Category Archives: Wowwee’s

Political Campaign Noise

Posted by on May 13, 2012 2 comments

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.


Black Bird Visit

Posted by on February 25, 2012 No comments

Teli, The Dominican Dog, and I came home the other night form a walk-about. It was dark as I opened the door from the street to enter the building where my apartment is.

As usual, I undid Telis leash so she could run up and down the stairs to the 3rd floor and back down. She likes to play and it also tires her out. This time she was just starting to bound up the stairs when she stopped abruptly and came back to me looking a bit perplexed. She would not go up the stairs and she kept looking at me as if something was wrong.

then I saw it. Two glowing eyes on the 3rd step and a black outline. First thing I thought was that it was a rat. I backed away to the door and Teli just stood there at my side. Now what were we to do. i could no see what was there. It was not moving. I was not going to go up the steps and have something bite me on my ankle as I passed…oh what a delemma.

I got out my cellphone and opened it for a little light. There for sure was something sitting on the stairs. I took out my camera to maybe use the flash to see what it was just sitting on the stairs. All this time the brave Teli was sitting at my side to afraid to go up the stairs.

I snapped three pictures before I realized it was a bird. It still did not move even after the flash so I went up the stairs as close to the opposite wall as possible. Teli followed running past the black bird just sitting on the stairs.

We made it into the house with no more incidences. But what was that bird doing sitting there on the stairs?

The next morning I was looking for it and has some sunflower seeds to feed it but it was gone. The only clue that it was there was the pictures I took and a few bird droppings on the stairs.

Hot Water For Me!

Posted by on January 20, 2012 No comments

I have been living in this country for about 10 years now. Even the time in the middle years when I had to go back to USA for a time I still lived here because all my stuff was here. Anyhow, I only had hot water in the very first apartment I lived in for six months in Ensanche Julietta.

I remember when I moved in and could not figure out why there was no hot water in the kitchen when the shower had hot water. I was checking pipes to see if maybe it was turned off or was broken. I saw nothing. So I called the landlord. She spoke a little English and I spoke very little Spanish at that time. I tried to explain to her that the hot water was broken. She went in the shower and checked and said it was working fine. I took her into the kitchen and turned on the hot water facet and nothing came out. She started laughing at me. I had no idea what was funny. No water came out and she would have to fix it. Was that funny? Then she explained it all to me. The ole imaginary light came on above my head. The only place in the apartment that had hot water was the shower. Hardly anyone had hot water throughout the house. This is the way it is in Dominican Republic.

So when I moved to the Colonial Zone to my new apartment there was no hot water at all. But then half, or more than half, the time there was no water at all. I learned to bucket shower and run a hose from the facet in the street to get water. Then the last place I had we had water in the morning only so it was shower early when there was water pressure or bucket shower. If the water was too clod just had to heat some on the stove.

Now I moved to this new apartment. There is almost always water. The pressure is good. So I guess I am a bit spoiled now. I do not want to heat water on the stove when it is really cold. I want to take a real shower with hot water. So, for my Christmas present from my parents this year, I got hot water in my shower.

It was too expensive to put in a hot water heater tank and we could not figure out all the pipes in this old building. So I opted for the shower head with the heat coils inside. It was the easiest way to install hot water.

My shower is really small. If I drop the soap and ave to stoop down to get it I have to get out and pick it up. Its about the size of a refrigerator box and the ceiling is really low too. So it took some finagling to get the shower head in where I didn’t have to take a shower on my knees.

My Fit-it, repair man Rudolf, is wonderful. He came on time to check out the situation and to see what he could do to get me hot water. He thought he could get me a hot water tank but I did not have enough funds for that. So he said he could fix the pipe in the shower so I could stand underneath and shower in comfort.

He got all the pipe in. Got the heater hooked up. turned it on and pop! The fuse blew. When he checked the fuse box the fuse was way to small to handle the wattage so he went and got a higher amperage fuse and put it in. When he had the fuse box open I was totally amazed with what I saw inside. Whoever did the electric work had the wiring all electric taped together. I never in my life saw anything like that before. But I shouldn’t really be surprised with the way stuff is done here. Yet every time I see the wiring, in houses, businesses and in the streets I am just amazed.

So I got my hot water all hooked up thanks to Rudolf and took my first hot shower in my apartment. I was so content. I will not use it all the time. Only when it is cold and there is no sun to heat the water in the pipes. Electric here is very expensive and I do not want to run up my bill. But it is so nice to know that I gave hot water when I want it. Thanks to my mommy and daddy for the Christmas present and to Rudolf for fixing it for me.

By the way, I highly recommend Rudolf if you need anything done. His business is called Xpress Dominicana – (check the link for more information about the Handy Man Services) Maintenance and Handyman Services. He does Repairs & Maintenance, Handyman Service, Major & Minor repairs, Painting, Re-Refurbishments & Upgrades, Project Co-Ordinations, Moving & Packing Services, Point Of Sale Installations, Prepare Home for Sale or Auction. Commercial & Residential Cleaning Service. He speaks English which was a really big help. My Teli, The Dominican Dog, really liked him too! His contact information is: 829-665-4144, 829-474-4144 xpressdominicana@gmail.com. Tell him Janette, The Dominicana Gringa sent you!


104 Years Old Drinker and Dancer

Posted by on January 10, 2012 No comments

This woman turned 104 in Janurary. She still has her memories. She rememberes the times of Trujillo. She dances, cooks and drinks her beer. She has 7 children, 21 grandchildren, 30 something great grandchildren and over 100 great great grandkids. I wonder if she can remember all the kids names.

If I live to be that age I can only hope that I have her energy.

Happy birthday Leonida Artiles. I hope you have as many more birthdays as you want. If I was there I would buy you a beer and maybe dance a little Bachata with you! You go girl!

Views From My Balcony – Crazy Scaffolding Guy

Posted by on August 21, 2011 No comments

Hearing the steel clanking I looked out the window
There was a man, a crazy man
On some shaky scaffolding
Repairing the wall of the Iglesia and Convento Santa Clara
He was atop this shaky structure
Looking like he was right at home
While I was shaking in my bare feet
Watching
Waiting
Hoping
That the entire thing did not crash to the ground
I took this video and picture
Do not worry
He did not fall
I watched him later drinking from a chata (little flat bottle stashed in his back pocket,
probably rum but do not want to assume)
While the workers were taking down the scaffolding

A Few Recent Pictures 6/2011

Posted by on June 30, 2011 No comments

I took some pictures that really do not have a big story behind them but I just wanted to share so hear they are…
Some pigeons enjoying a downpour as seen from my window.

pigeons in colonial zone rain

Pigeons in Colonial Zone rain storm

These goats were taking a stroll down the street in the town of Palenque, Dominican Republic.

goats in palenque dominican republic

Some goats taking a stroll

A friend, Doug, took me to Palenque for the day and this is a great view from the road.

mountain view palenque

A view in Palenque, Dominican Republic

This is me with some friends of mine hanging out at the Colmado I call Colmado Oficina (really the name is Colmado Omar II) in Colonial Zone.

Hanging with friends

This is the chickens and roosters that call the patio behind the office home. They cluck and crow all day. The customers from the gift shop in the front always have interesting words to say when they go to use the bathroom and see the chicken farm behind the business. Who woulda thunk?? Right in the heart of the Colonial City in Santo Domingo…

The chickens behind the office

If you want to see the full size pictures click on them.