Life and Times of the Dominican Gringa » santo domingoLife and Times of the Dominican Gringa

Hurricane Isaac Updates

rdgringa — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:15:34 +0000

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

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

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.

Carnival 2012 Is Over

rdgringa — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:33:24 +0000

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

A Few Recent Pictures 6/2011

rdgringa — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:39:13 +0000

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 storm

These goats were taking a stroll down the street in the town of 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.

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.

Carnival Dominicano 2011

rdgringa — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:12:00 +0000

The grand finale Carnival was Sunday March 6th in Santo Domingo on the Malecon. I didn’t go to the main part of carnival. I just wasn’t up for all the crowds, noise and people all mashing up against each other and also the need to watch all around you for those nasty thieves. So I just hung out with my neighbors in the park near to my home. Maybe I’m just getting to old…but I sure hope not. I didn’t take many pictures but I did take 2 good videos. Enjoy!
If you want to read about the Carnival Tradition check out the link

Carnaval Santo Domingo 2010

rdgringa — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:16:00 +0000

>Well, made it through the carnival grand finale in Santo Domingo this year with my camera so I have pics and videos to share.

The carnaval was great! Lots of amazing costumed humans and non humans too. The crowd was well behaved in general except for the occasional thief doing what they do best, taking advantage of people enjoying.

Enjoy the videos and pictures and try and visit us for the carnival next year. It will be an experience you will never forget.

For more information and the history of Carnaval Dominicano check out my web site.

This is a link to the picture slide show of Carvaval 2010

Some Old Santo Domingo Pictures

rdgringa — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:17:00 +0000

>This is a Power Point Presentation with some great old pictures of Santo Domingo. Enjoy!
Old Santo Domingo in PPS form

Second Earthquake Felt!

rdgringa — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:50:00 +0000

I just felt my second earthquake in my entire life!

Just sitting in my office in Colonial Zone working on the web site and the chair vibrated. It was just for a half second but it for sure shook. I thought at first that maybe there was something happening in the street, like something fell off a truck or something. Then I realized what it was. At that second I heard people in the gift shop in front of the office whooping and laughing. I knew than what it was.

I went out to the street and most people were doing their normal things as if nothing happened. while others were coming out to the street and looking up to the sky. Then the animation happened in the street that is normal when anything, small or large, happens here. People were all talking and laughing with a little bit of a look of fear (not much, just a little) in their eyes.

So anyhow, we had a 5.1 Earthquake or as they call it here, temblor de tierra or los terremotos (hope I spelt those correctly)! It’s center was about 39 miles from Santo Domingo and seems to have it’s center near La Romana.

I have lots of information about Earthquakes here in Dominican Republic on my weather page here.

More information about this earthquake can be found here
Earthquake USGS
IRIS.edu
rmsismo.uprm

Sunday Walkabout – Fighting Fish

rdgringa — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:38:00 +0000

>I took my usual Sunday walk about and decided to cross the floating bridge and see what was on the other side that I had missed being in a car. I ended up walking on Avenida Espana pass the Naval base (after I was back home and looked at the map I realized I could have taken a much shorter route to someplace). It was a long walk going past the Naval base at there was only a long wall most of the way and the highway on the other side. Thank goodness I put a little sun block on my face and shoulders or I would have probably been quite burnt as there wasn’t any shade.
The first place available to get of that smoldering hot highway I turned and went on my little exploring trip. I was looking for a good Colmado to have a nice cold beer and wipe the dripping sweat of my brow.
There was a large group of men surrounding a pick-up truck welling and jumping around so I decided that I’d stop and see what the commotion was.
If I had my camera there would be a few pictures one of which I will try and explain. A small sized red pick-up truck with about 15 men of various ages all surrounding it. There were about 3 young boys standing in the bed of the truck. there was a nice looking family sitting on the bumper of the car parked in front of the truck. A mom, dad and 3 small children. All were very animated and watching the top of the cab of the truck. On the cab was a large gallon sized jar. In this jar was two small black fish, beta fish. The fighting ones. Everyone was watching intently as these fish were preparing for battle. This is the description of the picture, if there was one.
So I stood near by observing this event. People were betting, just like at a cock fight. These fish were bighting each other. It looked like they were going at each others tails (my glasses need replacing so I couldn’t make out exactly what part the fishies were biting).
This went on for over an hour. When the fish seemed to stop going at each other one of the men would pick up the jar and shake is ferociously. up and down (poor fishies heads getting banged around that way), then in a circular motion as to create a whirlpool in the water. then the jar was placed on the top of the truck and the people waited for the swirling fish to get their senses about them to start eating at each other. Then as the fish fighting slowed down the poor fish were put in another shaking and whirlpool.
this went on for ever. Many of the people seemed to get tired of the fight. The family left. the 3 boys were gone. Just the die hard men that bet their pesos on the death of a fish remained.
It rained two times, hard, and they grabbed the jar and went inside the Colmado to continue the fight. When the rain stopped they went back to the truck.
I was tired of waiting to see the outcome of this fight so I walked on. the rain made some big puddles, small pools, in the street so it took me a while getting around some of them. I could just imaging me walking near a puddle and some fun loving person decides to get the Gringa wet (I remember this happening when I was young and daring in USA when I was hitchhiking to Massachusetts). So I waited until the road was clear to pass by the larger puddles.
Finally I came to a cross road area and asked at a tire place which was the best road to take to get back to Colonial Zone. stupid me, they said it was really far and I forgot that to many Dominicans a few blocks is far. The moto concho offered to take me to the Zone for $100 pesos. I said no way. Did he think my head screwed on (lol!). So I finally got him down to $40 pesos and I hopped on. I never took a moto concho in the city before and reminded him that I like my flesh attached to my body and not spread across the street so he drove really slow for me. We passed a few people I knew and of course they all had to yell out their car windows about seeing me on a motorcycle.
Then to top it off, the zone was only about 10 minutes ride on the moto! I could have walked that, but oh well, it was refreshing on the bike. Which was the climax to another successful and eventful Sunday walk here in Santo Domingo.

Santo Domingo Carnival 2008

rdgringa — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:30:00 +0000

>Carnival season is past and ended with another great “Best of the Best” Carnival/ Carnaval on the Malecon (Ave. George Washington) in Santo Domingo.
The place was packed full of all sorts of people. Young and old alike. People dresses in elaborate costumes, some with painted faces, others maybe only sucking on a pacifier maybe trying to regress back to childhood and others just observing the antics of all the above mentioned.
There was no room to move as I entered the throbbing crowd. making it fun and a bit frightening at the same time.
Most were enjoying all the activity while others were there to take advantage of the festivities and rob or hurt others.
But, all in all, it was very enjoyable for the short time I was amongst the crowd.
The most frightening mask for me was this pink clown-devil man. The mask had huge flat teeth inside a gaping mouth. The bulging eyes and evil look of the face was made worse by the clown costume this devil wore. I’m not a real big clown fan myself. Clowns are just evil in disguise. It seemed that everywhere I happened to go that diabolical evil pink mask was there looking at me through its blood shot eyes. I even saw that face in my dreams that night!
After being bumped and shoved by the crowd all the while enjoying, I finally gave up the fight. I headed back to the safety of my friend Pepe’s Pasteles en Hoja shop on Palo Hincado street and watched the people in the street from the doorway. It was much safer there for sure. The roads were congested with people coming and going while cars were still trying to go wherever in the street. There was food and all sorts of items being sold in every direction I looked. there were children walking sort of dumb founded being dragged along by their adult guide. It was just as much fun watching the people in the street leaving Carnival as watching the parade itself.
Here are a few videos I took of the parade to give you never-saw-Carnival-in-DR people an idea of what it’s like.
Make sure to check out the Carnival pages and slide shows on the web site also.

“Los Lechones marching down the Malecon”

“Los Alibaba Drummers”

Independence Day February 27,2008

rdgringa — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:04:00 +0000

>I know I haven’t posted in a while. I have no excuse except to say I really didn’t realize that it has been this long of a time. Sorry….

Anyhow,
Here are a few videos and pictures I took along the Malecon in Santo Domingo on Independence Day during the Military Parade. I use my digital camera for the videos. I don’t have a real video camera (it’s on the list…jejej). But at least you can get a feel about how the parade looked. Soon I will make a slide show of all the pictures I took that day but for now here is a sample.

I just love a man in uniform…

There are 12 pictures in this slide show

The Marine Band…

The Air Force Band…I think..

The Horse Riders

The acrobat Motor riders..I wish it was brighter and that I caught them doing their stunts. just pretend all that is here..jejej

Carnival videos next….