mocha-Jova

This one didn't miss

  Hurricane Jova (category 2 or as the scots say ' a fine day for golf') blasted into La Manz the evening of the 11th and early morning hours of the 12th. The eye (not us) passed far enough to the north to spare us from the strongest winds, but winds and rain we did get. Fortunately,we were spared a devastating storm surge. Trees and power lines down, streets turned back into their historic arroyos and lots of mud, but no serious damage, outside of a couple of beach restaurants. And even those are only a cleanup away from being back in business.
The photos will tell the story.....

 

 

 

 

 

a mud bath in boca

    Those who chose to build their mansions on the flood plains of Boca de Iguana discovered why they call them flood plains. Water rose rapidly, inundating the expansive homes with up to six feet of dirty water and then subsided just as rapidly leaving every thing coated in a slimey gooey muck. Several human dramas took place during the flood, with one family stranded on their roof and finally having to swim to their neighbors two story house. Another, trying to escape the rising water with a paniced dog, had to be rescued by a local farmer who fortunately heard the crys for help. Most will not see the damage untill they come down in a month or so when all that mud will be crud. Apparently, most floating furniture tips over. Placing all important papers in the bottom drawer may not have been the most wise move. Farmers will be finding all sorts of goodies out in the papaya fields for years.

the beach

The good news, for those who like the beach, huge quantities of sand were washed in covering all the rocks and leaving, when cleaned up, a beautiful sandy beach......

Update: While waiting for electrical lines and phone lines to be restored so we could put out this edition, the sea reclaimed the sand and the beach is once again rocks.

internetics annonymous

  Residents were suffering from "connection" withdrawal pangs following the storm. Most folks still had phone service but no electricity to fire up their modems.... so no internet. After about 36 hours most of the town had electricity restored, but then lost the  telephone. The exchange building, had depleted its backup battery supply of electricity....so no phone service and still no internet. By then, many people were at their wits end - going this long without their internet fix. They mused on the idea that they should have got out beforehand. "Got any internet?" was the most frequent phrase on the streets. 24 hours later, the phone exchange got power, but where the hell was the phone service.... the anticipation was causing all kinds of problems with the internet junkies. Why no phone service? It seemed that no one had a key to get into the building to switch over from battery power to the electrical grid. Although many threats were made, there were unfortunately no reports of suicides from those suffering from the lack of internet.

the real thanks

   Gringos applaud the heroism of some folks on a computer. What?!! The real thanks goes to the neighbors who opened their doors, dug out the messes afterwords and provided food, clothing, and shelter to the people (all the people) who live here. Not those who looked at properties to make sure they were okay for the PTers come November. Not those that filed reports to the north. (as helpful as that was...for them). and definately not those that fled with the fear from (or with) the mindless selfish doomsayers. The real thanks goes to those that had a much smaller  choice. And not a lacking choice from economics and/or selfishness, but one of family and community. Those that stayed because this is their home. Those that simply don't see any heroics at all. Those that did what was right because it was right. Those that showed by action (and not talk) what a real community is about. The ones that arose at 2 am to the call, those that swam or waded a mile to check on their neighbors, those that gave with nothing to give but their selves. Those that secured and checked on the rich gringos houses without being asked or paid (!) Those are the ones that deserve our thanks. And sadly, no one will babble on endlessly on line about these individuals. Kudos to those that truly deserve it. The ones that truly are this old town. So when y'all gringos arrive thank the people that truly deserve it, and not necessarily the ones who 'helped' you out up there with online information. We are sure those folks who have been 'thanked' would appreciate it as well.