This is my last vacation post.
It will be really interesting to see just how much support Team Harper is providing Team Charest in Quebec during the Provincial election. You may recall during the last Federal election, Team Charest
assisted Team Harper in some crucial ridings.
I expect Team Harper to be carefully monitoring the Quebec temperature as they prepare their March budget.
Tuesday, February 27th is the Dominican Republic's National Day.
Here's a 40 second history lesson on their flag:
Monday, February 26, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Isla Catalina
Checked up on the news and stuff from home.
25-02-07 - Correction : Election call in Quebec did take place this week as predicted.
It's rather challenging experience to work with a Spanish computer and web browser.
We were going to Isla Saona, until yesterday morning.
I tried last year, however we ended up going to Santo Domingo.
I thought you might like to the destination so here's a 360 degree view and video (below) to give you an idea:
25-02-07 - Correction : Election call in Quebec did take place this week as predicted.
It's rather challenging experience to work with a Spanish computer and web browser.
We were going to Isla Saona, until yesterday morning.
I tried last year, however we ended up going to Santo Domingo.
I thought you might like to the destination so here's a 360 degree view and video (below) to give you an idea:
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Village
Ahhhh, don't you just love those enticing travel videos.
Like this commercial made by a local Rum producer of the area which I am currently visiting:
Someone I met last year uploaded a video of this area on You Tube. Here it is (below) and it is a far more accurate description of this place.
Actually, the picture below represents a typical country home.
As I said, it's not all resorts....
Like this commercial made by a local Rum producer of the area which I am currently visiting:
Someone I met last year uploaded a video of this area on You Tube. Here it is (below) and it is a far more accurate description of this place.
Actually, the picture below represents a typical country home.
As I said, it's not all resorts....
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
It's not all resorts, down here...
My wife and I have been coming here for years.
The first time, after landing the aircrew opened the aircraft door. We carried our winter coats and it felt like they had opened the oven door. I looked outside and it was like we had landed into a jungle movie.
The airport was nothing more than a palm tree covered hut. The hut was also the immigration control building.
The groundcrew opened the cargo bay and using a winch, manually lowered our baggage onto the cracked tarmack. The tarmack felt so hot that I was sure the rubber soles of my shoes would melt.
The Immigration officer was more interested in our $20 US landing fee than our passport. An amount which could only be paid in US dollars.
No carousel for the luggage, no duty free shop, no little luggage carts like all the other airports we had travelled to. At this place, you carried your own baggage to the awaiting bus.
The bus driver called the white faced, winter coat crowd over, turned up the Marengue music and off we went to our hotel on the Magical Mystery Tour Bus through endless miles of sugar cane fields.
The old bus had a huge crack in the windscreen and every window pane had been broken for years. Just as we departed the airport, the rain began to come down. It was pouring down like a solid sheet of water (when it rains, it REALLY rains) . The driver had his foot the floor and we sped along a single lane dirt road as we passed the little scooters which often had 2 even 3 people riding them.
You had to be very careful walking around the village at night because there were no street lights or traffic lights.
It was the best vacation we ever had and we cherish the memory of that simpler time.
It was a different time and place.
We come back because we like the warmth and the people. They are friendly, creative and hard working.
It's nice to see the improvements over the years.
If you are wondering what this place is really like, I can say this short video of a Guagua (bus taxi) ride on You Tube will give you a really good idea.
It's quite the ride....
Here's another video (less people,classier car):
The first time, after landing the aircrew opened the aircraft door. We carried our winter coats and it felt like they had opened the oven door. I looked outside and it was like we had landed into a jungle movie.
The airport was nothing more than a palm tree covered hut. The hut was also the immigration control building.
The groundcrew opened the cargo bay and using a winch, manually lowered our baggage onto the cracked tarmack. The tarmack felt so hot that I was sure the rubber soles of my shoes would melt.
The Immigration officer was more interested in our $20 US landing fee than our passport. An amount which could only be paid in US dollars.
No carousel for the luggage, no duty free shop, no little luggage carts like all the other airports we had travelled to. At this place, you carried your own baggage to the awaiting bus.
The bus driver called the white faced, winter coat crowd over, turned up the Marengue music and off we went to our hotel on the Magical Mystery Tour Bus through endless miles of sugar cane fields.
The old bus had a huge crack in the windscreen and every window pane had been broken for years. Just as we departed the airport, the rain began to come down. It was pouring down like a solid sheet of water (when it rains, it REALLY rains) . The driver had his foot the floor and we sped along a single lane dirt road as we passed the little scooters which often had 2 even 3 people riding them.
You had to be very careful walking around the village at night because there were no street lights or traffic lights.
It was the best vacation we ever had and we cherish the memory of that simpler time.
It was a different time and place.
We come back because we like the warmth and the people. They are friendly, creative and hard working.
It's nice to see the improvements over the years.
If you are wondering what this place is really like, I can say this short video of a Guagua (bus taxi) ride on You Tube will give you a really good idea.
It's quite the ride....
Here's another video (less people,classier car):
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Climate Change: a day in the life ....
Climate change, has us all looking over our shoulders even when travel.
Having seen recent reports of snow in Las Vegas, I am not taking any chances.
You always have to be on the lookout for intense weather changes.
So I have assigned myself some duties while I am here.
First, the 9.00 AM Blizzard Watch (pictured below):
Having seen recent reports of snow in Las Vegas, I am not taking any chances.
You always have to be on the lookout for intense weather changes.
So I have assigned myself some duties while I am here.
First, the 9.00 AM Blizzard Watch (pictured below):
Shortly after the Blizzard Watch, comes the 2.00 PM Freezing Rain watch (pictured below)
One can never be too careful.
There are other important tasks as well, such as the 4.00 PM Tropical Drink Quality Control montoring, one can never have too much quality control monitoring.
I am particularly devoted to this task.
And finally, you can never forget that it's winter even way down here,
So I have my 7.00 PM Winter Storm watch in effect (pictured below)
It's a tough and thankless job, but somebody's got to do it....
Monday, February 19, 2007
Due South
It's that time of the year.
Yes, the Oracle Of Ottawa has escaped the Canadian freezer and is heading south for a few days.
I am posting on blogger because from experience, it's virtually impossible to do otherwise where I am going.
It should be an interesting week in Canada.
Expect Premier Charest to make the election call while I am gone. The ADQ is running a rather unusual opponent against Premier Charest in the Sherbrooke riding. Gilles Duceppe's brother, Claude, announced that he will run for the Parti Quebecois in the PQ stronghold of riding of Joliette.
It should be an interesting campaign because Quebec Solidaire, the new political party is running in all 125 ridings.
Blogging this week will be sporadic but meaningful.
I found this little video postcard composition which should keep you entertained
Yes, the Oracle Of Ottawa has escaped the Canadian freezer and is heading south for a few days.
I am posting on blogger because from experience, it's virtually impossible to do otherwise where I am going.
It should be an interesting week in Canada.
Expect Premier Charest to make the election call while I am gone. The ADQ is running a rather unusual opponent against Premier Charest in the Sherbrooke riding. Gilles Duceppe's brother, Claude, announced that he will run for the Parti Quebecois in the PQ stronghold of riding of Joliette.
It should be an interesting campaign because Quebec Solidaire, the new political party is running in all 125 ridings.
Blogging this week will be sporadic but meaningful.
I found this little video postcard composition which should keep you entertained
Enjoy, I know I will...
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