One meal to go and we will have succeeded in our goal of eating every meal outdoors while in the Dominican Republic. Last night was special under clear tropical skies we are one edge of a large plaza. The table was illuminated by soft candle light and we were serenaded by strolling guitarists. Families gathered on the plaza with children running to and fro.
Santo Domingo sleeps later than Bangkok which is a more frentic place.
The curmudgeonette´s natural friendliness gets her in trouble in the tourist shops. They take that friendliness as interest in their wares. This was particularly true when we visited the large market specializing in things for tourists. The walk around the market was most interesting because that is where the locals trade; fruits, vegtable, grains, flours, flowers, meat...the dressed chicken in the full noonday sun with caged chickens awaiting their turn.
Dominican cuisine is nothing special. It is basically meat and starch with little spice. The lack of spice shoots a hole in my theory that countries in hot climates use a lot of pepper, e.g., Thailand, India, Mexico, etc.
Now...home again.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday in Santo Domingo
The curmudgeonette took us to mass at the Cathedral this morning. The 12:00 mass started at 12:15. I departed 30 minutes into the homily and decided to worship at my blog. She stayed on.
Tourist prices prevail in this colonial section of the city. Meal costs are similar to downtown Minneapolis.
Good or bad I can´t help comparing Santo Domingo with Bangkok. On a twenty block walk yesterday I passed 6 places to eat. In Bangkok that walk would have brought me by at least 200. Here there are virtually no street vendors. There are a few small motorcycles compared to 1000s in BKK. The weather is similar; pleasantly tropical with an occasional afternoon shower.
Tourist prices prevail in this colonial section of the city. Meal costs are similar to downtown Minneapolis.
Good or bad I can´t help comparing Santo Domingo with Bangkok. On a twenty block walk yesterday I passed 6 places to eat. In Bangkok that walk would have brought me by at least 200. Here there are virtually no street vendors. There are a few small motorcycles compared to 1000s in BKK. The weather is similar; pleasantly tropical with an occasional afternoon shower.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
In the Dominican Republic
Christopher Columbus is big here in Santo Domingo. In fact his brother is credited as the city founder. There´s a huge staute of CC in the plaza next to our hotel which is in the colonial zone of the city. The 500 year old cathederal in on the other side of the plaza. Perhaps CC is big because none of the peaceful aboriginals lived to tell. They couldn´t stand up to European enslavement and disease.
The weather is pleasantly tropical and in the mutual comfort zone of the curmudgeon and curmudgeonette. That zone reaches from 75-85F. Below 75 the curmudgeon is cold and above 85 the curmudgeonette is hot. When we planned the trip we thought that there´d be 2 feet of snow in MN to escape. Too much global warming!
I wish I knew as much Spainish as I know Thai, which isn´t very much. There is enough tourist traffic so some know English but a little more Spanish would be helpful to me.
More another day.
The weather is pleasantly tropical and in the mutual comfort zone of the curmudgeon and curmudgeonette. That zone reaches from 75-85F. Below 75 the curmudgeon is cold and above 85 the curmudgeonette is hot. When we planned the trip we thought that there´d be 2 feet of snow in MN to escape. Too much global warming!
I wish I knew as much Spainish as I know Thai, which isn´t very much. There is enough tourist traffic so some know English but a little more Spanish would be helpful to me.
More another day.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Traveling!
The curmudgeonette and I are going to take a five trip, leaving Friday, to the Dominican Republic. Are we going to the beach? No. We tried that once south of Cancun, Mexico, and got so bored that we hopped a bus and went to Belize for a day.
We have reserved a hotel in the heart of the Colonial District of Santo Domingo, the city founded by Christopher Columbus' brother. We'll explore the city and skip the beach unless we make a day visit to one.
When we made our plans we thought we'd be escaping the cold and snow. As it turns out we have no snow and it's not very cold.
I'll try to blog from S.D....and Yes, I do plan to spend January in Thailand. I do wonder what I'll find after the floods. I did get word from the family with whom I stayed that the water is almost out of their house now. One friend is sending some $$ with me to give to someone who lost much in the flood.
We have reserved a hotel in the heart of the Colonial District of Santo Domingo, the city founded by Christopher Columbus' brother. We'll explore the city and skip the beach unless we make a day visit to one.
When we made our plans we thought we'd be escaping the cold and snow. As it turns out we have no snow and it's not very cold.
I'll try to blog from S.D....and Yes, I do plan to spend January in Thailand. I do wonder what I'll find after the floods. I did get word from the family with whom I stayed that the water is almost out of their house now. One friend is sending some $$ with me to give to someone who lost much in the flood.
What's in a name?
The diversity of first names of the 5th graders at Noble Academy fascinates me. Here is a large sample of names. Weewan, William, Michelle, Madelyn, Chimeng, Toubee, Aric, Victoria, Blia, Malaki, Cassidy, Usa, Joey, Jantheny, Newlife, Kenny, Mercedes, Linda, Klimisha, Romeo, Blessing, April, Kong, Yasminna, Ladani, Isha, Isabella... I wish I knew the stories behind the names.
Volunteering at the school is so much fun I should perhaps be paying for the opportunity!
PS Spellcheck didn't recognise 14 names.
Volunteering at the school is so much fun I should perhaps be paying for the opportunity!
PS Spellcheck didn't recognise 14 names.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
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