These past few weeks neighbors have purchased most of my worldly possessions, and now I am taking photographs of my furniture walking down the street. Ha-ha. What a project, buying all of this stuff and selling it all at half price less than two years later. Seems like I have had many lifetimes of doing the same thing, all in this life. By now I am an expert in non-attachment, I suppose! I leave this country in 3 days so my apartment is nearly empty as I write this update. Note to all loyal blog readers: As of October I am now posting at my new site (and hope you'll follow), http://viajesporamericadelsur.blogspot.com
Below are a few more photos of my furniture walking away:
My neighbor was smart to bring some children to carry the drawers! Below she's carrying a mattress out of the house another day.
And below is another dresser (it used to belong to my guest room) walking down the street:
Kareena is next; she bought my living room furniture and the guest room dresser:
I did take one last trip to Samana this past month. A whole group of us went to Playa Rincon and to Playa Bonita in Las Terrenas. Both are among my favorite beaches in the country so I was thrilled for one last opportunity to visit Samana with a church group. The following is a photo of the driver pouring fruit juice for a few passengers.
Below is a photo of Playa Bonita, near Las Terrenas:
We stayed at a budget hostel in Samana, which was centrally located, although certainly not my favorite spot on the Samana Peninsula. I would have much preferred staying in Las Galeras!
It was a rainy morning in Samana, however the weather cleared by the afternoon. I enjoyed spending time with some of the women my own age who were along on the trip.
Below are photos taken while posing with neighbors I've been close to:
I felt especially connected to Rubia, below:
My neighbor took a photo of me after attending a
Sai Baba service here in Santo Domingo. Yes, there is a
Sai Baba temple here in the Dominican Republic! I had a beautiful day, and especially loved the chanting. A musician gave me a lei of
crysanthemums after the service.
Below is a photo of a whole group of women from the
International Women's Club at a lunch event. All of us have been teachers at the Mercedes Amiama School, or have signed up to teach next year. Since I am leaving after a year of service, the ladies paid for my lunch!
I am having a tough time uploading photos on my blog today. For some reason, the Internet is unusually slow. How ironic, since this is my last post from the DR. Although there was another despedida (good-bye event) on my behalf, and several other events I enjoyed, I'll just upload two photos and leave it at that. The next photo was taken the day my good friend Charo and her husband, as well as some family members, came from Monte Plata to say "good-bye." What a happy day!
Last is a photo of Elpidia and Blausita helping me pack my two suitcases. These two sisters (and neighbors) have helped me more than anyone else. I am leaving for Peru with less than 50 pounds on Avianca Airlines Saturday, September 6. I'll arrive in Lima at 9 pm!
Not sure whether I'll continue posting on this blog or whether I'll have to start a new blog. The name
Ritmo del Caribe is not really very fitting for Peru or Ecuador, where I'll be staying in the future. I didn't think about that when I titled this blog. I'll probably post a couple of more times, at least, on this blog (until I get things sorted out).
September, I'll visit the mine where my father worked and where my family lived while I was a child. The name of the mine is Quiruvilca, and the nearby town we lived in is Shorey. I've read the whole area is shockingly polluted. I hope I don't get too depressed on my visit. I will have to remember that 60 years ago things might not have been as bad.
Recently I came across an outstanding account of a man's visit to the Quiruvilca mine, and you can view his photos at http://www.mcdougallminerals.com/blog/into-the-andes-quiruvilca-peru/
I'm so impressed that my parents made the trip through the Andes from Trujillo to the Quiruvilca mine not just once, but many times, since they lived there four years during the early 1950's. They also traveled throughout Peru, and I plan to go to Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Pichu myself after having heard so much about these places throughout my life. Sure look forward to meeting the friends of friends in Lima I'll be staying with. They come across as wonderful people in all of our email communications.
During the month of January I've planned a stay in Canoa, Ecuador. I'll be staying at a small hotel right on the beach and taking an intensive Spanish course in this small resort town. My plan is to become an advanced Spanish speaker in the near future. Thank you for viewing my blog and I will keep you posted!
Note on October 15, 2014: OK this is my update! Now that I am traveling and living in South America, I am posting at my new blog, http://viajesporamericadelsur.blogspot.com
Thank you again, loyal readers. Sure hope you will keep reading updates on my new blog.
