Don and Levin in the Dominican Rep.

Debbie and Levin at a restaurant overlooking the mountains. The view is not the only thing nice about this place. The food is also great.



The next picture is in front of Don's house. Hum. Just kidding! We saw this house off the main road and couldn't resist the urge of taking a picture in front of it. How did the owner got the tree to grow around the house? Let me know if you can explain it. I can't. The outer walls of the house is of tree branches that look like roots.



The last picture is on Paradise Island. Yes, that's the name of the place. Leah loves that place. Georgia has been there. Levin snorkeled there! It's one of the best places for snorkeling. Gorgeous coral reefs, and beautiful colorful fishes. You got to see it.

Don and Levin in the Dominican Republic

We took these pictures with Don and Levin in September 2007 in the Dominican Republic.
Everyone had a lot of fun. You get a 180 degree view of the ocean from this balcony. You can catch some beautiful sunrises as well. The vastness of the water is pretty soothing and just pleasant.




These people look quite relaxed. Do you know them? They seem to be having a good time, heck!

Botanical Gardens of Isabella de Torres, up in the mountains. You get there with a cable car, "Teleferico" in Spanish. As you're getting higher and higher, the air becomes cooler, fresher, and the vegetation on top the mountain is different; more lush, tropical, full, and lively. Pathways take you through the botanical gardens. It's always a nice walk up there.

Pictures from Togo

Timothee and Liliane's family except for Lys-Elsa who was to be at school that day when we took the picture.
A lovely family.
Eli and his family came to Togo (from France) the day we were leaving. So, we had the privilege and joy to see them all. I have two sweet and beautiful girls, he's got three! All sweet, all well behaved, all cute. He is a blessed man, like me!
Eli is talking to Debbie. God knows what he is talking about. Maybe the truckers on strike in France, who knows?
The picture below, Christelle (Eli's wife) and her three adorable girls. They have a good mother. We delayed our trip to the day they were getting there just so we can spend some time with them and we're glad we did.


Eli, Christelle, and their kids. Nice family.

Pictures from Togo

These pics go with the post on the "trip to Togo".
Andre in Nassogne.
Nassogne is near Palime, a small city near the mountains in Togo.
After all the noise of Lome, the capital, Nassogne was a break where you would do what I'm doing right there. Relax!
I was about to sit on the bench where the water bottle is sitting, but our hosts came from nowhere and insisted on bringing me a chair. I let them. So, there am I, relaxing like a "Dufus American" in paradise. Hey! I love that place.


Debbie is trying to capture the sunset on film but the sun was still so bright it was not registering on the film. But there I was, on our balcony, back in Africa.

There is Debbie, the Queen of Africa!
Can you see the sun? I kinda took that pictures. I had to move everything around to get a good picture: the sun, the trees, the clouds, Debbie's smile (at the right time). You didn't know about my powers? Humm.
Debbie took this picture from the 3rd story of my Mom's house. Gosh! It's always weird to write my "Mom's house" or "my mother's house". It used to be my "parents' house". I miss you, Papa! Well, my Mom, Frida (my sister), and John (my brother) are sitting on the 2nd floor. The 3rd floor is just a place where my Dad had his plants (42! Debbie counted them) and where the birds come to keep him company.

P.S. You can always click on the pictures to have a better look.

Pictures from Togo

These pictures go with the post on the "trip to Togo". I'm making several posts for these pics because I have a bunch of pictures, but this Google software is only posting 4 pictures at a time. You will think they would know what they are doing. Maybe, I don't know how to use the software real good yet.

That's my Baby! Debbie in Africa, in Atsintsin. That's the African jungle, sort of. Can you see the machette in her hand. She never had to use it but she was prepared.


Debbie again, this time in Nassogne.
If you read the post on the "trip to togo", you will know what Nassogne is. It's a quiet and relaxing place. That's where we've seen the most stars we've ever seen in our lives.

My wife relaxing in paradise.
Nassogne.
Nassogne.
That's the building where the guests stay.
This "gite", or bed and breakfast, has its own solar panels and water tank. It also grows most of its own vegetables for the restaurant and the chicken just run loose. The same chicken they will cook for you. Fresh!

Pictures from the trip to Togo

From left to right: Andre, Christophe, Liliane. At Maman's house in Lome, Togo.
Christophe is Liliane's son.
Liliane is Timothee's wife, my sister-in-law.

Andre and Maman.
The shelf on the far right was Papa's shelf where he dispalyed the pictures of all his children's families.










From left to right: Collette, Andre, David .
Collette is David's wife. She is sweet.
Collette was expecting her second child. She lost that baby later on in January '08, and I was soooo sad for her, but I didn't tell her. They don't really check blogs or emails. I bet they will read this in 2010!
They have a music school. They are one of the nicest couples you'll meet, and I mean that. David is one of my favorite brothers. We are close in age and we spent our childhood together. He is a good brother and I love him!!!
I put my glass of wine in front of David like if he was drinking the wine. He knew exactly what I was doing but didn't say anything. He just played along. That's why he was laughing in the picture. I was laughing too, because I knew he knew what I did!





That's Timothee! He is the oldest brother in the family. If you have a brother like Timothee, then you're lucky. He is a responsible kind of fellow. And he doesn't say much. He just smiles and laughes with all kinds of jokes when he is with his sibblings, otherwise he does not smile much. He is just responsible, and mature. He took over my Dad's work. He is best qualified for that kind of work. The "master" who is the "servant" of the poor people in the villages of Togo. Gee, you need a calling for that, and he got a calling for it. He took what my Dad did to the next level. That was quite impressive.

Well, we were on his land (90 acres) in Atsintsin. Debbie and John are on the right in the picture. A stream goes through his land. We were by the stream. Some parts of the stream are much larger, like a river.
Timothee took us to Atsintsin where the lands are located. He did something quite funny on the way. He will be driving, then, without saying a word, he will just pull to the side of the road, ..., and pee! He didn't care if other cars are coming or not. The funniest part was that, to keep doing that, he kept drinking water, so he can keep stopping and peeing! I wanted to laugh so loud, but I didn't. When he stops, then, that's the rest area. If you need to pee, you get out and pee too! Timothee is driving, 95 miles per hour unless he needs to stop and pee! That was a trip!

Can you see the rainbow?
How about the double rainbow on the second pictures?

We saw this after visiting a botanical garden in Puerto Plata.

This botanical garden is called "Isabella de Torres". It's unique in the sense that it's natural (not man made), just taken care of by people.

A beautiful rainbow to watch is free. A double-rainbow is double free. Next time you see one, you need to enjoy it twice as much.

You know how rainbows come about, right? OK, since you said yes, I won't tell you!

Look at this beach. Look close. Real close. Good! Do you see anyone? Let me know if you see anybody on this beach, because it's the Coquerel 's private beach! ... Just kidding. But! We've been at this beach some 5 to 6 times in the Dominican Rep. and never saw a soul, except for one time when we saw an white man (not a Dominican) relaxing on his beach towel. He didn't see us for a while because he didn't expect anyone on "his private beach", I mean "our private beach". We waved at each other and realized that someone else knows about this hidden paradise.

Well, we were gonna put a sign that says: "The Coquerel's Beach. We don't mind sharing it, but leave it as clean as you see it. Don't tell anyone it's here. Keep the secret." We saw a rock to write on, but we had nothing to sign with. Next time!!!

The Price family is welcome to the "Secret Beach". Ask for direction because it's a secret beach.

Things that do not cost any money.

I wrote the first 18 items of this post and my inspiring daughter Leah added the rest except for the last item. After reading it a few times, I thought you might like it too. You can share your own as "comments" for more people to enjoy. Enjoy!!!

THINGS THAT DO NOT COST ANY MONEY:

It does not cost any money to laugh.

It does not cost any money to laugh at oneself.

…to love.

…to be grateful for what you have.

…to be kind to other people.

…to meditate and pray.

…to see the beauty in flowers, and in nature as a whole.

…to hear the birds sing. You'll be surprised to hear how many birds sing, all the time.

…to think happy thoughts.

…to have hope of a better future.

…to remember that “this too shall pass” when things are not going as planned.

…to write down your good fortune of the past.

…to always live in a clean environment.

…to get books at the library and read in your spare time.

…to walk in the park, like the Ocmulgee National park. In Macon!!!

…to call someone and cheer that person up. That will make you happier too.

…to think of the people who love you and care about you. Remember the movie “It’s a wonderful life”?

…to give someone a hug or kiss.

…to write a poem or an inspiring and loving work.

…to smile at strangers.

…to dance in the rain.

…to compliment someone; it will be sure to brighten their day.

…recognize the positive things in life and live with an optimistic outlook.

…to look at the stars and realize how lucky we are that of all the planets and galaxies and stars, we happened to live on a beautiful one.

…to make a goal or resolution.

…to make and fulfill a promise.

…to exercise.

…to exercise one’s mind.

…to let go.

…to visit the sick.

…to be happy!!!