oye, so much to say. i have been at the bosque for about a week now and life here is amazing. the picture on the left is of the view from "the view," which is one of the cabanas here, and the picture on the right is home sweet home for me during my stay. since i last checked in i have spent a day cutting trees and burning piles in the fight against the pine beetle, two days leading team cob in the building of the chicken coop, and a day chopping wood and designing semipermanent camping structures to increase the bosque's sleeping capacity. also, rowan, they want to build a solar dehydrator here..... how funny since we just built the one at bumblebee, i'll be able to offer plenty of advice. in the afternoons i have been hanging out with the wonderful people here, going for hikes around, learning to juggle with clubs and four balls, and practicing spanish all the time. one night danko, an awesome young mexican dude, decided that he was going to lead a temascal. a temascal is more or less a native mexican version of a sweat lodge. it was held in the cob sauna (oh how i love the sauna) and was an incredible experience that made the bond of the entire group stronger. yesterday and today have been my days off. yesterday i went with a few others to a small pueblo just up the road and participated in a bread making class. wow, the family hosting the class was so wonderful. they had a small shop where they sell their bread and homemade wine, and they even killed a chicken that morning for our lunch. they were also constructing a biodegester for gas collection from their pig's shit (they can use that gas to cook with!). during the class we made many varieties of pan dulce (sweet bread), tortas, things resembling croisants, cookies and even little cakes. it was all baked in a massive cob oven that is heated all day with wood, and large pans of bread cook in that thing in less than ten minutes. our teacher was an inspiring little bread witch and she had so much love to give. now it's time for a little relaxation and then more cool projects. haha!
That all sounds so incredible, and so perfectly Paul-ish. Do you think you could just pack up that whole place and move it to Corbett? It sounds like you're already having the most fantastic adventure imaginable, but we do miss you and look forward to your eventual return.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Mike & Linda
Pablo, Wow! sounds like Mexico has been quite the adventure already. Its amazing that you are having so much fun and helping so many people already. Christmas is a couple days away and you will be greatly missed. I love you son. Keep having more adventures and sharing your experiences with all of us. Be safe. Dad.
ReplyDeletePaul,
ReplyDeleteHow awesome is it - a wonderful new group of friends and you learn from each other many cool new things. You sound so happy and as Christmas nears that makes a mother very happy!! I am sure you will discover a new tradition or two as Christmas is celebrated in Mexico and I hope that next year you can share them with us. I love seeing pictures of where you are - gives me more of a connection. Thank you for sharing your adventure and letting me have a little adventure through you! Wish all of your new friends Feliz Navidad! You are in my heart. Love, Mom
Paul,
ReplyDeleteYou're an inspiration and a credit to all humankind. Safe travels, we'll catch up soon.
Pete