The DR Gringas Life

Friday, November 20, 2009

Dancing Silly in the Colmado

I was out and about last weekend and stopped in a Colmado to have me a bien fria (cold Presidente beer). The place is not a regular stop for me but I do pass by there every once in a while to say hi. The guy started dancing and I just happened to have my camera (I don't carry it around all the time as I'm a little paranoid about having another camera stolen). I asked him if I could take the video and put it on the internet. He was all happy to have his own style of dancing bachata shown. While taking this video I was sitting on the counter and holding in my laughing as I didn't want to have all the music drowned out with my noisy laughing (and snorting..yes I snort when I laugh really hard) Enjoy!

Labels: bachata, camera, colmado, dancing, laugh, laughing

Monday, October 26, 2009

Guagua trip to Rio Nizao

I decided to take a guagua (small bus)trip by my self on Sunday. I have only taken a guagua alone to Boca Chica so this was all new for me. I wanted to be around some water (my son Billy Jay died 6 years ago on this day and I like to be near water this day and someplace away from the city) and someone told me about this river so I went. I didn't know what to expect so I didn't take any swimming stuff. I wanted to check it out before I committed to carrying a bunch of stuff with me.

I figured out where to get the guagua thanks to a friend that told me about the place. It cost me $70 pesos for the 1 1/2 hour ride (it took so long because of all the stops the guagua made). The ride was uneventful. I did get a bit of sun on my left arm from the window.

I didn't know where to get off the guagua so I asked the cobrador (the guy at the door of the bus taking the money and helping people off and on) and he said he'd let me know. But when we got to the town on Nizao he jumped off the guagua. There was only about 4 people left on the guagua at this time. A group of 5 guys got on so I asked them where I needed to get off the bus. They said to follow them. The next stop they pointed for me to get off.

They took me to the river and a little colmado to get my first beer. The river was deep and wide. It was wonderful. The water was cool and clean.You could see the Caribbean sea way in the distance. There were lots of people enjoying their Sunday afternoon. Young and old. The Colmado was playing Dominican music and some people were dancing. It was very comfortable and relaxing.

I sat with them and we talked. I was surprised that my Spanish just pored out of my mouth quite easily. My new friends and I talked all day. Drank some rum. Danced a little. Ate some fresh fish (yes, the fish had the heads attached). It was a good day.

At 4 I said I had to leave cause I didn't want to take a chance of missing the last bus at 5. The bus came about 4:30 and one of my new friends waited for it with me. The new friends told me to call them next time I was coming and they would cook fish for me. They also said there was an inexpensive hotel near by the river if I wanted to come for a few days which for sure I will do that soon.

So now I know how to get to a river to relax for a day. I have been wanting to do that for so long but no one seemed to know how to tell me to take a guagua to a river not far from the capital. Of course, many people here told me that it was dangerous to go alone but yet no one offered to go with me to protect me. I have been many places alone and I never found any place to be what I considered dangerous. If I didn't feel comfortable I would just leave. No problem.

Labels: bus, dominican, guagua, nizao, relax, rio, river

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Views From My Balcony - Grabber's Necklace Stealing Headache

A helmet wearing motorcycle rider
Heading the wrong way
Down a one way street
This day made a huge mistake
As he looked to pray
On an innocent victim
A sparkling necklace
Caught his treasure seeking eye
He made the grab
Forcefully removing a necklace
From the unsuspecting woman walking by
Much to his amazement
Someone gave him a shove
Down went Mr. Grabber
Onto the black rough pavement
The men in the street
Pounced
At least 10 to 1
Yells were coming from the mouths of all
The crowd had their way
Grabber had no hope of escape
A few minutes passed
Grabber was out of sight
As the mob of angry humans beat Grabber
The police arrived
It was their turn now
Grabber came into view
Looking much less smug
Then when he started his jewelry thieving quest
The necklace was returned
To the crying woman
The bloodied thief
Was taken
Sandwiched between the two police
On their motorcycle
Police-Grabber-Police
The police seated in the rear
Holding Grabbers black helmet
Very aggressively and with much force
Was using Grabber’s own helmet
Bashing him in the head
Pounding some sense into the thieves bleeding head
As they passed by
On the way to the police station
We, onlookers from the balcony above
Showed our support and approval
With a rousing applause
A thief was caught
Grabber was taught
That stealing is not good
And that it can be a real headache.

Labels: applause, grab, grabber, motorcycle, police, stealing, thief

Monday, October 05, 2009

Catching Up - Sept. 2009

There's some stuff I needed to write but not really note worthy for an entire blog so here goes.
*Ended up at Colmado Vengaza and a friend joined me for my Sunday walkabout. This was his first time doing a walkabout. We ended up in Villa Consuelo where he played checkers Dominican style. He lost every game cause the rules kept changing but he had a great time. He will join me for more walkabouts for sure.
*The patron saint of the armed forces, San Miguel, was this month. I was going to go but the crowds just were a little too crazy for me to head there alone. I heard all the commotion from the beauty salon as I was getting my hair cut.
*Finally sold my old gold wedding band. Didn't get very much but it paid for me to go to the salon and get some hair dye and also some grocery shopping. So it was all good. I was just hoping to get enough to head to the beach for an overnighter but that didn't happen.
*It's been really hot and humid. Dripping giant sweat balls! One good thing so far this year we haven't had any real hurricane activity. Does this mean that next year we will get hit big time? Wait and see.
*I still can't get this Spanish stuff down. I hate it especially in the morning when I leave the house and my brain is in the English mode. When someone tries to talk to me I just give them the daahhh look. Does this mean that the older my brain gets that there will be many more daahh looks? Hope not because I'm turning 50 next month and I'm not happy about this at all.

Can't think of anything else. Life is nice and calm. Just the way I like it.

Labels: hot, patron saint, villa consuelo, walkabout

Friday, September 18, 2009

Mars Video

I was adding a new video to You Tube and found a video of pictures from my home town of Mars, Pennsylvania and just had to share it.

I also uploaded a video I took of musicians playing music in Parque Colon here in Colonial Zone. You can see it on the musica tipica page on my web site or on my You Tube page RDgringa. All links open in a new window.

Labels: Mars, musicians, Pennsylvania, video

Inaguration Party at Hostal Nomadas

Went to a grand opening party last night for Hostal Nomadas. This is a new hotel in Colonial Zone. the owners Freddy and Marion are great people and wonderful hosts. The party was very nice atop their terrace. They had Lenny Abreu, Carlos Luis and Jose Antonio Rodrigez playing and singing music. There was also a woman that sang (I can't remember her name) with a wonderful strong voice and even Freddy sang a few songs. All the music was perfect. I met many new people and saw some old friends as well.

I forgot to take my camera. Dumb stupid dumb me. but some of the people there said they would send me some pictures and maybe even a video. As soon as I get them I'll post.

This is a picture of Maribel and I at the party.

Maribel and Janette at Hostal Nomadas inaguration party

Labels: Colonial Zone, hostal nomadas, inaguration, Lenny Abreu

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Teeth Shooter

I was sitting in front of a Colmado at Parque San Miguel drinking a beer Sunday. Taking a little break from my Sunday walkabout.

The owner is a nice guy and he invited me for a few beers. We were drinking, telling stories and having a nice ole time when a friend of his joined us. Mr. Teeth(as I'll call him throughout this story)was a bit drunk already and started telling me how he was in love with me. He kept putting his hand on my leg while talking. He was getting a bit too familiar so I asked him very nicely to please don't touch me. I don't like it. He would stop and then a few minutes later start again. I moved my chair a little away from him and he followed. Finally I decided I had to be a bit more forceful so maybe he would bet it through his head I did not like being touched. So I told him a sentence that I learned my first time on vacation in Santo Domingo, "Quintas sus manos sucios de me"! (roughly translated "Get your dirty hands off of me" and I'm not sure if I say it correctly or spell it right but you get the idea).

Mr. Teeth opened his mouth in shock ready to say something. When he opened his mouth his false teeth flew out and landed on the sidewalk! He had a look of shock on his face. I had to do the ole double take going from his face to the ground where his teeth lay. After the initial few second shock, I didn't want to embarrass him, I turned and started talking to my friend. Mr. Teeth grabbed up his dentures and hurriedly put them on the chair between his legs.

I was trying not to laugh. I really, really tried not to laugh.My friend was snickering the entire time and I was holding it in as best as I could. But when I looked at him, he was putting the teeth back in, I lost it. I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Many times when I laugh too hard I snort and this was one of those times. My friend and I were laughing so hard, we couldn't stop. I tried to stop because I didn't want to humiliate Mr. Teeth but I couldn't help it, especially when my friend was laughing just as hard as I. I decided it was best just to get out of there. I told my friend I had to go. I tried to say goodbye to Mr. Teeth but I just couldn't. I had to walk down the street alone laughing aloud to myself all alone.

All the rest of the day every time I thought of it I started laughing. People probably thought I was a bit off walking alone and giggling but it could not be helped. I'm even laughing now just picturing good ole Mr. Teeth and the look on his face when his teeth shot out of his mouth. Am I a bad human for this?? LOL!

this is a little added on note I had to get permission to write about from my mom:
The thing that really made me laugh when I could not hold it in anymore was thinking of my mother. My nephew, who was very shy and afraid when he was young as he was adopted and not used to our boisterous style of family, was playing with my mom. She was holding him above her balanced on her feet. All were laughing and having a good time when her teeth flew out! My nephew got this look of fear on his face and a giant scream came out of his mouth. He wouldn't stop crying and yelling for a while and it took him days, maybe months before he was able to sit with his grandmother without being afraid her teeth were not going to come out.

This is what made me laugh more at the Mr. Teeth guy. I laughed at my mom as did the entire family (except the frightened nephew) so I think I had a right to laugh at Mr. Teeth didn't I?

Labels: colmado, dentures, false, laugh, san miguel, sunday, teeth, walkabout

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Concert for Los Haitises

The Concert for Los Haitises held at Plaza de Espana on July 19 was amazing. The bands were great. The turn out was unbelievable. There were so many people there, more than I have ever seen for any concert or gathering in the Plaza since I've been living here. There is said to have been over 5000 people, mostly young, attending this event.

The main goal of this concert was to make people aware of the bad effects to the environment the cement plant will do to this unique park. There is a plan to build the factory on the park lands and the youth of Dominican Republic have been showing their disapproval and trying to make people aware. Los Haitises is a beautiful and unique natural park on the southern coast of the Bay of Samaná. There are mangrove swamps where manatee swim. caves and a humid tropical forest. The park is full of strange and interesting rock formations that emerge from the sea called mogotes.

To see what you can still do to help by donating, buying -shirts and more go to their blog. There are also some great pictures of the event.

Here are some pictures I took with my new camera (thank you both for the camera - you know who you are) before it got dark as I'm so paranoid taking my camera (#5) out when there are alot of people around, especially when its dark out side.