Tonight I glimpse out the restaurant window to see a lone boy with his soccer ball kicking drills off the side of the glowing church. The boy and ball were intermittently illuminated by the light shining toward the quickening darkness of the sky.
This, a common sight, witnessed around the world. Children and their football. Making memories, developing life skills, freeing their minds and all the while massaging their muscle memories.
Burning Man and all its glory zapped us this year and we were unable to get tickets.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying.
We were out of the country on the sale date so 4 helpful people in 4 different states tried to get us tickets to no avail.
The STEP sale and the OMG sale were big fat zeros too.
Reached out to Center Camp Cafe where I had volunteered the last two years and learned that I should have worked five days – five days. That would have made me eligible to earn a ticket this year. I quickly offered to put in that time this year and was rebuked. They had been down that road only to have people flake on their commitment. Dang that makes sense.
Stooping to beg for a ticket on Instagram and everyone else who would listen was like a tree falling in the forest with nobody there.
We didn’t get tickets but Rita is on her way. She doesn’t need a ticket – just a parking pass and that’s all in order.
Meet Fede from the UK. He’s now the proud owner of Rita and we couldn’t be happier.
So if you see Rita on the playa – say hi to Fede and take a photo of the gravestones – we left him a blank one to fill in.
Oh yeah…. please email us the photo.
Birth of a Vision – our new RV from 2015.
It’s wedding season and nuptials on Isla Mujeres off the coast of mainland Mexico prompted us to explore a couple of nearby Caribbean countries.
The most convenient jumping off point was Miami Beach – a quick acclimation and reboot for our brains because Spanish is the primary language.
*click on a photo to see a larger view
Isla Mujeres was a stunning backdrop for a picturesque wedding. Margaritas, scuba diving and basking in the Mexican surf and sun were the perfect recipe for a perfect wedding.
We sold our Mexican home in 2016 after 12 years of ownership and it felt so good to be back in the country.
Beach life leads to city life so we headed to Old San Juan, Puerto Rico – 2nd oldest city in the New World.
Beautiful blue cobblestone streets line this hilly town rich in Spanish colonial architecture and fantastic restaurants.
We explored the 500 year old Fort San Felipe del Moro (UNESCO World Heritage site) and Fort San Cristóbal.
A highlight was our stay at the 400 year old El Convento Hotel.
Off to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic where the Zona Colonial is another UNESCO World Heritage site and rightfully named so.
A quick side note – UNESCO World Heritage Sites are spectacular! Use the link provided to read about them and be sure to add them to your list of “must sees” in your lifetime.
Santo Domingo was the first seat of the Spanish colonial rule in the New World and the site of the first university, cathedral, castle, monastery, and fortress (Wikipedia).
The buildings in the old town are breathtaking. Strolling the streets you will feel as if you have traveled back in time. Clean, with flowers spilling out of planters boxes and trees reaching for the sky.
Unfortunately, just outside historic Santo Domingo garbage lines the shoreline and poverty simmers at the surface.
A 9 hour commercial bus ride took us to Haiti where poverty has boiled over and covered the country.
The bus was not crowded and seats were comfortable. However, the toilet did not flush and overflowed from fullness onto the floor. I pulled up my pant legs so the bottoms didn’t get soaked and struggled to hold my breath from the stench. A brief moment of nausea followed by lots of hand sanitizer told me the adventure had begun.
A couple hours into the ride the bus pulled over to a hut and hot meals were delivered to everyone on the bus. Luckily we had packed a lunch.
The paperwork at the border was simple and seamless. We counted 8 separate security gates between the borders. It was dry and dusty – trash everywhere. It looked like the Middle East.
After passing through the gates there were two random stops. Armed buff men dressed in high fashion jeans, skin tight t-shirts and large gold jewelry looked in the cargo holds. A shake down or just typical? The driver and other passengers weren’t phased so apparently neither were we.
The bus ride ended in Petionville just a 15 minute ride from our final destination of Port-au-Prince. We had assumed we’d catch a cab.
HA! No cabs – what would make us think that there would be cabs??? Thank goodness the man who checked the luggage tags upon arrival (wore no uniform – we assumed he had some authority since he was checking the baggage and talked to the driver) asked us if we needed a ride. Sure! We followed him to his car and waited as he cleared all the trash from his seats by tossing it on the ground.
The Marriott. The only nice hotel in the area (one of three buildings taller than a couple stories in the whole city). It was gated and protected by 4 armed guards – our own little prison since we had been told to not leave the property unless we wanted to be be mugged or worse.
Extreme poverty makes ordinary people do extreme things to survive.
We hired a driver to show us the highlights. Thoughtful, caring and protective. He too, tossed his garage out the window. Hence, a city full of garbage.
The Iron Market – gated with armed guards – a place where tourists can shop quasi safely next to the true market where 100’s of stands selling everything from pots and pans to socks displayed their wares. Shoppers we’re not but it was one of three things to do in Port-au-Prince. We were told to follow the man in charge, closely – do not deviate, go slow and don’t do anything that may excite people.
Next was the museum – again gated and armed. A garden oasis in the middle of a concrete city.
Lastly, to the top of the mountain in Petionville where the rich people lived behind tall walls with concertina wire to a restaurant full of white people for the best view in the city.
The hillsides are blanketed in homes built on top of one another. Floored by the homes – something which we had not seen before – I asked the driver to stop so I could get out and take photos. With a resoundingly “NO” (since we were in his care) I was given permission to photograph with the window down as the car slowed a bit.
The roads are chaos – narrow, no street signs with people and cars everywhere. Constant motion outside the car where, often, the car is motionless and unable to move due to the congestion.
On the way to the airport we asked the driver to take us to see the Cathedral that had all but collapsed in the earthquake. It was to be another drive by. This time with my window up.
We stopped to make a left turn and I looked down and literally right outside my window was a dead man lying on his back in a pool of blood. His motorcycle had been picked up but he and a pile of clothes laid untouched. No cover and nothing cordoned off. Hundreds of people sat idly on the nearby steps and a cop was quasi directing traffic but other than that life just went on as if this was an everyday occurrence.
After sitting in the same spot for a few minutes it was determined we had to go right to eventually go left. 10 minutes later we doubled back by the accident and nothing had changed. No cover, no cordoning, no ambulance – nothing.
I don’t know if the misery of the Haitian people has always been present. But they are not recovering from the 2010 earthquake that killed 230,000 people and rendered 3 million homeless. It seems to be lawless and un-governed where sickness, hunger and hopelessness dominate.
It was a haunting and heart breathing short 3 day trip in Port-au-Prince. In 90+ countries we have not experienced a place from the inside of a car. What to do? How can a country so poor evolve?
Thanks Mom for the thoughtful gift – the perfect bling for “Rita”.
#candyskull #calavera #inspirationformorepainting #ritalasenoritademargarita #photooftheday #photofrommyday2016
September 19, 2016
A little piece of Mexico here in Charleston.
#tacoboy #charlestonsc #charleston #love
June 20, 2016
Overnight stop over in Baltimore, Maryland. The Cuauhtemoc – sail training vessel of the Mexican Navy was in the harbor. Built in 1982 in Bilbao, Spain.
Heading out tomorrow evening to country # 76 – stay tuned…
Baltimore, Maryland
April 26, 2016
Heart beats in Sayulita.
February 11, 2016
Who knew at our age we could conceive….
We have yet to name her. I was thinking Lizzy – Bill is pleading the 5th. Perhaps you can help? One would think that after conceiving, nurturing and then finally creating life a name would appear – especially after looking into her eyes and seeing our reflection.
We sold the Pinnacle of Love after Burning Man 2012. It was time for a new canvas and a newer motorhome.
February 2015 brought exactly what we were looking for. A 1996 Pace Arrow Vision – the inside had been well cared for and rocked the perfect floorplan. The oversized refrigerator and sectional couch were luxuries we hadn’t dreamed of – the outside was faded – crying out for some lovin’.
Having years to mull over themes and spending many a sleepless night searching the dark recesses of my brain looking for something unique to paint – I always came back to what was comfortable, cozy – images from colorful Mexico – Calaveras, Frida, sombreros and cardones (cactus).
So it began….
First – caulk and reseal the roof. Next, Bill scrubbed and washed the sides with a degreaser followed by a primer coat of Kilz paint. A clean canvas. We were ready to roll…
Luckily we were able to work inside an enormous old metal building to avoid the intense summer sun. It was Bill’s perfect environment – a sauna! We got to paint and detox at the same time. Our reading glasses continually slipped off our noses and the sweat dripped from our brow. Bill was in heaven. It was the perfect environment to create.
As Heywood Broun said: Sweat is the cologne of accomplishment.
I sketched for days using the remaining Kilz as my whiteout (perspective is hard to obtain without an eraser). Whilst Bill and our paint angels started bringing this baby to life.
We painted from dawn to dusk using an array of semi gloss and high gloss exterior paints.
And finally she was born…
A special shout out to our angels ~ Kate, Darrell, Roxanne, Piper and Boo. Without you we could not have made the deadline.
We know they day of the dead is fast approaching when the stores fill up with silk flowers.
Ceremonialized on the 1st and 2nd of November – it is a time for the family to assemble and remember loved ones who have died.
Drive by any cemetery in Mexico and the grave sites pop with color like Skittles in your palm.
Included in this annual celebration is a gathering at the cemetery to clean the grave site, adorn it with silk flowers and favorite items enjoyed by departed loved ones.
A sad but joyous occasion.
However, lingering near all this color lurks a dark side, the forgotten and discarded.
El día que muiró la flor de seda – the day the silk flower died.
El mano del Mariachi.
Ok…. today is photos of the day. I was mesmerized by these 2 vultures gliding gracefully thru the sky this afternoon. They were not looking for food but enjoying the lift from the winds, cruising without a care – stopping for a break to clean themselves on our power pole then off to cruise again.
Pico de gallo (rooster’s beak) fixings – the colors of the Mexican flag.
Roca con piedra.
Los Cirios…
Driving through El Valle de Los Cirios in Baja California Norte, Mexico makes me think I wondered into the middle of a Dr. Seuss book.
Thousands upon thousands sprout up as far as the eye can see. Some are straight and tall, some are crooked and sprawl…
“From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!”
― Dr. Seuss, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish