Weekend came and went in los Quemados

The weekend 
After work on Friday Keith and I had plans to go out, but as Marshall had decided for us to go on an excursion the next day we decided to leave it for Saturday in stead, but we did end up sharing a bottle of wine by the stream anyway ;) Keith is just so great; he is so easy to become fond of and to become friends with. He is so tolerant, laid back, kind, and funny. We staid up until midnight talking before heading off to our rooms.
Laying i8n bed that night the thought of my room feeling homely and cozy suddenly struck me. It is amazing what you can get used to in terms of comfort, necessity, and standard. After a few weeks in this country my expectations are lowered, and I find it a lot easier to be happy with the simple standard here. It is all in fact about a state of mind. I think us Europeans are a little spoilt when it comes to comfort, and we forget that the simple things in life can be good as well.
Saturday I got up early, like I do everyday here. I go to bed before 12 every night and wake up at 6-7 every morning without the alarm going off….. It is amazing what a change of scenery can do for your health, both physically and mentally. My sleeping problems thought the last 3 years, seem to have vanished! Fells great o awaken in the morning and actually be rested, and not to need an alarm clock
After a pancake breakfast we set off on a hike with Alex ( A guest) and Vitalicio, Keith and I. We headed for El Chorro. After the hike through Los quemados, and the neighboring village we crossed the river (soaked feet 1st time), and headed for the muddy road ahead of us. The road winds through fields with cows, horses, mules and goats. On both sides you can look up at the luscious green mountains with its tall palm trees and tropical forests. Littler huts, farms and houses pop up from the middle of nowhere, and some are found in little clusters. The houses are made of wood, with their metal roofs. The houses are sparsely furnished, but hugely inhabited. All houses have chickens running around and kids of course. After the house we set off down a slippery and muddy track, until we get to the river yet again. Second crossing of the river, and even though we are already wet, we try to get across to get as least wet as possible…… Vitalicio has never done this route himself, so he is not sure where to go, so we keep going in the river. Considering it had been raining quite a bit the last two days before, the river was fast and unclear. We ended up walking up the river, all wet half way up our legs, but it seemed as if we had all forgotten, and become quite comfortable with the wet landscape surrounding us.
Surrounding the river is all sorts of plants and trees in spectacular colours and sizes. Occasionally a bright coloured butterfly flies by, and the birds are singing from the trees. When we finally got back on the path we had the opportunity to pick Avocados, coffee beans, and cacao. We also saw pineapple plants, and it is slightly absurd seeing these things in their natural habitat, as I am just used to seeing them in the supermarket fruit area. I have never even thought about what tree, pant or bush the pineapple comes from, and suddenly there it is in front of me. It looks similar to the aloe vera plant, just lighter coloured, and thinner leaves. On our path we met quite few people going into town on their horses or by foot, but I have to say that the funniest sight that day had to be the man on the horse, with a HUGE pig tied behind him….. The poor piggy was probably going to market, so its future was not bright, but all the same it was a Kodak moment. We also asked this man for the way, and he told us we had gone to far…… Was there no village called El Chorro? At this point, all chewing on our sweet lemons, which in fact are not sweet at all, lost our motivation, and found it best to turn back. The whole back Vitalicio was trying on his charm with me, but he did not get very far. After over an hour of smooth talking I was feeling slightly fed up, so I asked him kindly to stop. When that didn’t work I begged him, and after that I had to shout at him, and tell him not to carry on this silliness. As I am white and blond, hey all think I am a millionaire and that I can take them with me out of the country…….. Not quite the case!
After 4 hours walking and 3 of them spent walking in the river, we came back tired, wet, but still smiling and happy. The rest of the day we lazed by eh pool, trying to soak up the sun and to dry out the mosquito bites. In the evening Vitalito wanted us to come for drinks in Los Quemados. I hit the shower and tried to make myself look presentable with the little god gave me, and what I packed. After putting on some mascara and makeup for the first time in 2 weeks, I felt like a new person.
We walked out the gates of the Ranch, and headed left for the Colmado (supermarket), Mercedes who owns it is a very nice lady, so we decided to go for a first drinks here, as her shop converts into the local bar and hangout in the evening. We arrived to find the place was packed already both behind and in front of the bar. Not that it takes much, as it is only a s small room, but in this country they have a own ability to pack lots of people into very small spaces, be it cars, pubs, buses etc. People were dancing Merengue, and we soaked in the atmosphere together with some Rum and Coke It did not take long before Mercedes came and asked me if I wanted to dance with her son who is in actual fact her nephew! I said that I wasn’t drunk enough, so she told me too drink faster. Then I told her I didn’t like people looking at me as I would be embarrassed as I did not know the moves, so I would only dance if she turned the light off, so she did. Suddenly the place was pitch black for a few moments and everyone giggled.
Although we were the only “gringos” (a word used for Americans, but I get called it as well being foreign), we felt comfortable there, even though we did feel all eyes on us, but never in an unfriendly way. I caught the first glimpse of a cute Dominican here, he seems shy and reserved, and was probably the only one who did not dare speak to me. I have to admit though, he was probably too young for me, and I could probably be arrested in some countries for even looking at him, but hell, a girls got to rest her eyes on something now and again!
As we were on a bar crawl we drank up and set off in the pitch black (no road lights), to the disco I had planned so well for the evening, that even Keith was thoroughly impressed. I put on flip flops as it was still raining, but took a bag with high heels, and a towel to dry my feet with. This way I could look pretty when I got to the disco, my shoes would be in tact, and I could prove to myself that I am a bon backpacker. Ready for anything that gets thrown my way when we arrived at the Disco, I have to say that I felt like all eyes were on me and Keith for a little while. Although they do get some foreigners in there, they seem to forget very quickly or just always have the same reaction pattern…..
Once seated I dried my feet, put my dancing shoes on, rolled back down my jeans, and I was ready to PARTY. I got a beer, and decided to stand up near the entrance. One after the other came to talk, and most of them just came out with comments like “Mamita, te quiero” But one guy actually seemed interested in having a conversation. He was nothing to look at, but certainly seemed to have something between his ears. After about 15 minutes of talking to him he says “I am going, so meet up there to the right in 5 minutes”. I had already introduced Keith as my boyfriend for safety reasons, and to get less hassle, and reminded him of this, and said I was not interested. His only response was, well I will see you the fist chance you get to sneak away from your boyfriend. When I told him I wasn’t like that, he said he didn’t mind me having a boyfriend!!!!! Strange.
Some guys kept asking me to dance, but I turned them down, as I just didn’t want to dance yet. A drunken man kept getting in my face, so the “kind” policeman stepped in and told him to leave me alone. After he had done that the policeman grabbed me, and said “I would love to get top know you better!” I told him politely that I didn’t have time, and found Keith and Vitalito. Suddenly Vitalito was being all funny, and I caught up with some of his friends, who said he fancied me and he had gotten really upset when I said me and Keith were a couple (all pretence). So the rest of the night I spent trying to cheer up sweet, young Vitolito, who has a good heart and soul.
I did get the strangest compliment before we headed home though….. The bartender, who was nice enough, said that he liked older women, so when I said I wasn’t that old, he said “with that ass, legs and tits, you must be 40 odd”….. I was not impressed, and definitely not charmed what so ever. I told him that was not a compliment, and he spent quite some time trying to get out of that deep dark hole he had dug for himself.
On the way home, me and Keith were chirpy and a little tipsy (merry), but Vitolito was still unhappy. He swapped between asking why I didn’t want his brother, and why I didn’t like him!!!!!! Brothers alike! I give up! ;) I told him I was not going to engage in any further conversation about the matter. When me and Keith had our nightly chat he said, maybe it would work to ignore them for a few days, so I though, yes I could try that.
On Sunday morning we woke up to Rain, so he planned outing to Charco Bonito had to be postponed. I spent the day taking photos, talking to Margarita, checking mail and reading up. In the afternoon however the weather had cleared, so we headed off on the short route. Vitalicio, Keith and I headed into the village and across the river. To get across the river we had to go on a hanging bridge….. The river is wide and roaring, so a little scaring. I got so scared crossing it, as it starting swinging a lot, I shouted at poor Vitalito who was definitely not to blame! When we got across, a Young man was keeping watch, and charging for the crossing. Me and Vitolicio had no money on us, but thank god Keith had 30 pesos, just enough to be allowed to get onto the path.
We walked past houses with kids and pigs outside, parents sitting in their rocking chairs on the porch. We walked on a muddy little trail by the river, until we turned inland and came to a river crossing, so we took of our shoes and waded across the river. We headed up through the forest, onto some private land, and before we knew it we were seeing the river and the beautiful waterfall ahead of us. It was stunning, the greenery closing in, almost caressing the bank of the river. The water stroking the rocks on its way down. We picked up the pace, and stopped by the lagoon. We threw our clothes off, got our camera’s ready and tried to find a good place to get in. It looked so warm and inviting, but that was far from the truth. It was cold, but refreshing. I squealed like a pig as I got it, but once I started swimming, I got warmer. I climbed up on the rocks to jump in, and I and Keith tried to swim into the waterfall, but the currents were too strong. As the water was unclear in places, I kept screaming as I thought there was a snake by my side, but thankfully it was only leaves and plants going by.
Vitalicio decided to have his “bath” here, he doesn’t swim, but he soaped himself in to the point he looks like the white man in the jungle, then stayed in the shallow end to wash it all off. Strange really, as he actually has access to a hot water shower!  We played around in the water some time, and a young man turned up. He joined us in the water and as he dove in, his shorts dropped!!!!!! Thankfully (I think) he had underwear underneath. He even posed for a photo in his underwear. Hahahaha
Suddenly the raindrops started hitting the water and we saw that as our cue to head home. We dressed quickly, and headed down towards the ranch. Unfortunately the rain caught up, and it was fierce. The drops were so big and the force of it so hard that my eyes were hurting. I couldn’t see anything! Thank god for waterproof mascara!!!!!!!!
We got back “home” and it is the first time that cold shower has felt so warm. I showered the whole of me in one go, and it felt great As we had already talked about going out I started getting ready before dinner, so we could head of ASAP. This time we headed straight for the disco, as it closes 12 on a Sunday, and it was already 21. We walked straight to the bar, and as me and Keith ordered our bottle of _Rum, Vitalito “our bodyguard” headed off outside to see some friends. *It did not take long before the man from the night before (meet you in 5 minutes guy), turned up and demanded to see me outside. He was already very drunk and aggressive. I told him I had just arrived and wanted to drink in piece with my boyfriend (poor Keith), and he started grabbing at my arm saying “you outside, now!” I asked him who he thought he was, and said that I had no intention off going anywhere with him. Then he turned to Keith and tried starting a fight with him….. Thankfully a mature man sitting by us in the bar stepped in ad got rid of him. I am actually a little scared to think what the result had been, if he hadn’t rescued us!
Vitalito came back, and we went and sat by a table with one of the local women. Mercedes’ nephew was there, so I danced with him, after that the local woman, also Njapas (Joana- lives at the ranch and does the managerial role at 14 years of age) mother, she said her son could dance with me to teach me, so there I was dancing the night away After 5 dances and some Rum, I managed to knock the table over. Njapas poor mother was drenched in beer and Rum; I also knocked Keith’s contacts on the floor, which he had nicely put in the rum’s bottle cap with rum, to wet them!!!!!!!
After that I think we all decided it was time to go to bed. As I stepped outside to go, I suddenly found myself with quite the group of people to walk home with. Vitalito, Keith, Njapa’s mother, her son, Merzedes’s nephew, 2 other boys and I walked home. Vitalito kept lagging behind, and he would not tell us what was wrong. Keith the poor think got hit on by Njapa’s mother who has a bit of a reputation. She took his hand and held it all way home, and Keith being as polite as he is felt bad pulling it away…
We arrived at the gates to the ranch, and I almost felt like there was a goodnight committee…..
I had danced the night away, but I had still had a better night on the Saturday just hanging out and talking to Keith. As I tucked myself into my bed, I closed my eyes, and hoping that the next week would be just as adventurous.
Lessons learnt:
1. Be very careful when in contact with Dominican men, they quickly presume things.
2. enjoy new adventures
3. cold water can be nice
4. Make the most of the present!
5. Beer can taste nice

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