HI HUMANS! This is a blog of my life in Dominican Republic, my thoughts on life and the way I view things around me. Welcome to my own little world. The way I see life through my sometimes rose colored glasses.
If you want to learn more about Dominican Republic please check www.ColonialZone-DR.com. This is a web site I made about the country I love.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Independence Day USA in Dominican Republic
4th of July fireworks in DR Happy 4th to all! The American Embassy put on a nice little fireworks show around 10PM on the 4th. I was home and heard the booming so I got my new camera (thanks to the 2 people that pitched in and purchased it for me..bless you both)and took a few pictures from my window. Enjoy! American Embassy fireworks in Dominican Republic
The parade this year seemed to be a little smaller than the other years. It started late which is sort of the norm for things in this country. While everyone was waiting the crowd was so anticipating the parade that when 3 pelicans flew overhead everyone cheered. It was too funny. Finally the president showed up (here is a picture of him in the jeepeta not that great of a pic but its the side of his head at least. He is on the passenger side).
The crowds were big and all seemed to enjoy, especially the troops from days gone (video here) by and the airplane show (sorry, didn't get that on video). I was very close to the platform where the President was. It was a great position for taking pictures but the crowd got so large and everyone was squishing in. It was really hot and sweaty and there were people so close I could feel someones breath down my neck and kids were climbing around my legs, I had to get outta there. Guess I'm just getting too old for all that stuff. But it was nice and I got some pictures and videos to share.
Today, January 26, is Duarte Day in Dominican Republic.
Celebrating the birth of The Father of the Country or in Spanish Padre de la patria. The day is celebrated with a parade of different military groups and some school children. They all meet at Duarte Park and honor Juan Pablo Duarte with some speeches, music and by placing wreaths around the statue.
I went on a road trip last week (more about that later) but we stopped in San Jose de Ocoa for their Virgen de Altagracia festival. The festival wasn't really started yet but there was some good palos drumming and some people dancing and having some fun under the kiosk. I wish I could have stayed for the entire festival but we had to get back to the city. But at least I got a few videos and pictures (I'll post them soon) to share. I even danced a bit and thank goodness no one video taped me!
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.
I'm coming home!!! I can't believe it is really going to happen. I will be returning to Dominican Republic to live again. To get my life back. I am trying to find a studio or regular small apartment with electricity included in the Colonial Zone or surrounding area. It needs to be not expensive as I am not exactly sure what my income will be and I don't want to stress out when the rent comes due each month. So if anyone knows a place please let me know. I need to have it all in place for sure by the first week in October. So there will be many new adventures added to this blog regularly. I know I will be having many more stories to tell. This video represents the way I feel. Not happy, wandering aimlessly, feeling lost and lonely. Until my little hands find the Presidente cerveza (which can also represent Dominican Republic not just a bien fria). Soon my little hands will be happy again. Returning to my island.
I wrote about living without electric before in this blog. But I came across this video and it brought back lots of memories. I remember when I was just a tourist in DR. One of the first things I told friends when I returned home was about the electric lines and how people seem to steal the electric. I had no idea then just how bad it was in real life. When I moved to DR I would watch the tourists take pictures of the electric lines. Isabel la Catolicá and El Conde in Colonial Zone was a favorite electric line picture taking spot. I had to check my line every so often because there was one neighbor that connected into my electric. I found out he didn't do it on his own, the landlord told him to do it and to pay me for it. He never told me and of course, never paid me so I cut his electric. Another neighbor, she had a bar. She stole the electric all the time. They would come and cut the line (give her a fine I'm sure) and the next day she had it connected again. If it was in the evening and she couldn't get the line connected in time she would call up to me and ask for an extension cord so at least she could have music in the bar. Then she just used candles for light. I couldn't do much in my apartment when she used my electric. My lights were really dim and I was afraid to try the computer so I would just go down to her place and hang out. I knew she wouldn't pay me for the electric so I just drank my pay. That was fine with me. Now check out this video. This guy is on top of the pole. Sitting there working, using a machete it seems. There is no ladder so he must have shimmied up there. I am afraid to play with any electricity. When I had to hook op my outside light I made sure all the power was turned off. Checked it with a voltage thing, and I was still a bit shaky. This guy looks like hes ready to have a beer sent up or even happily spend the afternoon atop that pole.
I came across this video of still pictures by Paul Gerace. These pictures are great Paul says "For better picture clarity the show should be viewed by clicking the centered rectangle located at the bottom right of the viewer". Thanks for these pictures!
There are also some great pictures (slide show) of the Dominican People here for your viewing pleasure.
4th of July fireworks in DR
American Embassy fireworks in Dominican Republic
USA 4th of July celebration fireworks in Dominican Republic
