This morning while Mary and I were at the beach practicing T’ai Chi we saw this unusual drone aircraft hovering over one of the beach homes.
We were not too surprised because for the last several weeks there has been a crew of photographers and cinematographers in town filming for a television production of something like House Hunter’s International or Beach Homes International. From what we understand the producers follow a prospective buyer around with a realtor to several different houses and the buyer then chooses which of several houses to buy.
One of the comparable homes to be featured happens to be the house directly next door to our home. So, once again after we were back home we heard the distinctive small motor sound rev up as the crew flew the drone around our neighbor’s house. From closer up one can see that there are six small helicopter type rotors supporting a platform from which the video camera is remotely controlled to take aerial videos.
For fifteen minutes or so the craft circled our neighbor’s home getting shots from all angles.
Our son, John worked on drones to be used for military purposes during his doctoral studies, so we are sure he is interested in how stealthy this little camera drone is. This short video should show that stealth was not an issue for this flying camera!
We had fun watching the high-tech camera circle around our neighborhood.
One other side note – Last weekend two long-time citizens of San Clemente passed away. We are friends with both of the families, so I went to a florist in Charapoto last Saturday to get two flower arrangements. I dropped off one at the viewing area on the way home, but I took a picture of the second after I got it home.
The other arrangement had nine white roses and little red and white flowers in the middle. We were happy to be able to show our sympathy for the grieving families especially since flowers arrangements are so much more affordable here than in the States.
We do not want to diminish the thought behind the gift by telling you all how much we spent on these arrangements, but we will tell you that each one cost us less than one must pay for a large burger at a fast food establishment in the United States!
Life goes on and the families are doing well here where…
Life is good in Ecuador!
Thanks for your solidarity. Un abrazo
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They are good friends and we mourn with the families. Con amor!
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Those things are neat! I actually used to help manufacture and repair similar contraptions a few years ago. In point of fact, one of my brothers had a patent on one. He built a company around them. They’re a lot of fun. Ours had four rotors, and boy if one of them went out, your bird would buy the farm, as it were.
You’ll have to figure out when they air the house hunter episode. That would be fun to see.
Blessings John and Mary!
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I know that one time you mentioned coming from a family of engineers, but I did not know your brother had a patent on a drone. Our son, John Jr. got his doctorate in electrical engineering and really gets into that kind of stuff. I am sure that the unit they were using was very expensive!
We will keep our ears out to see when the show will air. They were running the drone up and down the beach all morning, so there should be some good views of our little fishing village. I will try to let all know when (and if) it airs.
Appreciated your post and kind words today. More to come.
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Would love to know when that show airs on t.v……hope it doesn’t inspire too many people to move and change that special town
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We will try to find out when it airs and let everyone know. We too do not look forward to rapid change, but change is inevitable. Hopefully San Clemente will stay like it is for some time to come.
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Who were the two who passed away? I would like to know.
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Both of the people who passed away were local Ecuatorianos. One was Juan Carlos, the son of our friend Rodolfo and the other was Lorena’s aged father.
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I heard the episode will air in Sept.
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The film crew said they were doing 2 different shows here and then doing one in Manta
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They have been around enough to do several shows. Thanks again for the info.
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Great. Let us know if you hear a more specific date. Thanks!
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Brian has one of those drones for his film work. He gets some pretty amazing footage out over the ocean. We’ll have to show you sometime!
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How cool! This one was able to fly at least a hundred yards down the beach and out over the water. I imagine one can get some very interesting effects with that versatility.
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How cool! A drone! I wish that when House Hunters International filmed us, they would have brought a drone. Of course, it probably wouldn’t have been permitted to enter Nicaragua. Nicaragua has very specific regulations on the use of drones and where they are permitted to fly.
On another note, our condolences to you and your friends. That bouquet is beautiful. Thanks for the little video of the drone. It made my day.
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We are glad you liked the short video. It is interesting to see modern electronics and other devices here where life is generally so simple.
Also, thanks for the condolences. This community is made up largely of just three very large extended families, so a death in the community generally effects everyone to one degree or another.
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Im surprise to see a kind of flying camera like that.
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Yes, it was high-tech and quite interesting to watch. Maybe a little bit of our house and yard will show in the program.
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