...and life is good. Estero de Plantano is a TINY coastal village between Same and Muisne, where Milton wants to establish a private ecological reserve. A poor family owns the land and they don´t want to clearcut it, so Milton wants to help them generate some income by preserving the land, building an interpretive trail and creating a platform up on a cliff for whale watching. He basically wants to create an evironmental education center for school groups and tourists.
We are staying in a little cabin that the family built a few years ago. There´s not electricity or running water, but it´s right between the houses of the family that owns the land and another family. We can get water for cooking and dishes at a spigot at one of the houses (when it´s working), but we have to buy drinking water. Mike and I seem to be the only people concerned with drinking lots of water, so we feel a bit like whimpy gringos always needing mas agua.
The two families have been very nice and welcoming and they have a lot of really cute kids. Our situation has been very conducive for learning Spanish, especially with the kids, who like to teach us words. In one week we´ve already picked up a lot.
Our working days go something like this: someone wakes up around 6 (which is easy because we go to bed around 9), cooks breakfast, and we eat at 7. Work starts around 8. We´ve been working on clearing the trail for 3 days and will probably finish on Monday. This is our first time building a trail. And it´s hard. And hot. We hack away in the forest and drip buckets of sweat until noonish or one, then eat lunch and have the rest of the day free. The beach is really nice and deserted and the water is warm. We have hammoks for lounging and reading, and the kids usually hang out in the afteroon and they´re pretty entertaining...
There´s so much more to say, but time´s up for the internet here in Tochigue. The photo uploader thing wasn´t working, either, so those will come later. Anyway, we´re much happier than we were a week ago and every day brings its own fun little adventures. Hope everyone is doing well.
Ciao!
so glad that you have made it thru the first week. That trip to the beach sounds amazing. What an experience of a different culture. Meanwhile we are attempting to have a new culture in the US of A with Obama. yea! We sure like hearing from you have a good week. love mom Carol and Roger
ReplyDeleteHi! So glad to hear from you. What a trip to the coast; but you now sound like you two are settling into things; and learning lots. Ditto-Obama--making things right; bringing new hope to the country and the world. People seem to feel better in general. You two are working within that framework as well. Take care and keep posting. We look forward to hearing from you. Stay well!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you two! Sounds so much fun. The girls found Equidor on the map. I will show them your blog and Hannah will be able to read and follow along. Wow, I think I will call you Drs. Livingston. The girls and I will discuss water this week. Keep posting if you can. It sounds like a wonderful, exhausting adventure.
ReplyDeleteI am so very happy for you, and jealous (but much more happy)! I am glad you are both there together; it sounds amazing. Bri and I are preparing to be buried by 8 inches of snow and I will think of you fondly sunning on the beach while I’m shoveling snow and feel a little less cold. Take care of each other and send pictures soon!!
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