The Domincans are beautiful people - beautiful and friendly and helpful. We also bump into ex-pats here and there - other foreigners who are here for a visit or for the long haul. They, locals and internationals alike, have their own families and stories that are precious to them. Our lives are enriched by our encounters with them and we hope that we can bless them somehow. I will attempt to sketch at least a caricature of some of them even though I cannot possibly do justice to their vibrancy and beauty.
...
Chelo, our driver from the airport
An old man who we've never seen before, who speaks no English and drives a beat-up white mini-van, but we are putting our lives in his hands. Sometimes you just need to trust. Yep, that's what is called faith. Fortunately for me, he impressed me as a decent driver - aggressive but with maybe a smidgen of caution. The caution was impressive because it seems rare here; aggression, on the other hand, is relatively common. He was kind to us and offered a rest stop. Thankfully he works with tourists enough to know where to find a "real" restroom - one that was locked and protected for us persnickety ex-pats. Yes, one that had paper and running water - AND a toilet seat!
Once we got to Samana, things got a little stressful. It seems that he had not been instructed that the cove was further beyond the town of Samana. He got pretty loud in his attempts to figure out where the place was - getting the attention of various people on the malecon - none of which could help us. For a minute, I was afraid he would get mad & refuse to take us any further. He kept losing his cell signal, which added to my sense of insecuity and vulnerability.
But he stuck with us & kept driving through the dark night. And we kept trying to communicate with him what we thought we knew about where the place might be. Did I mention that he speaks no English? We had never been here before. We had seen pictures of the pool and the beach, but had no idea what the entrance might look like. Up another hill and down, around another sharp curve we went, wondering, always wondering, whether there would be anything to help us find the place. By then, I suppose he probably thought that he would have to take us all the way to the end of the highway. I guess you could say that he did because our place is only a few kilometers short of Las Galeras - which is indeed at the end of the road.
Chelo was the first of many Dominicans that I had to trust to help us during our adventure and I am thankful that he proved to be trust-worthy.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Real life, every-day life...
This place is beautiful. The view from our front yard is idyllic. There is an exotic feel about the whole experience - what with the tropical weather and the cultural flavor in the air. However, it is possible to give the impression that everything about life here is idyllic, which might not be completely accurate. Every-day life has stressors - whether in Michigan or in the tropics. While we need not worry about frozen pipes here, there are other plumbing issues to deal with. We might not have to decide which brand of shampoo to buy, but we do have to figure out where we will get the food for our next few meals. Will we walk to the colmado down the road or will we catch a gua-gua into town? Do we need to get to the bank today? Will my sandals hold together? How many more miles can they take in these rugged conditions?
Did I misunderstand what that person was saying and look foolish - or worse yet, did I say the wrong thing and offend her? Tourists can be condescending to the locals; I want to be kind and compassionate and respectful to them - and that can be hard work when operating in another language. Did I unintentionally imply some kind of promise or give false hope or agree to a deal I can't keep? Will I ever be able to calculate the exchange rate in my head? Will I ever keep the words for "twenty" and "fifty" straight? Will I ever get to the point again where I can hear and respond in Spanish without translating everything back and forth in my head?
There are lots of things that cause stress - or at least keep us on our toes. Currency exchange rates, cultural issues, language bloopers, and availability of safe food are at the top of my list today. But those things are also the stuff of adventure.
So while these are not stress-free days, they are good days. Days that stretch us and make us better.
Did I misunderstand what that person was saying and look foolish - or worse yet, did I say the wrong thing and offend her? Tourists can be condescending to the locals; I want to be kind and compassionate and respectful to them - and that can be hard work when operating in another language. Did I unintentionally imply some kind of promise or give false hope or agree to a deal I can't keep? Will I ever be able to calculate the exchange rate in my head? Will I ever keep the words for "twenty" and "fifty" straight? Will I ever get to the point again where I can hear and respond in Spanish without translating everything back and forth in my head?
There are lots of things that cause stress - or at least keep us on our toes. Currency exchange rates, cultural issues, language bloopers, and availability of safe food are at the top of my list today. But those things are also the stuff of adventure.
So while these are not stress-free days, they are good days. Days that stretch us and make us better.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday tidbits
Sunday morning at the cove
Some of the fishermen headed out early today.
I can hear the guards slapping the table as they play dominoes.
...
Hammock day - under the palm trees!
What a lovely spot! And I think we have it to ourselves this morning because the neighbors have gone to church. I wonder if we will have sunshine today.
...
Absolutely perfect weather - hot sun, cool breeze, puffy clouds floating by
Sure enough: Our first sunburn, but not bad
...
How bizarre it is to wash out Zip-lock bags again
I have a feeling that Dominicans don't know much about food storage - because they probably rarely have food to store. I suppose that they buy the food as they need it and that they rarely have leftovers. We Americans, on the other hand, like to have a pantry filled with food and we need lots of containers in which to keep leftovers.
...
Bob is reading "Travels with Charley" and I'm reading Shawn & Maile Smucker's new book about their four-month trip in the big blue bus - the trip that I followed so closely on his blog because it coincided with the beginning of our big adventure. Two similar books from two very different eras, both so pertinent to our journey.
...
And now the unexpected and wonderful chance to get online again - AND to have some Facetime with the little munchkin!!! How absolutely awesome!
What a great day.
Some of the fishermen headed out early today.
I can hear the guards slapping the table as they play dominoes.
...
Hammock day - under the palm trees!
What a lovely spot! And I think we have it to ourselves this morning because the neighbors have gone to church. I wonder if we will have sunshine today.
...
Absolutely perfect weather - hot sun, cool breeze, puffy clouds floating by
Sure enough: Our first sunburn, but not bad
...
How bizarre it is to wash out Zip-lock bags again
I have a feeling that Dominicans don't know much about food storage - because they probably rarely have food to store. I suppose that they buy the food as they need it and that they rarely have leftovers. We Americans, on the other hand, like to have a pantry filled with food and we need lots of containers in which to keep leftovers.
...
Bob is reading "Travels with Charley" and I'm reading Shawn & Maile Smucker's new book about their four-month trip in the big blue bus - the trip that I followed so closely on his blog because it coincided with the beginning of our big adventure. Two similar books from two very different eras, both so pertinent to our journey.
...
And now the unexpected and wonderful chance to get online again - AND to have some Facetime with the little munchkin!!! How absolutely awesome!
What a great day.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Day by day tidbits - Week One
Saturday, 1-19-13
Waterford, Detroit, Miami, Santo Domingo
Blow holes along the shore, Ole Supermercado, palm trees, loud music
New highway through el campo, rice paddies, mountains, rocky cliffs, steep down-grade
Bathroom break - with a toilet seat AND paper!
Numerous close calls with other vehicles
Darkness falls, more close calls
Samana, driver's cell service fails
How will we find the place when we don't know what to look for?
How will we tell the driver what we do know or where we think it is?
Just keep going...
Maybe it's at the bottom of this hill. Is that it? We don't know. Those mercury yard lights in the sea of blackness look hopeful. Wait; this might be it. No, that says "La Ensenada" - but wait! The sign behind our van says "the cove"!!! Hurray!!! This must be it! Can we get in by using the access code? Driver honks horn, of course - repeatedly! Sure enough; someone is coming to open the gate.
Great relief!
Home at last!
Sunday, 1-20-13
Wake up to discover the beauty of our new home
Walk down the beach a bit
Discover a colmado where we can get our supplies
Relax, explore, try to figure out how things work
Rest and relax some more
Chat with a family from Padukah, KY, who own a home in Puerto Plata
Monday, 1-21-13
Unpack a bit, unwind a bit, sit by the pool, write a bit
Find platanitos at the colmado!
Tuesday, 1-22-13
Ride with neighbors to Vista Mare for internet access
They want to take us up to El Cabito
Dropped off in Las Galeras to explore the town
Lunch at Chez Denise
Supermercado No.1 - yah, that's the name of it!
Catch a gua-gua back to the cove
Wednesday, 1-23-13
Tag along to Vista Mare again with neighbor Chris for internet access
Walk to the colmado for laundry soap
Try out the washing machine
Figure out a place to tie a clothesline
Bob walks the beach shooting pics
Popcorn & movie with the neighbors
Thursday, 1-24-13
Bob visited Los Haitises, a national park on the south side of the bay
I got a non-stick skillet at a hardware store
Found a panaderia with some yummy bread!
I saw a whale - spouting & breeching
Discovered that they sell spaghetti at the colmado
Walked the beach in the moonlight
Lost badly at Triple Yahtzee - to the sound of crashing waves
Friday, 1-15-13
Staying home for the day
Cleaning and doing laundry
Sweating profusely before 9:30 a.m.
Reorganizing our things & settling in - better late than never; right?
Working on my tan
Reading a book - finally!
Visiting with some Germans from a cruise ship who found our beach
Watching their ship leave the harbor several hours later at twilight
Cooking & eating spaghetti
...and that was the first week!
Waterford, Detroit, Miami, Santo Domingo
Blow holes along the shore, Ole Supermercado, palm trees, loud music
New highway through el campo, rice paddies, mountains, rocky cliffs, steep down-grade
Bathroom break - with a toilet seat AND paper!
Numerous close calls with other vehicles
Darkness falls, more close calls
Samana, driver's cell service fails
How will we find the place when we don't know what to look for?
How will we tell the driver what we do know or where we think it is?
Just keep going...
Maybe it's at the bottom of this hill. Is that it? We don't know. Those mercury yard lights in the sea of blackness look hopeful. Wait; this might be it. No, that says "La Ensenada" - but wait! The sign behind our van says "the cove"!!! Hurray!!! This must be it! Can we get in by using the access code? Driver honks horn, of course - repeatedly! Sure enough; someone is coming to open the gate.
Great relief!
Home at last!
Sunday, 1-20-13
Wake up to discover the beauty of our new home
Walk down the beach a bit
Discover a colmado where we can get our supplies
Relax, explore, try to figure out how things work
Rest and relax some more
Chat with a family from Padukah, KY, who own a home in Puerto Plata
Monday, 1-21-13
Unpack a bit, unwind a bit, sit by the pool, write a bit
Find platanitos at the colmado!
Tuesday, 1-22-13
Ride with neighbors to Vista Mare for internet access
They want to take us up to El Cabito
Dropped off in Las Galeras to explore the town
Lunch at Chez Denise
Supermercado No.1 - yah, that's the name of it!
Catch a gua-gua back to the cove
Wednesday, 1-23-13
Tag along to Vista Mare again with neighbor Chris for internet access
Walk to the colmado for laundry soap
Try out the washing machine
Figure out a place to tie a clothesline
Bob walks the beach shooting pics
Popcorn & movie with the neighbors
Thursday, 1-24-13
Bob visited Los Haitises, a national park on the south side of the bay
I got a non-stick skillet at a hardware store
Found a panaderia with some yummy bread!
I saw a whale - spouting & breeching
Discovered that they sell spaghetti at the colmado
Walked the beach in the moonlight
Lost badly at Triple Yahtzee - to the sound of crashing waves
Friday, 1-15-13
Staying home for the day
Cleaning and doing laundry
Sweating profusely before 9:30 a.m.
Reorganizing our things & settling in - better late than never; right?
Working on my tan
Reading a book - finally!
Visiting with some Germans from a cruise ship who found our beach
Watching their ship leave the harbor several hours later at twilight
Cooking & eating spaghetti
...and that was the first week!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wonderings
⦁ I wonder how hot it will get today.
⦁ I wonder if I'll get online today.
⦁ I wonder when I'll get some Face Time with Lina.
⦁ I wonder if she is feeling better.
⦁ I wonder how cold it is in Michigan.
⦁ I wonder if I can buy laundry soap at the colmado.
⦁ I wonder how/where I can dry my clothes.
⦁ I wonder if the locals have a clue about what a treasure this cove is.
⦁ I wonder what they think of us.
⦁ I wonder if I'll get online today.
⦁ I wonder when I'll get some Face Time with Lina.
⦁ I wonder if she is feeling better.
⦁ I wonder how cold it is in Michigan.
⦁ I wonder if I can buy laundry soap at the colmado.
⦁ I wonder how/where I can dry my clothes.
⦁ I wonder if the locals have a clue about what a treasure this cove is.
⦁ I wonder what they think of us.
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