Colonial Zone Santo Domingo Dominican Republic night life, Dining and Drinking
More and more You see in the Dominican newspapers (example Celebrate killing of mugger by drinking and dancing that people are taking the law into their own hands. It happened before but it seems to me to be reported more these days. Maybe because of the law about the alcohol selling places not being permitted to sell alcohol after midnight (2 on weekends). Maybe its because the crime rate has risen. Or could it just be the media or government wanting focus brought on their issues. Whatever the reason its in the papers I'm happy about it.
I'm glad when people take a stand and take the law into control when the people that are supposed to be taking care of enforcing the law don't do it, or can't do it. I like when the people do it. It makes the criminals maybe think a little more before they commit a crime. Maybe.
Anyhow...back to my story. On Sundays I usually went walking to unknown regions with my best friend, the blind wonder dog Sniffy. I wasn't feeling like walking really because my back had been hurting bad. But I hadn't taken her out for even a little walk in days. Only to the park to take care of her business and to the local Colmado. And I did promise her to take her on a walk. I have o keep my promises especially to my best friend. So we started off. Made a left out the apartment door and headed toward the basketball court and was going to head up to Colon Park area.
As we were just passing a little Colmado a group of men were running towards us. There had to be at least 20, probably more. A motor bike was in the lead of these men and a man was running out ahead of them. I was standing on the sidewalk watching these guys running, coming from the basketball area. A lady I always said hi to came to her door and motioned me to get into the Colmado and she pointed to the lone guy in the lead with a look of danger on her face. I did not hesitate and Sniffy and I went into the Colmado. The patrons of the Colmado were blocking the doorway so we had to push our way into the place as they stood in the doorways watching what was coming up the street.
I had no idea what was going on and tried to ask the man working in the Colmado, who I knew, what was happening as I also asked for a beer to drink since I was there. He ignored me and went to the door with the rest of the crowd. Another lady I knew told me and as best as I could understand. The man on the motor bike and the lead running man stole a cell phine from a guy playing basketball. The man on foot was the grabber and he was to jump on the back of the bike after the grab. Well, I guess the men in the basketball court got to the grabber before he made it to the bike. They were off after him. The driver fled ahead of the grabber on foot and left him. So all the men in the basketball court and the onlookers went after the Grabber.
As the group of chasers passed by the Colmado a man on a bicycle was in the lead and almost had the Grabber.
They had made it past the Colmado by now. All the onlookers were making their way into the middle of the street to get a better look at what was about to happen. All the dogs on the neighborhood were barking along with my Sniffy. She didn't see but she did hear the noise of the yelling angry mob that was in the street. I had to go and peek out the door and have a look. But before I did I went and helped myself to a beer since the workers were too busy seeing what was happening.
I went to the doorway to watch since it was clear because everyone else was in the street watching. The Grabber was overtaken. The bicycle guy pushed him down and he was quickly overtaken. I couldn't see what was happening because the Grabber was surrounded and his head disappeared so I knew he was down in the street being beaten unmercifully.
Then they were all coming back. I noticed a few sticks and a baseball bat in the group. They had the Grabber, holding on to him, his feet were not touching the ground. He didn't look in very good shape at all. They all went back to the basketball court and down the hill. Most of the people in the Colmado followed. The worker guys returned to their post and I got Sniffy her little bag of water and her plastic cup to drink it out of along with her piece of bread (pan de auga). I was all curious about what was happening but it was like the moment passed and it was over. As if it was a normal happening and no big deal. I wanted details of the event but it seemed that it just wasn't important to anyone.
I kept watching out the door to see the observers at street lever watching down into the basketball court. I wanted to go look but I didn't know what would happen and with Sniffy being blind she gets a little nervous in large wild crowds.
So I finished my beer as many of the people filtered back into the Colmado. About a half hour later 5 men passed holding up a bloody faced man heading up to the police station at the Alcazar. They were going to give him to the police I guess. This the third passing of the mob, although much smaller, didn't even get a glance by the Colmado crowd.
So I paid for Sniffy and my drinks and we continued our walk up the hill to Colon Park and continued on with the day as usual.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
Dominicans- Herd travelers?
Dominican Republic Transportation
Do Dominicans travel in herds? Or would it better be called a gaggle?
If you have ever gone any place with a Dominican you will agree, in general, Dominicans travel in herds. If its going to the beach, to a bar or to a park or friends home to just hang out. There is always more than 1. Always.
I have had so many experiences with this. It used to REALLY bother me. Now it just bothers me a little, sometimes. I was always used to, when going on a trip, to get things ready before the trip. Have the oil and gas tank filled. Have all necessary items ready to go. Including humans.
Almost every trip I have gone on with Dominicans, most of the time it is the same.
Going to the beach. I say leave early so we can hang out there all day and then get home before dark. For me early is about 8 or 9 in the AM. I have never figured out what the real meaning of early is in Dominican Republic. So anyhow, I wait. I call. The driver is just getting out of bed. He has to stop at his mothers house before he comes. Then he has to get some dumb thing done that he could do anytime, not on the day we had planned to go on a trip.
The wait is not that long. About 2 hours. He arrives with 2 people I don't know. His sister and her friend. That's fine. Its just the beach. Then they have no cooler for ice and they ask me to cook some food to take. ME? COOK? No way. When I go to the beach I want to eat there. Not be bothered with the role of the domestic and feed and clean up crap. I don't do that.
That out of the way. We need a cooler. Shouldn't they have thought of this before. He has one in his house. I just got mine. Then they have to discuss what to drink and when to buy it and where to get ice. When there is a Colmado on every corner selling the drink, snacks and ice.
During this discussing one of the group gets a call and has to leave the circle to talk. Then another phone rings. And here I am waiting to get to the beach..the sun is high in the sky! The phone calls say someone is ready. Who cares if someone is ready. But it seems that whoever they are they are ready to be picked up by us! More people to drive around and get.
So we drive all the way beck into the heart of Santo Domingo. Very near where the guys mother lives. He was just there an hour before! Why couldn't he have picked up this person when he was there instead of heading back into traffic to get someone?
So another hour has passed. Waiting for this person to talk to his mother. Run to the Colmado for bread for her. Then stand and talk a bit. Couldn't we talk in the car on the way to the beach?
While they are discussing "the plan", it's noon now and I need a beer! Something to calm me down and it (and I) was hot. I walk 3 buildings away to get 2 grandes for everyone to share. I can't understand half of what is being said anyhow. When talk is fast I can't get it. I am gone for 5 minutes! I come back and they are all on me because they want to leave! Now my blood is boiling! It takes everything in me to try and act normal. Not to pick up the broom stick laying in the street and beat them just to get some sense into their heads!
I hold back and smile. Not easy but it's Ok. I'm the foreigner here. We all get in the car, moving around a little until everyone is comfy with their positions. Were off! Finally.
We still have not got gas or the refreshments. So we stop at a gas station where everyone has to get out and talk more on their celulars. Then were on our way. Vamanos a la playa!
As we exit the highway for the road that takes us to the beach I suggest getting the liquids. Of course there is the discussion of why didn't we get them in the city because its cheaper there. I suggested this many times and got the hand held up, the Dominican wait hand motion. I said nothing. What was the use.
We got all the stuff. Of course very slowly.
YEA!! We're at the beach. Its 2PM. I can't believe it!
We get all settled in so I can have sun and they shade. Enjoy a dip in the water. Play with the vendors. Eat some beach food.
Then comes 4PM and one of the girls says she has to get home because she has something she has to do. Now my slightly red glow on my skin is not from the sun. Its from boiling blood! All the hours of getting ready to spend almost 2 hours sitting on the beach! That's just wrong. So we all packed back up and left. I didn't talk mush on the way home. Afraid of what I may say. Anyhow I didn't know all the words for what I wanted to say in Spanish.
This is just one example of going out with friends in DR. Things like this happen all the time.
Once taking a bus to the beach with friends. We are half way to Boca Chica and the bus stops at some make shift terminal. There is only 7 people on the bus and he won't go until he has more people. All the people keep getting on other busses and they fill up and pull out. Here we are sitting for about 20 minutes. We tried to get off the bus and there was a heated discussion that we were not permitted to leave. Well, 2 of my friends are very opinionated Dominican women and they get us off the bus. We get on another and continue on our way.
Another time after we get all the people together and before we get to the gas station we run out of gas. The guys have to walk to get gas then when we get the gas they have to drive to the gas station and spend 20 minutes discussing it with the attendant. Then on the way home we get a flat tire. On the side of the highway and of course no spare. And we were drinking beer and had to pee! So we were there for over an hour. Got the tire on and this time it was dark and he had no head lights. We made it home but it was a real experience.
There are many more stories like this but I have to get to work on the web site now....
Do Dominicans travel in herds? Or would it better be called a gaggle?
If you have ever gone any place with a Dominican you will agree, in general, Dominicans travel in herds. If its going to the beach, to a bar or to a park or friends home to just hang out. There is always more than 1. Always.
I have had so many experiences with this. It used to REALLY bother me. Now it just bothers me a little, sometimes. I was always used to, when going on a trip, to get things ready before the trip. Have the oil and gas tank filled. Have all necessary items ready to go. Including humans.
Almost every trip I have gone on with Dominicans, most of the time it is the same.
Going to the beach. I say leave early so we can hang out there all day and then get home before dark. For me early is about 8 or 9 in the AM. I have never figured out what the real meaning of early is in Dominican Republic. So anyhow, I wait. I call. The driver is just getting out of bed. He has to stop at his mothers house before he comes. Then he has to get some dumb thing done that he could do anytime, not on the day we had planned to go on a trip.
The wait is not that long. About 2 hours. He arrives with 2 people I don't know. His sister and her friend. That's fine. Its just the beach. Then they have no cooler for ice and they ask me to cook some food to take. ME? COOK? No way. When I go to the beach I want to eat there. Not be bothered with the role of the domestic and feed and clean up crap. I don't do that.
That out of the way. We need a cooler. Shouldn't they have thought of this before. He has one in his house. I just got mine. Then they have to discuss what to drink and when to buy it and where to get ice. When there is a Colmado on every corner selling the drink, snacks and ice.
During this discussing one of the group gets a call and has to leave the circle to talk. Then another phone rings. And here I am waiting to get to the beach..the sun is high in the sky! The phone calls say someone is ready. Who cares if someone is ready. But it seems that whoever they are they are ready to be picked up by us! More people to drive around and get.
So we drive all the way beck into the heart of Santo Domingo. Very near where the guys mother lives. He was just there an hour before! Why couldn't he have picked up this person when he was there instead of heading back into traffic to get someone?
So another hour has passed. Waiting for this person to talk to his mother. Run to the Colmado for bread for her. Then stand and talk a bit. Couldn't we talk in the car on the way to the beach?
While they are discussing "the plan", it's noon now and I need a beer! Something to calm me down and it (and I) was hot. I walk 3 buildings away to get 2 grandes for everyone to share. I can't understand half of what is being said anyhow. When talk is fast I can't get it. I am gone for 5 minutes! I come back and they are all on me because they want to leave! Now my blood is boiling! It takes everything in me to try and act normal. Not to pick up the broom stick laying in the street and beat them just to get some sense into their heads!
I hold back and smile. Not easy but it's Ok. I'm the foreigner here. We all get in the car, moving around a little until everyone is comfy with their positions. Were off! Finally.
We still have not got gas or the refreshments. So we stop at a gas station where everyone has to get out and talk more on their celulars. Then were on our way. Vamanos a la playa!
As we exit the highway for the road that takes us to the beach I suggest getting the liquids. Of course there is the discussion of why didn't we get them in the city because its cheaper there. I suggested this many times and got the hand held up, the Dominican wait hand motion. I said nothing. What was the use.
We got all the stuff. Of course very slowly.
YEA!! We're at the beach. Its 2PM. I can't believe it!
We get all settled in so I can have sun and they shade. Enjoy a dip in the water. Play with the vendors. Eat some beach food.
Then comes 4PM and one of the girls says she has to get home because she has something she has to do. Now my slightly red glow on my skin is not from the sun. Its from boiling blood! All the hours of getting ready to spend almost 2 hours sitting on the beach! That's just wrong. So we all packed back up and left. I didn't talk mush on the way home. Afraid of what I may say. Anyhow I didn't know all the words for what I wanted to say in Spanish.
This is just one example of going out with friends in DR. Things like this happen all the time.
Once taking a bus to the beach with friends. We are half way to Boca Chica and the bus stops at some make shift terminal. There is only 7 people on the bus and he won't go until he has more people. All the people keep getting on other busses and they fill up and pull out. Here we are sitting for about 20 minutes. We tried to get off the bus and there was a heated discussion that we were not permitted to leave. Well, 2 of my friends are very opinionated Dominican women and they get us off the bus. We get on another and continue on our way.
Another time after we get all the people together and before we get to the gas station we run out of gas. The guys have to walk to get gas then when we get the gas they have to drive to the gas station and spend 20 minutes discussing it with the attendant. Then on the way home we get a flat tire. On the side of the highway and of course no spare. And we were drinking beer and had to pee! So we were there for over an hour. Got the tire on and this time it was dark and he had no head lights. We made it home but it was a real experience.
There are many more stories like this but I have to get to work on the web site now....
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