In February it is always cool (6degrees C.) at night and warms about to 20degrees in mid-afternoon. There is no heating in the hotels, of course, so it is similar to camping in Algonquin Provincial Park. Bed-bugs were the worry but as long as you have a vinyl bedsheet cover and/or a contained sleeping bag most of us suffer no bites.
Today I try for the second time to use an internet cafe. I do get off a single e-mail but the computers in this cafe are slower than molasses. Viruses seem to activate and re-activate after every three or four characters that are entered.
Charlie and the Water Cistern:
Our driver (who is not supposed to drive?) is very capable and he takes us to AMMID's Demonstration Farm. In Spanish I believe it is Grania Agreocologica. This small one-acre plot contains many of the upgrades and necissities a traditional Mayan farmer can use to increase crops and provide better for his family. Fruit trees, hot pepper trees, cabbages, beans, irrigation with a large water cistern, a classroom for agricultural seminars.Dona Hilda is the entusiatic and capable almost-in-residence manager of the Farm. She lives one house away and was invited to help even in the beginning stages. She takes volunteers from plants to plants and answers countless questions as we have several gardiners with us.
The stoves we audit and inspect today are a lot better and safer than the ones we saw the day before. Some built cookstoves had a stovepipe exiting out through a thatched roof! Very much a fire hazard.
A great lunch is served by a collaboration of 5 families who received Guatemala Stove Project cookstoves. Sopa con carne has lots of "carne" flavour as well green shoots, vegetables and corriander.
The stoves we visit in this area area a lot better than the built stoves we visited the day before. Yesterday some stoves were built in houses with a stovepipe exiting through a tatched roof! Too much chance for a bad fire.Some of the ladies with Guatemala Stove Project are asking about the Weaving Co-Op. This is a Co-Op started and supported by AMMID and we're lucky enough to go for a surprise visit. There were enough weavers around to demonstrate their skills at the very big looms. Also, we buy colourful scarves and other stitchery items.
The other 5 volunteers go to an evening of fun and entertainment at Ruben's house. Apparently he has a large enough house and he invites people to try his large traditional Mayan sauna. Next day the Canadians report that they really enjoyed the evening
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