Friday, March 15, 2013

Fogons and Insects


One of my neighbours, Barbara, cooks every day for most of the people in the campo on her outside cooking stove called a fogon. Here you can see the fogon – the wood goes on the table and the cooking pot above. It gives the food a lovely smokey taste and obviously saves money as we are surrounded by forests, so the wood comes free and it saves paying for gas.



At the front right of the fogon you can see a smaller version known as an anafe, this uses charcoal in case you run out of wood, and is also portable so it can be used anywhere. The big green ball at the back is a tinaco, or water storage tank.

She lives in a beautiful wooden house with a largish garden. The front is grass and trees and the back is full of fruit trees, including a hot chilli pepper bush which is fabulous for me so that I can have fresh chillis for cooking curries and Thai food.


The little windows open up, and there are floaty curtains inside – exactly the same as the ones I have. Obviously Turkish brothel curtains are all the rage.


I sat down for my lunch yesterday, chicken, rice and beans together with salad, and then the man who owns the little colmado came proudly over and offered me – wait for it – crispy fried turtle dove. He had shot them the day before. I politely declined.


As the outside eating area was full up, I was eating inside at the dining room table and  I was joined by a beautiful green lizard.


Some of the insects here are really pretty, such as lizards, butterflies, dragonflies, but a couple of days ago, I had a thick sweater on as it was cold and I felt something crawling up my back. I took off my jumper and there sitting inside the jumper was the biggest scorpion I have seen here.


Luckily it didn't sting me as I have been told that their stings can be quite nasty. According to Barbara, there are quite a few around and you must always shake out your clothes before putting them on. Lesson learnt.

12 comments:

  1. OMG!!! I am getting heeby jeebies just reading this!!!!

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    1. That's a couple of words I haven't heard for ages - heeby jeebies. I wonder how you say that in Spanish. I definitely had a lucky escape from the scorpion!

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  2. oh, that would freak me out, the scorpion that is. The green lizard I could cuddle, but the scorpion....no thanks. Just curious, does this lady buy all the food and feed everyone for free?

    Sherry, Nova Scotia Canada

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  3. That is an interesting question Sherry and one which I haven't found out the answer to yet. I pay her when we have people working on the house as you have to feed Dominican workers at noon or they die apparently, and it has to be rice as a sandwich is totally unacceptable. So I pay her for them, but not when we have no one here, but she still cooks for us and won't stop. I think people take food as well, such as the turtle doves. I will continue to investigate and see if I can find the answer.

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  4. My you were so lucky that scorpian did not sting you! Don't forget to check your shoes as well before putting them on. I'm paranoid about insects.

    The fogon looks interesting almost similar to the Portuguese BBQ's.

    I see the turtle doves are your "unmentionable" foods...:)

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  5. Yes I must remember to look in shoes too - I keep forgetting to shake clothes and to check shoes.

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  6. I see your title, Fogons and Insects is interesting story. I am in your shoes, I must place your clothes in safety plastic boxes preventing the insects. ;)

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  7. I would freak out with the scorpion and the lizard too...

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    1. Lizards are fine Sami as they don't bite or fly. And they eat the mosquitos. Only iffy thing about them is when you try and pick them up to move them out of the shower and their tails fall off and you are left holding the tail which still moves and the lizard runs off with his stump.

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  8. Your blog is so funny and bring me back so many memories. I took grew up En El Campo in the Dominican Republic. Close to Higuey. I read your stories, see your pictures and almost bring tears to my eyes. El Fogon mmmm.
    I am now super far away, in Afghanistan deployed with the U.S Army. Thank you very much for posting your stories. And yes...Good luck with the Campecinos. They are more friendly than city people, but it can be annoying for someone like you who is not used to this kind of culture.
    Take care.

    p/s will for sure buy your book when i get back to the states!

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    1. Hey Will. You take lots of care of yourself over there, so far from home. I am sorry for bringing tears to your eyes, but hope you enjoy the blog as well as it making you sad. I adore the campesinos - we do have a different culture yes, but their kindness is amazing.
      Thanks so much for buying the book when you get back to the US, and please take care.

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