really perky if I whistle then they disperse after that as well. That makes me feel like my whistler is not very good.

Voyeur Pigeons

Sometimes I can’t tell if they are observing me or checking out the television behind me. I will have to record hawks catching birds and play it when the pigeons start looking at me. I will see what they do then. Maybe it will teach them a lesson not to peak into peoples’ windows. Their mothers did not teach them very well at all.

Everyone is taking cover wherever they are able.

The people taking a little tour ride on the ChooChoo Colonial are getting a little bit wet but they are still having a good time.
I heard laughter coming from inside the train.
Peace back at you my friend.

It has brought a reprieve from the heat.
I like the rain at times.
Now is one of those times.

The roads are filling with water. The pigeon is hanging out on the rooftop.

Politur abandons their motorbike and takes refuge in the Larimar Museum while the poor bike drowns.

The roads are wet. The large bus stops to wait out the downpour. The pigeon watches….

The motor bike passes, the humans are huddled under the porch of the Palacio de Borgellá hiding from the wetness. The pigeon is enjoying a free shower.

If you had a choice and you were not afraid of having to be “adult” or “grown-up” or “responsible” where would you rather be? Under the porch with the frightened hoards of humans or the pigeon on the rooftop enjoying the feeling of the water flowing down your back? I am with the bird!

Sometimes in these processions of very expensive Jepetas (know as SUV’s elsewhere), Hummers down to the local guaguas and public cars with their painted roofs of yellow and green, all take part and join in the hoopla for their chosen party. Sometimes the politicians are even in the parades, waving from the sunroof opening in their painted Jepetas and Hummers. Every where they pass they cause havoc. Traffic jams, noise, people fighting sometimes, there has even been instances where the fights turn deadly.

These are from a few weeks ago, in Santa Barbara away form all the campaigning, and still there were giant traffic jams with the locals direction traffic and I even saw people getting out of their cars to direct the traffic because no one could move. My friends, Teli (my dog) and I just sat there watching, laughing and drinking a nice cold beer (the dog didn’t drink).

This jam lasted for about 2 hours. At one time no one could move as cars were all jammed together in all directions. They think if they just keep moving forward an opening will magically appear. I just couldn’t believe it when they got out of their own cars to direct the traffic as you can see in the one picture.

Twas the night before Christmas Eve in the Colonial Zone. I was snug in my bed with my dog Teli. Just dozing off there arose such a clatter. I didn’t want to get up to see what was the matter, but after the sirens and music came closer I had just to check. I went to the balcony, threw open the shutters and grabbed my camera. What to my wondering eyes did appear but a giant procession of lit up cars with lazer lights-a-flashing and speakers-a-pounding turning from Calle Padre Billini onto Isabel la Catolica. They were wahooing and yeahing all these political campaigning creatures. Not caring about the people trying to get some shuteye. There were jepetas and hummers with shiny bright lights. Then came music and sirens to no ones delight. These noise makers kept rounding the corner. I never thought it was going to end. The sirens were sirening and the car alarms alarming, the people in the vehicles just kept on careening. As they drove off into the night on up Isabel la Catolica on to disturb others in their beds. Distributing their mayhem. They left behind a ringing in the ears and a slight smile on the lips. But worst of all was the car alarms they left ringing. The owners must have been partying in some local bar oblivious that their cars were yelling into the night…for 2 hours!!! Gotta love this country even if you don’t always!

This is the video I took. My camera has not been taking the best videos lately. I think it is getting old and is dying slowly. Sometimes it works well and others it just is.

At least you will get the idea of that noisy night. You might want to check the speakers because it is a bit loud.

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

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.