Having spent the previous week in the DR, one thing stuck in my mind when I returned home: I feel as if I had been gone for a month! It’s as if something happens in the space-time continuum where the world just slows down. You may not feel or act any different from your normal routine when you first get there, flitting to and fro with lots of activities. But then you look at your watch and can’t believe there are still several hours left in the day!
And for me, that caused an immediate change in my psyche. It was as if all the things that were weighing me down about work and life were suddenly lifted from my shoulders. I could see them suspended in front of me. They were still important, but I completely lost my emotional attachment to them. My mind truly went into a state of one thing at a time. It told me to just take everything in and simply go with the flow and especially enjoy life.
That’s the magic of the DR. And it’s the way the people there live. Yes, it’s a third world country. People are poor. But they savor what they have, and they enjoy each other’s company. But most of all they enjoy life.
One day, we traveled to the village of Gaspar Hernandez about thirty minutes from Cabarete where we were staying to visit my daughter-in-law’s parents. There were other family members there and we all just hung out, talking, and drinking good whisky. After about an hour, we went to a local beach for some lunch. To get to this beach, you must know where to turn because the road to it is unmarked and unpaved. You’d think it was some sort of horse and carriage path. But when we got there, we were greeted by a row of restaurants serving fresh seafood and of course, lots of alcoholic beverages.
It was amazing to say the least! I had fresh-caught and fried parrotfish served with a side of tostones, accompanied by several caipirinhas. It was all amazing. And alcohol aside, what was even more amazing was that these folks do this a few times a week! The beach is a 10-minute drive, so they go there all the time to have some lunch or dinner. I asked if this was just something they did, but they said that many locals do it; perhaps not as often, but for sure on Sundays since they work a six-day work week. This is just part of the lifestyle!
Of course, I smoked a lot of cigars while there. Though I brought a bunch with me, I mostly smoked cigars from the shops I’d visit as every shop seemed to have their own house cigars. And mind you, these weren’t farm rolls. And even though they didn’t have labels, they were all beautifully rolled with quality construction. And most importantly, they were all tasty as all get-out!
It had been a long time since I could just sit and enjoy, unencumbered by pressing deadlines or meetings. It helped that I was on vacation, but I was able to appreciate the beauty of the smoke I was tasting. It’s one thing to smoke at home when I have lots of time, but it’s an entirely different experience when my schedule is open-ended. With time slowed down as much as it was, I could take the time to discover the nuances of the various sticks I smoked. More magic.
As much as I love Hawaii. The DR will from now on hold a special place in my heart.
Unco B's Stogie Diary 