Aventura!

Fill 'er up!

Yesterday we all went with Pancho up into the mountains to a town called Cedral. We were going to check out where they are building the new filtration system for the water that supplies the surrounding towns (and we did) but it also turned into a bit of an errand run for Pancho (it always does).After a beautiful walk up the valley, we got caught in an aguasero (rain storm) and got drenched to the bone. We camped out at someone's house under their eaves while we waited for the rain to let up, and tried to dry off a bit. When the rain finally let up Pancho was in no rush to get home and decided he wanted to bring home a kilo of trout (which you fish yourself from this guy's little pond).  So we watched Pancho fish, with some fishing line and some dog food - before long he had 5 truchas.

 

We hopped in the truck and were finally on our way! Half way home he pulls over this time to check out a "biogestor" or in other words "pig shit methane collection tank" The methane collected goes straight into his house and powers his stove!! Very cool, pretty stinky. Then Pancho disappeared into their house, and left us shivering outside, wondering what he was up to. 10 mins later, he strolled out, he was looking for some soccer ball...apparently. 

So, off we go again, still wet and cold, narrowly escaping the tractor beam of the local bar that seems to always pull Pancho in. Finally we made it home, but only after stopping quickly to pick up some cilantro starters fo his garden!

Pancho 

BANANA HUNT!!!

When we got home from our farm visiting trip, Naomi and I took off into the wilderness on a hunt for the elusive savage beast......the banana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We hacked our way through the overgrown coffee, fighting off mosquitos and terrifyingly spiky underbrush! Soon through the dense growth we spotted our prey! We approached cautiously as they spook easily, and with one swipe of the machete hacked the banana tree to death!!! (a banana tree only fruits once so this is actually quite a humane way of doing it, and baby banana trees sprout up all around the adult) We also brought down a bunch of Plantains!
Victory is ours!!!!!! We trudged back home with the fruits of our labour on our shoulders and heads held high!!

The spoils of our victory!!!

Paseo!

Huge bamboo

Wow, its been a busy couple of days! We went out to visit some old family friends on the other side of town in Pedregoso. First we stopped by Eds farm, he's one of the first gringos in the area and has a beautiful farm with tonnes of huge bamboo and some gardens.

 

Ed's cabina for students

He gives courses in natural medicine and gardening and always has a steady flow of gringo students flowing through....there was even a girl there from Vancouver.

Suzanne's garden

Next we popped over to visit his neighbors Miguel and Suzanne who have been there for about 20 years! 

Giant bamboo and Lincoln

Miguel had just left when we got there but we had a nice visit with Suzanne and she fed us the best Papaya we've ever had (turns out the flavour is locked in the shape of the papaya and the pear shaped ones are better than the blimp shaped ones! FLAVOUR SHAPES!!)

We did a quick walk around their farm, checked out the garden, the chickens and the river. They also have a bunch of students staying there and working for room and board.On our way home we stopped and got some groceries and ate some ceviche! mmmmmmmmmmm.......ceviche.

 

The river at our house

               Pura Vida!
                                       Isaac

                                                                                      
                                                                                                

Snake Food

Not that impressive

We've had our first (and hopefully last) snake bite of the trip! And when I say we, I mean Isaac. Yesterday, on our way up from the river, we ran into what we think was a Road Gaurder snake in the middle of the path. It was one of the few times when the dogs were behind us, and now we will send them first (not to be mean, but you know...). Isaac was first, and the next thing I knew I was staring at this huge (it was at least 1 inch in diameter, and maybe a meter long - think rattlesnake size) brown snake swirling at Isaac's feet. Of course, I started screaming, Isaac realized what was happening, and he did a little snake dance.

Koda and his new friend

 Koda walked right into the snake next, before it scooted off into the woods. I had a mini melt down, and Isaac managed to stay calm, bless his heart. We checked his feet, and sure enough on the back of his heel we found two little bleeding marks where the snake had bit him. We flipped through the snake book to see if we could figure out what type, and talked to Rocio. She said that if it was a Road Guarder, not to worry, and the fact that Isaac clearly wasn't feeling poisoned was a good sign! We both wore our gum boots to the river today.

Milking the cow with Rocio

My mom and dad arrived yesterday! It's so nice to have them here. They'll stay with us for 2 weeks, before heading home. Koda has made friends with the stray, Fierra. I guess they have stuff to talk about! More cow milking has us up nice and early, and Isaac has started his plans for the mini skate ramp behind the shed. So much fun!

                    
                                                             Love Naomi

The river

Aside from "The Pig"

At the waterfall

Well, it has been a very eventful couple of days for us! Yesterday, we hiked up the river to the waterfall with Sarah, Kyle, and the four dogs. The two big dogs did great, and the two little ones (after a few times of carrying across/”gently throwing” across the river) managed really well. We woke up to sun, so got on our way early before the rain came in the afternoon. It takes us about an hour to walk up the river to the waterfall, with lots of rock jumping and river wading. The pool has changed a lot since Isaac and I were here last, and even more since Isaac was little. Him and his brothers used to be able to jump off the top of the waterfall, into the pool. Now, when you stand directly at the base, you can pretty much touch the bottom. The hike up was beautiful, and the water is so lovely to swim in. We arrived home happy and tired, and the dogs were out for the rest of the day.

One pooped pup

This morning, I was up bright at early at 6:30 to go with Rocio to milk the cow. I thought this was going to feel very early, but I soon realized that the rest of Quizarrá has already started their day by 6:30. Pancho, for example, was out sharpening his knives, and getting ready for the pig (whom I met in the back of the truck) to be slaughtered. I'm giving Isaac the pleasure of explaining that adventure, because he took all the pictures while I peeked out from behind him! But back to milking the cow, it was so cool! It was tricky for sure, but I was able to fill a small cup up, and Rocio told me I was doing well for my first time! Now, Rocio on the other hand is basically a professional. She has been milking cows since she was 6, and in the time I filled up my small cup, she had filled 3 jugs! I plan to continue this early morning ritual, and she is happy to have my company!

By 10 o'clock, we had milked a cow, hid while the pig was being killed, and then witnessed the whole butchering process from start to finish. I felt so productive!

All our fruits and veggies

We headed into town, because the farmer's market in San Isidro happens every Thursday and Friday. We loaded up on delicious fruits and veggies, and a few tamales (yum!) We also ran into Isaac's very good friend, Miguel, and his mom Linda. Isaac and Miguel went to school together for Grade 4-6 in San Isidro, and were best friends during those years that Isaac and his family lived on the farm.

Papayas

We've been putting Koda in his kennel when we go into town (so far only twice), because we just aren't sure that he won't go off looking for us. I know eventually it won't be a problem, and he'll stay here with the other dogs, but he willingly goes in his kennel (which is amazing after his flight down), and this way we can be certain that he won't go on his own little adventure. The rest of the time, he is as free as when we met him, and sleeps right outside the screen door, so he can stare at us when he wants to. He follows us at the hip the minute we step outside, and seems to be playing more and more with the other dogs. We actually have a pack of 5 dogs - there is a stray called Fierra who decided that the galerón (a shed type building where the truck gets parked) is her new home. She won't come up to the house, but she spends her day lying on the driveway, and magically appears for every meal time. She is very sweet, and very scared, but we're hoping she will come around.

Well, after Isaac's shocker of a post, this might seem dull and boring, Isaac is currently making fun of "all my words," but I think it's exciting! Oh, one last note, we bought some chicken wire today, and will be buying 3 or 4 chickens from Rocio's brother who has a bunch!

Buenas noches,

Love Naomi

The Pig!

 Today we got to watch Pancho butcher a pig. We didnt watch as he took the pigs life, cut off his head and put it in a bucket of water, and strung him up to bleed out. Nope....didnt watch that. We did watch him skillfully butcher it though! WARNING: May contain graphic content unsuitable for some viewers (vegans).

Starting to peel of the skin (the skin is deep fried into a local delicacy "Chicharrones")

Peeling off that good ol' leg skin!

Popping out the guts!(They dropped them into a sack!)

Looks like some liver.

Trusty hacksaw!

 The spine

After the spine was hacksawed off.

Cuttin up the ribs.

Yup, cut up a whole pig with a knife and a hacksaw. Some neighbors took away the head and a whole pitcher full off blood, god knows what they will do with that! Feed their vampire bat colony?!?!

We also went into town and blah blah blah , who cares !!!! We saw the inside of a pig fall out!!!!!

Isaac

Nuevo look!

 Centella and Koda in the back

Just got home from a birthday dinner for Diego, and Julia. (Diego is Pancho and Ricio's son, they live next door to us, and Julia is a Gringo that lives down the road with her husband Bill).  Rocio cooked a delicious meal, rice with meat, with a green banana salad (soooo good).  I managed to get a few Spanish phrases out of my mouth, after extensive coaching from Isaac.

We spent the afternoon on a mandarina (lemon like fruit, that looks like an orange) hunt around the farm.  My new gumboots are awesome.  We found two trees to pick, but it looks like we might still be a bit early for them.  When we got home I buzzed Isaac's head, just for fun.

Tomorrow we might hike up to the waterfall with Sarah and Kyle (a couple from New York that are WOOFing at Rocio and Pancho's for a couple of weeks).

This is the flower the farm is named after "Granadilla Silvestre"

I've found a good website that is trying to teach me Spanish...I'm still on the pronounciation unit (section 10 out of 50).  Wish me luck.  According to Isaac I "frenchify" everything - so I'm hoping this helps!

Naomi