I was woken by the rain and got ready to explore new places. Did a quick wander around - a bit too quiet. Got stuck in a downpour couple of times. I spotted first signs of the fauna and flora that the area is famous for. Iguana in the wild lots of birds and a few butterflies. The highlight of the day was the previously arranged help with organising some extra educational activities with local kids. I got to the activity house and received lots of info about Parismina and the way things are. The activities were dependent on the weather and, with constant rain, drawing inside and creating a stick on game with plastic bottles was chosen. The buildings (of poor construction) are sponsored by an electricity company as a pay-off for being permitted to create water dams in various parts of the country . Not exactly an eco thing to do, but according to the American older lady, when she arrived in this village 30 years ago there was no water or electricity!!! She was part of Peace Corps project at the time. She has lived there ever since helping locals being a doctor, vet, teacher and social worker – an absolute star. Over the last few years she also run the parisminaturtle.com sanctuary which looks after the process of managing the incubation and hatching of young turtles. She runs volunteers projects too. Never the less, I hope my small input helped a little. The village of 450 has a lot of problems: drugs, female abuse etc. Apparently, theft is prevalent and females don’t really walk after dark hmmmmmmmmmm The American lady did manage to organise two police officers to patrol the village. The local hero lady’s son made the most amazing star fruit drink. Nothing like the stuff we get in Europe (even in top restaurants) They do change every two weeks. Anyway got a bit more walking in the late afternoon, tried the bar but there was nothing happening there so I have retired to my beer and new pork crisps with tomato salad followed by a Cuban cigar (which I needed to use in a good manor and it was a perfect evening for it sitting in the porch of the hotel) Yes I know sounds gross (except the cigar) but I had tried to go to a recommended local restaurant. The flooding water had unfortunately created a river between different parts of the village and some places already had water all over their gardens and in their houses. The restaurant was not accessible. The water, according to my North American friends, was safe to drink (hard to believe) – luckily, I am still OK. I decided that I needed to get my wheels rolling again. The landlady told me that the ferry comes twice a day 5.30am and 1.30pm to connect with the bus.
Being me, I obviously chose the earlier one.
Being me, I obviously chose the earlier one.