Crazy Cabarete

One more month before we leave.  We've definitely started our count down of what we need to do before we leave.  A little sad, but we're ready for what comes next.

It's been a bit of a slow week.  No school for me this week or next.  On Tuesday when I normally help teach there was a teacher strike.  I guess this happens quite often.  Then next week the kids are all off for Semana Santa.  Lynn, the English teacher, leaves on April 13th for her three month trip back home to England.  So really only two more classes.

Mojito Bar Sit in

Last night we attended a "sit-in", which I think was really a "drink-in".  One of the most popular spots on Cabarete beach is the Mojito bar.  They have good drinks at great prices, fresh juices and some really nice food items.  Unfortunately, the Mojito bar is in the center of a dispute.  Beachside bars and restaurants must have restroom facilities.  Mojito bar had an agreement with the neighboring resort that allowed Mojito bar customers to use their facilities.  But the resort sold and the new owners fenced off the access to the restrooms.  So the Mojito bar was forced to close.  They have reopened....at least temporarily as take out bar.  So no tables allowed and you must order your drinks at the bar.  A group of the Mojito bar fans organized a sit in last night to show there support for their favorite watering hole.  Since there are no longer any tables, the mojito bar instead has purchased some beach chairs.  So this was our first ever protest...but pretty nice as the mojitos were great...as usual.

As typical....there is always a cast of characters on the beach in Cabarete.  Like the owl lady.  This was the first time we have seen her, but she came to the sit in with her pet owl.  I guess there were two young "owlets" that were orphaned.  She tried to rescue both of them, but one died.  This one however seems to flourish.  I really wonder why she would bring him to the beach?  Surely not a happy place for an owl.

And then there is ALWAYS Cornelius on the beach.  He's a beach musician, but doesn't really care much if you pay him.  Or how much you pay him.  When there is live music at the bar, they musician will often let Cornelius sing while the musician takes a break.  Problem is you can't get Cornelius off the stage.  Last night Robyn gave him a about 100 pesos ($2.50 USD) to play a song.  But he took a seat with us and sang...and sang...and sang.  Got to the point that we were ready to go for dinner and he was still saving.  So we just had to slip away while he was still singing to us

We said goodbye to another of our friends this past week.  Angie, who lives here full time with her husband Pat, went back to Montana for a long stay on Thursday.  Unfortunately, she got sick on Tuesday night and asked Pat to take her to the hospital.  They diagnosed her with gall stones and admitted her, probably just for one night.  As it turned our she was in there two nights and barely was released from the hospital in time to run home and pack a suitcase, and then headed off to the airport.  We hope to see her this summer in Lake Chapala.  She has family that lives very near there and is due for a visit.  Meanwhile, while she's in Montana, she's going to try and get her health issues resolved.  Health care is ok and they do have Dominican health insurance, but she's also covered by Medicare so probably best to do what she needs in the states.