Hi,
Enough with fauna–on to the flora, and the sol, and las playas! (OK, not in that order, but all covered.)
I hired Junior, a young Dominican man, to help me whip the garden in to shape, clear the view from your bungalow, and get some of the plants trimmed up nicely. Denise thinks that Junior is very well proportioned, all by himself and you might well agree.
I believe that J. genuinely thinks that I’m quite strong but the truth is that the kid is killing me. I suppose that not too many foreigners actually work alongside him.
Yesterday we made an excursion to Las Terrenas, picked up a nightstand and lamp for the bungalow and a big fan for the occasional still night. Heather and Chad are good to be the “pilot” guests, and I’ll bet that we’re fairly thorough in anticipating what’s required but imagine that we’ll make a day trip to Las Terranas once during their stay to fill in any “staff” gap and to take advantage of the magnificent, and touristically developed, beaches there. We checked out the beaches here in Las Galeras on Sunday, and they’re pretty swell, too.
In addition, Playa Rincon is a 40 minute drive. I once walked on that magnificent beach for an hour and a quarter, encountering one other couple. Those days may be past, but it’s still grand.
Playa Madama is a 45 minute walk from home (bring your machete) and is a secluded cove with beach and shade and everything.
Our friends Stefano and Yocasty propose a picnic with Heather and Chad on Playa Fronton, which requires a short voyage by boat. We’ve never been, but it’s reportedly magnificent.
The hammocks are hung, and there’s a sunny/shady little “sub-garden” just right for reading here at home.
Heather asked about clothing: a lightweight pair of pants and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt or 2 will be welcome in the evening, or when traveling. (The Dominicans are pretty modest, actually.)
Even in Winter the sun is dangerously powerful, so they’ll plan accordingly and expect to leave brown like a berry. A hat is a good idea.
Denise asks that I mention Pepto-Bismol tablets, which may come in handy. We took one daily for the first few weeks, just because it was recommended.
Heather’s Hep-A question? Well, I’m certainly not going to recommend that they skip the inoculation, but it’s not an issue, as far as I know.
We’re looking forward to their visit and hope that they are getting excited too.
Bill
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Here are a couple of looks at Playa Madama, which is a rewarding 30 minute walk from home.
The Playita is a beach also within walking distance from Las Galeras.
Tags: Dominican Republic, Heather Wilton, Las Galeras, Living in the Dominican Republic, Retire, Retirement, Samana
I’m not making this up, I swear.
Denise went to visit our neighbors Sandy and Roy the other day and discovered that Sandy had cut a picture of a frog from a magazine and framed it on the wall above her toilet.
I’m not sure who’s adapting to what, but am pretty sure there’s something evolutionary going on…
Our own frog put in a brief appearance the other day, took a few laps around the bowl and then took his leave, maybe.
Bill
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Tags: Denise Hanna, Dominican Republic, Las Galeras, Living in the Dominican Republic, Retire, Retirement, Samana
Hi,
I”ve been thinking a little about the fragility of life and a whole range of options for living any of a variety of lives.
Once again, I’m liking the concept of Intention as a frame for living, and hope that you won’t find the following insufferable.
Perhaps every woman who reads this has experienced the sensation that I’m about to describe, I don’t know. I’m pretty sure that every man could admit to the sheer adrenaline rush that comes from the unfettered and untrammeled headlong and willful exercise of power in any guise.
I suppose that it’s a control thing, variously finding expression in ways that demonstrate our mastery or excellence for all to see. A brilliant athletic maneuver, the astute shaping of an organization or effective marshaling of a campaign, or accelerating an automobile way beyond the dictate of prudence are examples.
The common element in what I’m trying to describe is the unbridled and exhilarating deployment and control of power to brink of losing control. It’s pretty intoxicating stuff.
Along with the above, probably most of us have had the experience of being brought up short–jerked back to reality by one or another of the halters of life. Sort of a cosmic “Whoa there, Sport, not so fast.”
If we’re lucky there’s no harm, no foul.
If we’re REALLY fortunate it turns into an actual learning experience, one that can even temper the headlong lust to exercise power the next time that the opportunity or temptation presents itself.
I’m thinking for the last few days about the son of Negro, one of the cab drivers here in Las Galeras. This young man was just 24 years old.
He must have had one of these exhilarating moments on Christmas night when, perhaps fueled by too much Brugal coupled with an excess of confidence he accelerated his motor around a curve and headlong into…a cow.
They were both promptly made dead by the experience.
The cow was quickly butchered and sold off. The entire community gathered with Negro and his family the following day and walked enmasse to the cemetery to bury the young guy.
As I said, we lucky ones have skated over that divide which is defined by judiciousness and have been yanked back by the Fates, sadder, perhaps a bit frightened, and hopefully somewhat wiser for the experience. Some of us more than once.
The fateful yank-back was denied the son of Negro, who slipped away into the abyss and left only his family and friends sadder and maybe wiser.
I wonder if in his final exhilarating moment he looked up and saw a stolid beast and realized that he had gone too far. I hope that realization, at least, was not denied him.
For me, from now, the prospect of a hubris-fueled come-uppance moment will always have an element of “Cowness” about it.
Usually, and in the United States, it will for me be a metaphorical cow, as in “mind the potential for an unexpected cow (you fool.)” Of course, here in the DR the caution is both figurative and literal.
After the funeral, life has resumed here in Las Galeras, although the motors seem generally a bit restrained. Perhaps that’s only my imagination, and it won’t last in any event, I’m sure.
Anyway, I hope that your New Year is peaceful, prosperous, and safe.
Mind that cow.
Best regards,
Bill
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Tags: Dominican Republic, Labor Union, Las Galeras, Living in the Dominican Republic, Painters Union, Retire, Retirement, Samana
Hi,
Denise and I just spent a very pleasant hour or so over coffee watching the nearly-full moon set over the Bay of Las Galeras, this after a spirited round with the frog over possession of the bathroom.
It’s a small and hollow satisfaction for me to know that I was correct in my first suspicion: the frog really DOES live in our bathroom. Denise observes that the bathroom is beginning to resemble a broom closet, what with all of the frog-wrangling tools lying about for convenience’ sake.
While I do enjoy the coffee here and the vista from the veranda is enthralling, I am also fond of a good snuggle in a comfortable bed. I find that early morning frog alerts are not conducive to the latter.
My friend Jocelyne suggested an approach that involved a yummy garlicky sauce, which I’ve mentioned to Senor Frog. He is not intimidated, nor does he seem to mind vigorous sweeping with the primary frog-wrangling tool, the broom.
I’m beginning to think that Catch and Release is an approach worth considering.
The reflection of the moon on the bay more fully informs my understanding of the Peruvian revolutionary group “Shining Path.” The reflection appeared substantial enough to support travel. We were pretty content with our bourgeois coffee and not too tempted to answer the call for the moment.
I spent a little time applying roof coating by moonlight last evening and was awakened by a passing shower in the night. I’m imagining that our roof is no worse for it–and I’m also wondering if the frog came in to get out of the rain.
Denise announced yesterday that she is completely over her small funk. I actually hadn’t noticed and suspect low blood sugar. That or perhaps her simple act of loading her Dominican cell phone with pesos so that she COULD call the U.S. or Italy was all it took.
We do miss you, but not enough to do much about it–other than send these missives, make the very occasional call and remind you of the invite to join us. Anyway, we enjoy hearing from you, too.
Hope that your holidays have been or are individually and collectively all that you wish.
Bill
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Tags: Denise Hanna, Dominican Republic, Las Galeras, Living in the Dominican Republic, Retire, Retirement, Samana
Hi,
I’ve been a bit under the weather for the past several days, having come down with a bit of a cold. I don’t know if I contracted this guy by getting a chill after drenching labors in el jardin or what. I’m less compulsive about hand-washing here in the DR that in the US, not only as a conservation measure, but there’s a lot less human contact here for us.
Anyway, I’ve contracted a cold and am not coping too well because I don’t have too much experience with colds in the US, likely a direct result of aforementioned hand-washing habits (an old business agent practice–never pass an opportunity to shake a hand or to wash up.) I particularly resent that I’m feeling less than 100 per cent when the weather is so beautiful. It’s insult to injury, exactly like a summer cold.
However, I’ve turned the corner, am on the mend; can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and etc.
I continue to marvel at the ever-changing scene off the front porch.
We’re up on a volcanic bench 80 meters or so above the water and overlooking a farm and palm grove before the beach with its constant murmur or roar. We’ve got maybe 22–25 degrees of the Atlantic Ocean with a horizon broken only where the sky meets the sea and another 100 degrees of protected bay and an unpopulated peninsula opposite. More landforms and myriad green hills are off to the left for another 40 or 50 degrees.
Floating over the whole aspect are puffy cumulus clouds, stark white or various shades of grey, depending on if and how they may be shaded by their companions. The waters and the land change color similarly, also dependent on depth and variety under the variant light.
Maybe I’ll set the camera on an unmovable tripod and take pictures over a few days, so you can see what I mean. Probably not, though.
Today may be the day that we finish with the roof, but I’m betting another couple of days to be comfortable satisfied that it is once again impermeable. Or it may be the day that I work with the neighbor’s gardener down the fence line, Frost-fashion making everything lovely.
Denise cleaned up the garage yesterday, and I’ve nearly completed the construction of the workbench begun the day of the Tormenta Olga. Can organizing equipment and material be far behind?
Heather and a colleague are planning to visit us in mid January for a week or 10 days and we’re quite pleased with the prospect. Also quite curious to see how others will react to life in Las Galeras. It ain’t to resort and, as our neighbor says it’s not paradise.
But you can see it from here.
Bill
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Tags: Dominican Republic, Las Galeras, Living in the Dominican Republic, Retire, Retirement, Samana