View From My Balcony – Life in the Time of COVID-19 Part 1
I sit on my balcony
With my dogs
Watching the world pass by
So slowly
Dominican Republic is shut down
In quarantine
The quarantine is on
Curfew from 5 PM to 6 AM
People get arrested
By military riding around
In the back of trucks
If they are found in the street
After hours
Sterilising people and temperature taking before humans and vehicles can enter
Lines are long
50 to 75 humans at the bank
Waiting 6ft apart
Most not paying attention to the distancing rules
50 – 75 or more humans at grocery stores
Waiting 6ft apart
Again, most humans not observing the social distancing rules
People wait in long lines hours before the bank opens
Only a few people at a time
Are permitted to enter businesses
While people wait in lines
Outside
Masks are mandatory
No mask, they could arrest you
Some businesses demand the use of gloves
Avenida España usually full of traffic is empty
Many people are sick
Especially the elderly
And the poor
Many just stay home
The 911 system is overloaded
People call
Help does not come
Hospitals are full
What can everyone do?
Inteliperra and Buenagente watching the street from their balcony bench
I walk my dogs
Inteliperra and Buenagente
In the morning and evening
I have no choice
I don’t have a patio
They need to potty
Buenagente and Inteliperra at Punta Torrecilla enjoying social distancing
I see gloves and masks
Haphazardly strewn around the streets
I saw a man pick up a pair of discarded plastic gloves
From the street
He put the gloves on his own hands
Not knowing who wore them
Where they came from
Before he found them
People just do not understand
People waiting in line to use the Cajero – Bank machine not practicing social distancing
The Dominican government is handing out food
But so many people are still waiting
In their homes
For food
The Dominican government is giving some people
Money to buy food, it helps
But waiting in lines to purchase anything
Is dangerous and difficult
Especially for the most vulnerable
Government distributed food
I stay home to work
On my web site
There are no tourists
I do miss talking to other humans in person
I do not enjoy all the extra cleaning
I am not good at housekeeping
But I do what I have to do
Plazoleta Padre Billini empty benches
I am always so tired
Not sleeping well (pretty much the norm)
Could it be
The strange quiet in the streets
Could it be
Worrying
Worrying about my friends and family
Worrying about health
Worrying about money
Worrying about safety
Buenagente and Inteliperra waiting to go outside
There is very little to no income
My website is receiving visitors
But affiliates have canceled commissions
Until after this crisis has ended
There are no tourists
No money in the street
Remittances are down
No hotels open
Beaches are closed
Businesses are closed
People are becoming desperate
Parque Colón, usually full of people is empty
And the story continues…
Note-Some of these pictures are taken from my balcony
Others are taken from around the neighborhood
All are taken during the COVID-19 crisis
When will coronavirus decide to go away?
