Dominicana Legal!

Just to let everyone know...I am a Dominican Today! Born about 3 hours ago.

I got my Residencia Definitivo. Lets celebrate!!

Santo Domingo Carnival 2008

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"

The 2008 Slide Shows Are Ready!

Carnival in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic 2008 Slide show is Ready!
The Independence Day Military Parade in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic 2008 is done also!

Enjoy!

Independence Day February 27,2008

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....

Cat In The Bag and the Featherless Guinea

I went on a little road trip with a friend a few weeks ago. We drove from the Capital to San Pedro de Macrois and La Romana. I never really know quite where I am but it was around in there somewhere.
We took back roads in the Batey areas. Along these dirt roads there was mostly sugar cane fields with a little village here and there.
As usual, I love to stop in the Colmados and talk to the locals. Buddy would stop and take a walk taking pictures and I would sit in the Colmados talking to people. My grandmaw used to tell me I had diarrhea of the mouth. Even now with my bad Spanish I still have the running of the mouth problem, jejej.
There was a Colmado along one of these dirt roads and they had some great smells coming from inside so we stopped to get something to eat.
There were a few men standing along the road with a guinea hen holding it by the legs. The feathers were beautiful, black with white spots. I went over to ask him if I could have some of the feathers to make some jewelry with. He offered me a wing feather but I wanted some of the smaller ones. He pulled a few out and gave them to me. I wanted more but just as I was about to ask the chicken lifted it's head from the hanging position!! I was so shocked! I thought it was dead. I apologized to the poor chicken whose feathers I was holding while the men were laughing at me.
I went back and joined Buddy and ate my food. Then Buddy was off to take some pictures. I took my beer and sat on the wall surrounding the Colmado next to an older man holding a large rice sack.
I started talking to the man, of course. I asked him what was in his sack as it looked empty except for a little bump at the bottom. He told me there was a cat in the bag. I asked why he had the cat in the bag (remember my Spanish is not that great). He told me the cat was good for eating rats and I thought he said that he was going to eat the cat!
Now I have heard stories about Dominicans eating cat but I never really saw it before. I asked him why he would want to eat this cat as it was a small kitten and it didn't have much meat on it. He started laughing while I sat there in shock, feeling really bad for that little kitten who was going to be someones dinner.
He then explained, slowly, that he was taking the cat to someones house so the cat could eat the rats. Ahhh, now I understood.
I asked him if I could see the little kitten. He told me it was really mean but he untied the top on the bag and I stuck my hand inside the bag. The kitten was so cute and friendly, not mean at all. I told the man that the cat was mean to him because he put it in the bag. How would you feel if someone stuck you in a bag? I don't think I would like that person either!
So we talked a bit more as I pet the cat. Then the bus pulled up. The man tied his kitten sack back up. Off they went, the old man and the cat in the bag. To the cats new home.
These are some of the pictures I took that day. Sorry, i didn't get any of the Cat in the Bag and the Featherless Guinea...

Another Party in the Street

This party was between Hostos and Duarte here in Colonial Zone. The aea is really narrow so all the people were really packed in. All the neighbors were there and we had a great time. Good dancing and music by Los Hermanos Rosarios.
Here are a few videos I took of the dancing. Oh, if only I could wiggle like a Dominican! jejeje


The song that is being danced to is called "ROMPECINTURA" roughly translated it is break the waist. The song got the people really wiggling.


Don't you just love Christmas Dominican style??!!

I have pictures I have taken around Santo Domingo and Colonial Zone Christmas 2007. Take a look.

Neighborhood Christmas Party

Last night was the Navidad party for the neighborhood. It was a really great time. There were 2 different bands that played (I can't remember their names) and they were really good. they played Christmas music as well as the dance music. The Christmas music here when I first heard it, I had no idea it was Christmas music. I had never heard Christmas songs that had he merengue music with them. Now I can't imagine Navidad without hearing at least a few merengue Christmas carols.
It was a little cold last night as some of my neighbors and I were waiting for everyone to walk to the next block to join in the fun. but after we got there, in the big crowd, I was happy I didn't put on a long sleeved shirt. I was sweating bad! Especially after doing some dancing.
It was good seeing all the old neighbors. Some that had moved away while I was in USA were there as well. I thought I lost touch with them forever but last night I saw many of them again. many of the people that stay in their homes most of the time, the older ladies and home bodies always come out for the neighborhood party. I love seeing an older woman dancing with a teenager. I even danced with this great grandfather type man and I couldn't keep up with him! After 2 dances I had to go and rest a bit. he was still ready to dance so he asked the next girl he say and kept going. bless his good strong heart and legs!
I love Christmas here in my little town. All the Dominican families visiting for the holidays. the streets are full of people talking and enjoying. The lights, even though there are not as many as in the years past, are beautiful. the Christmas foods...yummm. The neighborhood park is near a church and they always seem to have Christmas music flowing out from the windows into the park which makes sitting there with the Christmas tree lit feel so much like Christmas even if there is no snow. Another thing I really like here is they have no problem having a manger scene in public places. Even the government offices they have the manger set up. I love seeing this. It is one thing that I always felt bad about in USA. They don't permit the creche to be displayed in government places. It is not "politically correct". Yet it is Ok to have Santa and the reindeer. I just cannot understand this. But it is all good. I am here and don't have to deal with that politically correct crap anymore (I hope).
More Christmas/ Navidad stuff and pictures soon..
Learn more about Christams in Dominican Republic.
Oh, by the way, there is a new hotel opening in the nest week or so in Colonial Zone, Coco Boutique Hotel. Check it out in our HOT SPOTS! section.

Subtropical Storm OLGA

This storm left much of Santiago area devastated. They opened the Taveras Dam on the Rio Yaque Del Norte releasing about 5000 cubic meters or water per MINUTE in the middle of the night causing many people to be caught unaware. Having to leave their homes fast in the middle of the night without any electricity to see must have been terrible.
There are pictures of people standing atop their homes and one of a person sitting in a tree with fast running water surrounding it.
Here is a video taken on the Puente Hnos. Patino bridge spanning the Rio Yaque Del Norte.

Here is a link to a thread on DR1 with many pictures.
This picture has circles where there are people stranded.
Here is the link where there are many more pictures taken this morning in the barrio of Bella Vista in Santiago that are just amazing to view.
This video is from the television just to show the force of the water as it was being let out of the damn

I just cannot believe the government did this without warning the people better. There have been lives lost. Who is responsible?