The concept of living and flying in the caribbean is simple once you can get your head wrapped around the idea of a life with fewer boundries than you have ever lived with before.

Imagine a dream come true....well this is how we start.

Paragliding is an extreme sport in every sense of the word and it is by no means free, although having said that once you pay the small fortune to learn and buy your own gear the flying can bre free, if you come here.

Here is where the concept of my dream began and was realised, the Dominican Republic. Some of the easiest and pleasurable flying you can imagine...if you have the time to be  a patient parawaiter! No you do not have to wait tables to be one!

"Campo ca" as they say and learn even more........ 

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009....having endured almost 2 months of unseasonably wet weather, it looks as if the flying season may  not be a total wash!

Flying was on again for the Fools Day of the year and even though the pronostico was rain early today it may well be up and away today.

Even though it has been far from perfect for flying, life goes on as usual for the rest of everyday life on the island. Chayote still grows in an abundance and the farmers still fight over whose truck takes what load to which buyer. The children still go to school for their half days of education, uniforms on and backpacks filled with books. Umbrellas are up and over those who really have to venture out on a rainy day. It has also been cold so i was thankful for the warm duvet to keep us snug at night!

Tourist are not spending as they used to and the Kite Surfing businesses in Cabarete are complaining of lowered numbers, for the top spot location for World Kite Surfing this is not good news.God's Hammock gated community and ideas of grandeur tell of sports facilities and equestrian centre...nice!

The price of eggs has risen in the past 2 years from 2 pesos to 6 pesos and if that is anything to go by things are not getting any easier for the majority ON the island. Work i s hard to come by and children may not attend school if there family cannot buy a uniform for them...

Meanwhile the Paso Finos look finer than ever and the caballeros ride them with pride. Check the viseo in options for more on that thought.

Friday February 20, 2009....been dodgy weather really here although we have had a few fly days. Lots of wind and days of difficult penetration and turbulent ..for here...thermals.

Stefan from cabarete came up for a nite and almost 8 hours of flying so he was happy, as was his new instructor from Kite Beach, the Brit, Phil, and his other friend from Germany, Yans. I chose to ride as am still uneasy after my last flight, I'll get over it, maybe next time it is good..and smooth!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009....rain and more rain, we have had a few decent flying days in the past two weeks, one of which took me up to about 5 grand in the beat of my heart, and  i ended up being the MVP of the day as the wind came out of nowhere and i was unable to penetrate, so ended up behind the ridge almost not finding the life thermal to invite me into a frontal collapse in order for me to make it home in one piece!

well that was then and this i snow and the rainy season must end soon we all hope. pilots are all asking the same questions here, will we have the launches tomorrow which we have today. Always a haunting doubt as to how long it will be here before someone decides to buy the land we fly from and build another million dollar home that will end up empty for the flying season but shut us all down.

Thursday January 22nd 2009....rain and more rain, weather seems more like winter than flying season, we make the most of the ground time to clean boots and refresh camelbaks. yesterday was moderate to no reason to shout about and although we all flew it was generally sleigh rides.

Monday January 19th 2009....weather is still far from purrfect for flying, but it finally cleared up almost enough.

pidgeon and his crew all came by to see if we needed a ride up to god's hammock for a flight. "no gracias" we were not in the mood for a sleigh ride.

stefan from cabarete came by with paramotor pilot lars on there way to azua. on their way with students and another instructor.

javier and francis went to la pina for a little fun training.

i went riding. just another day in paradise.

saturday, january 17th 2009....weather has finally improved and there was a little more activity flying wise. the local birds were up and have a new student, a german chap whom i saw after his flight from god's hammock, and he had the paraglider cheese on his face, in other words a smile from ear to there!!

stephen flew too, but it was a sleigh ride for him as it shut down by the time he quadded it up the hill with francis as driver. 

chiro came by in the hope of some passengers to drive up, but the potential clients had their own transport and driver.

looks like the coming days will improve and we should have som cool new video and pix to add.

think thermal and the skies are ours...

On a daily basis we check the weather, most people do it to simply know if they will need a raincoat or umbrella, but here it is all about whether or not the flying is going to be good and or if you can enjoy a day on the beach.

There are so many different ways to check the weather and as long as you have a good internet access you are ready to go.

Today the weather is not for flying and therefore we look for other ways to amuse ourselves. The river is high and white water rafting is right around the corner. Horse riding is the easiest and closest, so a good 2 hour ride will get the day started.

Maybe the weather will change, but it looks like rain all day....