Tag Archives: rain

End of March Rain Starting

Posted by on March 22, 2012 No comments

On this World Water Day it seems that we will have rain for the next 4 days, how ironic.
Do we really need it? No
Can we change it? No
So, here is what we do when it rains here in the Colonial Zone of Dominican Republic.
The view from my balcony right now.

The roads are filling with water. The pigeon is hanging out on the rooftop.
rainy day in the zone from my balcony

Politur abandons their motorbike and takes refuge in the Larimar Museum while the poor bike drowns.
politur hiding out during rain

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!


Hurricane Irene – Update 3

Posted by on August 23, 2011 No comments

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

Whats New This First Week in July 2011

Posted by on July 8, 2011 No comments

I am still waiting to move into my apartment. There is problems with the ceiling leaking and they cant seem to make it right. Now because of all the leaking and rain we have been having the newly painted ceiling is peeling. They said they fixed it a few days ago so after all dried out they will paint again and I’ll wait to see how it goes before I move. I hope to be in soon but the way things are going maybe I’ll be moving around Christmas time. Such is the life…

I took a few pictures of the Gay Parade here last weekend. I took a video but while I was filming this guy next to me was talking a bit loudly and he said a few choice words. So now I cannot post the video.

I saw this cat hanging out near some pigeon sat the park. I was waiting for the attack or at least the before attack butt wiggle that cats do when they are ready to pounce. This cat did not even pay attention to the birds eating from a broken, water drenched garbage bag. It was interested in joining in the feast and not interested in any fresh meat. This is not any type of normal cat I ever saw.

We have been having lots of rain. Torrents of rain. Giant piles of rain. In other words it has been very wet here in DR this last week and seems like it will continue for at least a few more days. Not many people go out when it rains. Its not easy trying to walk the streets when its raining. Even umbrellas don’t help much. When it rains here outside most of the homes here also get rain inside. You need a good mop and broom to try and keep up with water pouring into all the cracks and crevices in the windows and walls. After a storm you can see clothes, mattresses, and other household things outside drying.

I took over 100 pictures trying to catch a lightening bolt and finally I got one. This was over the Colonial Zone. I was safe in my room when I took this with my television unplugged just in case it hit too close.

The US Embassy had their 4th of July fireworks in spite of the rainstorm. I took a few pictures out of my window. I caught the last few minutes of the fireworks. I thought it was just another thunder storm and here it was the banging of the celebration. I did not expect them to even have them because of all the rain but they came through. I was planning on going up on the roof and getting a good view but I didn’t want to get drenched or hit by lightening.

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.

Great Voces Amarillas Concert

Posted by on April 5, 2011 No comments

Voces Amarillas – Yellow Voices had a big event in Colonial Zone at Plaza España on Sunday. There were thousands of people most were wearing yellow, the color of the movement. There were all types of people there including students, politicians, and all who want the government to put 4% towards education like it is stated in the law books.

There was lots of musicians, actors, religious and political leaders and well known Dominican celebrities all donating their time and names for the cause. Even when it started raining many of the people stayed without worrying about getting wet. This in itself is pretty amazing as rain usually puts a big damper (lol) on any outdoors event.

More information about the event and what they are doing at
http://educaciondigna.com/category/voces-amarillas-news/ and a little about the event at
www.colonialzonenews.com

Tormenta Noel

Posted by on November 2, 2007 No comments

>This last week has been so sad here. The Tormenta Noel hit us without any warning. It was raining hard Sunday and then in the evening the wind started. It was whisteling through the streets and things were crashing and banging all night. We had no idea there was a storm passing by. The lights were out so there was no television and I didn’t have a battery powered radio (I wouldn’t have understood much anyhow as my Spanish is bad). The following morning it was still raining hard and there was noone in the street as usual. I didn’t plan on going out that day and hadn’t gone out on Sunday either as I was trying to rest to get rid of this Gripe (flu) thats been hanging on.
Finally the power came on and I turned on the TV. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. A tropical storm hit and wasn’t moving fast. Places were flooding fast with the people having no warning. The rivers were overflowing and houses were covered. The rain was still coming down. The power went out again. It was out in the entire country.
The next day the rain was still here. The power was out in almost all the country. Here in Colonial Zone we did get power but it kept going out. Things were not bad here. But the rest of the country, outside of the city. People living in the campos and along the rivers had lost all they had which is not much. Big houses and small all wiped away. Bridges and roads gone. Crops whipped out. Lives lost.
Just watching the images on the television made me cry for these people. I had to go to a Colmado and wath as the power was out and I don’t have back up power. People were just watching the images in horror.
A friend of mine, living in a small barrio in Santo Domingo had been without electric for 4 days.
I spoke to a shoe shine boy. He siad that the water rose over his house in less than 2 hours and his families home was covered. They had no time to remove their things. All they have is gone.
Here in Colonial Zone life was going on as almost normal. I, in a way, felt guilty that I was in a dry bed. Was able to drink a cold beer and have hot food and these people were struggling for their lives.
Heres some pictures I found to share from some different newspapers.
Associated Press

http://www.elnacional.com.do/article.aspx?id=30543#
Dominican Today
According to Dominican Today “the number of fatalities are now 73 and rising. 43 people are missing, 64,960 were evacuated, 22,758 of which were taken to shelters.
Police spokesman Ramon Rodriguez said 526,000 people have been rescued and 16,024 houses were damaged by the floods, 686 of those completely destroyed. He said 62 communities are still unreachable by land as 35 bridges and highways were affected.”
They also have a list of organizations to help the flood victims

This is just devastating for this country. The people, crops, farm animals and now the aftermath heath issues. The dams are bing watch closely. Clean water is hard to find. Food prices will rise because of all the crops and farm lands affected.
This problem started with the rains and it will be a long, long time before it is resolved.