Sunday, February 25 (domingo, 25 de febrero) What a beautiful day in the Caribbean today was here in Sosua. I took a long walk and here are the pictures I liked most. All were taken today.
A large bougainvilla bush with brilliant reddish-pink flowers.
The street vendor lady was selling all types of items for the ladies to use in their hair. Very colorful.
Sosua Bay today.
The sea was just gorgeous and the beach was crowded.
My buddy Helmuth. I ran into him just coming in from his bike ride. He told me he didn't go far today...just to Sabaneta and back. That is at least 15 miles one way. Not bad for a guy who just turned 67. Pretty incredible Helmuth.
Another flowering bush/tree that caught my eye.
I ran into Renato at Siempre Sol at the beach. Had lots of trouble getting a good picture of him since he was in the shade with lots of light behind him.
I have never encountered this lady in the street before. Very strange.
This guy was entertaining people at the beach. I think he is dressed for Carnaval.
Lots of tourists in town right now and the beach was crowded.
Another new massage parlor. None of them can rival Passions though.
I found this flower in the entryway to Villa Flor condominiums.
Selling rugs in the street.
The entrance to the beach.
A couple of gringas at the beach. I usually don't pay any attention to the gringas but these two made a good picture at the water's edge.
Spanish For The Day
(Several of these I don't know and I put them in today's blog to remind me to memorize and get in the habit of using them).
a menudo ... often a veces ... sometimes cada dia ... every day con frecuencia ... with frequency de vez en cuando ... from time to time en aquella epoca ... at that time frecuentemente ... frequently generalmente ... usually (g is silent) muchas veces ... many times mucho ... a lot nunca ... never por un rato ... for awhile siempre ... always tantas veces ... many times todas las semanas ... every week todos los dias ... every day todo el tiempo ... all the time varias veces ... several times
It was a beautiful Sunday ... quiet on the streets and busy at the beach. Cuidate!
Soon I will be in my final month here in Sosua and will return to the states for three months April 1. Though I will miss Sosua and the life here, I am looking forward to getting back to the family for a few months. Also will enjoy the conveniences of life in the 'first world' that Americans take totally for granted. Three months in the states will be enough and then will return to Sosua the first part of July.
Tristan Wayne .My new grandson is now 2 months old and I am looking forward to finally meeting him. This is one of the latest of many pictures that my my daughter-in-law Sherry sends me.
Life on the Streets
The fish guy.
The juice guy.
This nice lady has become a friend over the months. She sells emparadillas (at least that is what I call them). They are pastry-like turnovers filled with chicken and are very good and cost efficient at 10 pesos per turnover. Often after eating a big lunch at Susanna's, two or three of her emparadillas is enough to get me to bedtime.
This guy builds and sells mostly shelving for people's apartments.
Haitian lady selling fresh fruit at the beach.
Some B Words
Bahia - Bay Bandera - Flag Barbilla - Chin Barca - Boat Barro - Mud Basta - Thats Enough Basura - Trash Bateria - Battery Blando - Soft Bobo-Pacifier
Las Aguilas de Cibaenas...Series del Caribe Campeones
Though they lost their final game to las Gigantes de Carolina of Puerto Rico by a score of 1-0, las Aguilas were crowned Caribbean Champions Wednesday evening.
Las Aguilas finished the series with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss. Las Gigantes de Carolina (Puerto Rico) were second at 4-2. Los Tigres de Aragua (Venezuela) were third at 2-4. Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo (Mexico) finished in last place with a record of 1-5.
It is ironic that las Aguilas breezed through the CWS with the heart of their team not participating. I wonder what the scores would have been had Melky Cabrera, Willy Mo Pena, Alexis Gomez, Edwin Encarnacion and Mendy Lopez played.
I feel kind of lost as there is no baseball to follow until the first of April when my St. Louis Cardinals open their season at home against the Mets and begin defending their World Series title. It will be interesting over the next month to follow the Cardinals in spring training to see how the team comes together.
Favorites...Best Sports Bar in Sosua
I would choose Eddie's Sports Bar hands down. Eddie's is well run and thoroughly established here in Sosua. There are televisions of various sizes all over the bar and more importantly, Eddie is very adaptable to his wide assortment of clients.
I remember walking in the bar last summer wanting to watch the Cardinals game. I asked Eddie if he could find it for me. It happened to be on a night when there was a very important soccer game being played. The bar was full of Europeans in a party mood, watching the match. Eddie took the time to find the Cardinal game on the satellite and put it on a small television off in the corner for me. I was able to sit quietly by myself and watch the game.
Tip of the Day...Always keep a pocket full of small peso bills.
Change is often hard to come by here in Sosua. In addition, having the correct change is advisable when traveling by motoconcho, gua gua or taxi. It will prevent you from being pressured into paying more than what you owe because the driver claims he has no change, is in a huge hurry and...well you get the idea.
As an example, imagine you bill is $70 pesos at a restaurant or bar. You have the correct change. Use a $500 peso bill to pay the tab so that you keep plenty of 10s, 20s, 50s, and 100s in your pocket. It is just a good idea here not to pay for anything on the street, to someone you have never dealt with before, with a big bill.
Places
This little outside restaurant is located on Pedro Clisante, just down the street toward Colmado Zoilo from Club Residencia.
You can buy one-half barbecued chicken for $100 pesos. The chicken comes with sauce and onions. For that price you also get more yucca than you can probably eat. That is, if you like yucca. I always pass on the yucca.
The restaurant has a pleasant outdoor area to eat or you can order the food para llavar (to go).
The new Tropical Bar located where the former Hali Gali Bar was.
Always one of the best restaurants in Sosua, La Roca is located close to the entrance to the beach. Ask for the resident's menu, it is a lot cheaper.
Morua Mai Restaurant across the street from La Roca.
The best place for fresh pastries and fresh bread is the German Bakery. It is located on the side street between Pedro Clisante and the main highway, just up the street from Colmado Zoilo.
The entrance to Villa Flor Condominiums in Plaza Sosua.
Leo's Barber Shop located in Plaza Sosua. That is Leo sitting in the chair. I get my hair cut there for $150 pesos. I think the actual cost is $100 pesos, but I always give him a tip.
Ahhhh yes...the infamous Western Office across the street from Super Playera. This place is usually full of chicas who have convinced no telling how many gringos, that they are destitute, hungry, their grandmother needs an operation, their daughter has this or that, and most of all that they are being faithful while said gringo is away from them. These girls are either very good or the gringos are awfully stupid because many of them spend half their time in this office. Come on guys!
Spanish For The Day...5 More A Words
absolutamente...absolutely abuela...grandmother aburrido...bored (remember to trill the double r) aca...here (ven aca...come here) aceite...oil
49 more days until I head back to the states for 3 months. I won't be happy to leave.
Three of the six rounds of the Caribbean World Series are finished and las Aguilas de Cibaenas,(representing the Dominican Republic), are in 1st place.Three more wins would bring the Caribbean title home to the Dominican Republic and the people around here will once again be in the streets celebrating.
Last nightlas Aguilasdefeated las Gigantes de Carolina, the Puerto Rican champion, by a score of 12-0. As I am writing thislas Aguilaslead los Tigres de Aragua of Venezuela 4-1 in the seventh inning of today's game.
This is one of the many pages in the newspaper today devoted to last night's game.
I was thinking today, being a year-round baseball fan, I have two favorite teams. From April through October my life is all about the St. Louis Cardinals. From November through February, I switch tolas Aguilas de Cibaenas. Iflas Aguilasgo on to win the CWS, both of my teams will be World Series Champions this year. A baseball year to remember for sure!
Favorites ... Best place in Sosua to get fresh fruit and vegetables, in my opinion, is the little store in Plaza Sosua just before you reach Colmado Yogelis. It is very small and if you are not looking for it you might miss it. But, do go in there as the fruit is fresh and cheap.
Today, before my novia and I went to the beach, I stopped by the little store for oranges, mandarin oranges (tangerines) and bananas. I bought five oranges, five large mandarin oranges and three bananas for $40 pesos.
At the beach there is a man walking around selling mandarin oranges. He has them tied together in groups of six and tries to sell them all at the same time for $160 pesos. If you want to buy less than that amount, he will tell you he can't sell them individually. Thats a pile of (?"!@#$%).
The last time we went to the beach I tried to buy two mandarine oranges from him. He didn't want to sell me two of course. I told him I live here and that I wanted two not six. I told him I would pay him $20 pesos for two mandarin oranges.
It took me 15 minutes of haggling to convince him I wasn't a tourist and I was not going to fall for his marketing ploy. Finally I told him we no longer wanted to buy the mandarin oranges and at that point he finally did sell me two for the price I offered.
If you are going to the beach and like my girlfriend and I, you like to eat fruit at the beach, it might be worth a trip to this little store before you go.
A Bartering Tip ... On the street leading down to the beach and all along the back of the beach there are many little shops, all selling basically the same things. Tourists like to browse these shops for souvenirs. There is artwork, cheap jewelry, towels, swimsuits, little carved statues, sunglasses, beach towels and things of this nature.
If you think the used car salesmen in the United States employ the hard sell, let me assure they do not in any way compare to what you have to endure from the Dominicans and Haitians who work in these shops. Once you even turn your head and look in the direction of their shop they descend on you.
Remember the golden word in the Dominican Republic...NO!
Let's say you want to buy a medium size oil painting as an example.
I know that the merchants have less than $500 pesos tied up in one of these pieces of art. I have several of these in my apartments in the states and here in Sosua and never pay more than $300 pesos for a small one and $500 pesos for a medium to large cuadro.
If you find something you like and ask the price, he will quote you a price that is ridiculous and totally out of the ballpark for what the item is worth.
He will probably quote you a price in the $2000 to $3000 peso range. Believe me, his offer will be way out of line. You must be smart enough to know that his first offer is designed to make your counter offer much higher than it might otherwise be.
The rule is your counter offer should be so low that it embarrasses you to make it. This counter offer is very important. Counter his $2000 offer with an offer of $200. As he recovers from his pretended stroke you must stand your ground with a straight face.
After five minutes of histrionics on his part, his next offer should drop down to between $500 and $1000 pesos. If he doesn't counter with something closer to what the item is worth, walk away. Your feet are your best bartering tool. Believe me when you turn to walk away, he will drop the price. He won't let you walk away.
Remember, no matter what, you are not going to pay a peso more than $500 for that artwork. Raise your offer slightly. Be ready for him to tell you how sick is daughter is and how poor he is. If you don't fall for this and stand your ground he will probably counter again.
By now you should be within $200 pesos of each other. Offer him $500 and stick to that. He will start haggling with you for $550, then $530 and so on. He is thinking $50 pesos is nothing to you and if he pesters you enough, you will cave in.
Stick to your guns. Bartering over several hundred pesos is an economic thing. Bartering over $50 pesos is a pride thing. After he has put in all that work and gotten close to the sale, he is not going to let a few pesos get in the way. Time to walk away again. At this point you probably have it bought for the price you want.
I hate bartering with these guys, but I am tight with my money and it is a matter of pride not to get taken by them.
They hate bartering with those of us that live down here. I don't understand why they don't realize that everyone of them sell the same thing and it is quite easy to go somewhere else and find the very same item.
This and That
My friend Angela's daughter Grismeris with one of my Aguilas caps.
My Norwegian friend Leif and his fiancee Estefania at Hamburger Paradise. We have a great group of guys who hang out together at the restaurant which is now in the process of being moved across the street.
El Molino market in Puerto Plata. There are hundreds of pairs of shoes there for sale along with everything else imaginable. It is certainly worth an afternoon of browsing.
My friend Griselda walking down the street. She always has a big smile for me. If one of you guys out there wants to meet an attractive girl with a big heart, let me know. Griselda is a keeper.
This is some of my novia's stepfathers work. He is a basket weaver and also weaves these interior blinds for windows and doorways. Let me know if you are in need of a custom made set of blinds or a basket. He is quite talented.
How cold is it where you are? It is 85 degrees farenheit here.
Angela's oldest daughter Charina with one of her friends. Isn't she beautiful?
My novia Carolina. I love it when she is happy and smiling like this.
My good friend Helmut walking across the street for a conversation. Helmut is my favorite German in Sosua. We have some great conversations at the restaurant or around the pool.
You can buy motorcycles and pasolas at El Molina market in POP.
The beach was awesome today.
The La Cienega gua gua stop. The motoconcho drivers are waiting for the next bus. That is Carolina pretending she doesn't know the crazy gringo across the road taking pictures.
Word For The Day
Listo (leee stow) ... ready
If you travel about on the motoconchos you can tell the driver you are on safely with your feet on the footbars by saying listo (ready when you are).
By the way, I hope you know that you always get onto and off the moto from the left side. Just like riding a horse. That is unless you want a Dominican tattoo from the exhaust pipe on the right side.
The Caribbean World Series got underway last night and it was quite a start for la Republica Dominicana. The Dominican Republic (Aguilas de Cibaenas) defeated Venezuela 4-3 in 18 innings. It was the longest game in the history of the CWS, lasting over 6 hours.
In the other game Puerto Rico easily defeated Mexico 11-1.
The CWS is being played in Carolina (San Juan), Puerto Rico.
The Dominican team is represented by the Dominican National Champion, Auilas de Cibeanas, but the team hardly looks the same as the team we followed throughout the winter season.
Several of the player's major league teams denied them the opportunity to compete for their country in the CWS. Gone are center fielder Melky Cabrera of the Yankees, Edwin Encarnacion of the Cincinnati Reds, Willy Mo Pena of the Boston Red Sox, first baseman Mendy Lopez and left fielder Alexis Gomez. I am not sure why Mendy Lopez and Alexis Gomez are not playing as they are not currently on any major or minor league roster.
Las Aguilas picked up several players from the other Dominican teams to fill in the gap. Anderson Hernandez of Licey is playing second base, Nelson Cruz and Victor Mendez of las Gigantes were in right field and center field last night. Pablo Ozuna of Estrellas played left field. In addition lasAguilas has acquired the services of pitchers Jose Capellan and Joel Peralta of las Gigantes and Jorge De Paula of Escogido.
The World Series continues for five more days with two games each day. The 4 pm game today features the Dominican Republic against Mexico and the 8:30 game has Venezuela against the host Puerto Rico. Over the course of six days each team will play two games against the other three teams. If, after six days, there is a tie for first place, a playoff game will be played on day 7.
La Familia De Carolina
Today I want to post several pictures of the family of my novia Carolina and of the barrio in which she lives, La Cienega. Carolina's family is very poor, but just a wonderful family. It is my pleasure to know them and to visit them often. They always make me feel welcome in their little casa. Like most dominicans, they have a large and very close family.
La Cienega is located just off the road between Sosua and Cabarete, but much closer to Cabarete than Sosua.
This is a picture of la parada (bus stop) for La Cienega and the road leading into the barrio. To get there, you simply take the gua gua to this stop and then travel the rest of the way on the back of one of the many motoconchos waiting to take you there.
I always enjoy the view of the ocean at the La Cienega bus stop.
This is the main street running through La Cienega. The barrio with hundreds of little casas stretches off to the left. To the right is an abandoned golf course where all the kids go to play.
This picture is taken outside the casa of Carolina's family and leads out to the main road in La Cienega. During the rainy period we endured, this was nearly always under water and impossible to pass without getting your feet wet.
Este es la casa de la familia de Carolina.
Carolina's sister Patricia standing in the doorway of the casa.
Carolina is getting her hair done by her mother, Dimari. What a wonderful person Dimari is.
Carolina wasn't too excited for me to take her picture in curlers.
Carolina's stepfather Fredy with the baby, Caroledi. Fredy weaves baskets and his work can bee seen throughout Sosua. The correct word in spanish for basket is cesta, but here in the Dominican Republic they use canasta, which also means basket, but more literally like a basket in basketball.
Carolina's step brother Euclidi outside the casa. Euclidi works for a fumigation service in Sosua.
Brother Manuel with Caroledi. Manuel is 16. Manuel works with his father.
This is Patricia. Patricia is one of Carolina's three younger sisters. She is 14.
The quiet one, 13-year old Iliani.
Rosario is 10 and the youngest. She is also, by far, the biggest 'ham' in front of the camera. She loves having her picture taken so I have far more pictures of Rosario than the others.
Rosario with Caroledi.
Rosario always has a big smile for the camera.
Most of the family inside the casa. From left to right is Manuel with Caroledi, then Iliani, Dimari cooking, Carolina and Patricia.
After lunch, watching the novellas (soap operas). Oh my, how the dominicans love their novellas.
Lunch is ready!
The girls outside the casa. Left to right: Iliani, Patricia, Rosario's best friend, Rosario and Caroledi.
Patricia playing 'jacks.'
Rosario with her best friend.
I am privileged to be close to this family. They are proof positive that you don't have to have money to have goodness.
Words For The Day ... Some A words
abajo ... below or underneath abanico ... fan abece ... ABC's abierto ... open abrazo ... hug abrelata ... can opener abril ... April
A large bougainvilla bush with brilliant reddish-pink flowers.
The street vendor lady was selling all types of items for the ladies to use in their hair. Very colorful.
Sosua Bay today.
The sea was just gorgeous and the beach was crowded.
My buddy Helmuth. I ran into him just coming in from his bike ride. He told me he didn't go far today...just to Sabaneta and back. That is at least 15 miles one way. Not bad for a guy who just turned 67. Pretty incredible Helmuth.
Another flowering bush/tree that caught my eye.
I ran into Renato at Siempre Sol at the beach. Had lots of trouble getting a good picture of him since he was in the shade with lots of light behind him.
I have never encountered this lady in the street before. Very strange.
This guy was entertaining people at the beach. I think he is dressed for Carnaval.
Lots of tourists in town right now and the beach was crowded.
Another new massage parlor. None of them can rival Passions though.
I found this flower in the entryway to Villa Flor condominiums.
Selling rugs in the street.
The entrance to the beach.
A large bougainvilla bush with brilliant reddish-pink flowers.
The street vendor lady was selling all types of items for the ladies to use in their hair. Very colorful.
Sosua Bay today.
The sea was just gorgeous and the beach was crowded.
My buddy Helmuth. I ran into him just coming in from his bike ride. He told me he didn't go far today...just to Sabaneta and back. That is at least 15 miles one way. Not bad for a guy who just turned 67. Pretty incredible Helmuth.
Another flowering bush/tree that caught my eye.
I ran into Renato at Siempre Sol at the beach. Had lots of trouble getting a good picture of him since he was in the shade with lots of light behind him.
I have never encountered this lady in the street before. Very strange.
This guy was entertaining people at the beach. I think he is dressed for Carnaval.
Lots of tourists in town right now and the beach was crowded.
Another new massage parlor. None of them can rival Passions though.
I found this flower in the entryway to Villa Flor condominiums.
Selling rugs in the street.
The entrance to the beach.
