Time for Trees

New asphalt streets - even lines - ready for TREES !!

A new hotel - with swimming pool - in San Luis

New restaurant and disco on the Plaza

What the Poinciana trees will look like in 15 years

Back in the saddle again. I returned to mi pueblo after a wonderful US vacation to find everything in good shape. The projector and USB memory I bought in Miami were well received by Angel, who immediately put them to good use with a media show at the local. Still hard to figure why electronics are so much more expensive here – usually 150-200% more.

The big surprise was that the street paving project was near complete !! Smooth black asphalt now covers the town’s streets, replacing the rough and rutted dirt. This also means that folks will no longer throw water on the street every morning to “keep the dust down”. What it really did was make a muddy mess until the sun dried it out and the dust, once again, reigned supreme. The even put in speed bumps and painted lines.

So, now it’s time for my tree planting project to come off the back burner, where it has simmered for over a year. I’m really glad I waited, since the seedlings would have been wiped out by the construction process, which included new water and sewer lines. Construction also destroyed 13 of the sweet little “maceteros” – planting circles that lined my street. These will have to be repaired, adding an extra layer of work to the project. Because of the extra work, some of the Regidores (town council) wanted to just fill them in. This proposal was successfully fended off by Angel and I. It would be a shame to not have beautiful trees lining the streets, leaving them barren, plain and shade-less.

So, on went my contractor’s hat to do materials estimates and work-flow charts. The cost will be low – only about $150, with 6 days of the outstanding Obras crew (Don Benito, Julio and Aquilla), plus some Gringo power, who will be doing the form work and mixing planting soil. We will use rice hulls for aeration, supplemented with compost from the Eco-Banos and liquid fertilizer “biol” from the biodigesters. Synergy.

There are other subtle signs of progress in town. A locksmith has set up shop, which means San Luisians no longer have to travel to Canete for spare keys and lock repair. A sharp new restaurant and disco graces the Plaza and a fabulous new hotel is under construction. Fernando is providing plaster services for the project, which includes the FIRST swimming pool in town and 10 lovely rooms.

“My” kids came home for Fathers Day – a lovely treat. They all seem much taller and older and a bit more distant. While I’m happy that Victor and Margarita are doing so well financially in Lima, their new wealth is very much used for conspicuous consumption. They and the kids all sport new clothes. The kids had a new remote-controlled car, which put Goyo’s toy collection to the curb. They have a full-time nanny and a new home in Lima. Margarita’s comment that she was so happy to be out of “this dirty little town” did not sit well, though. Nor did her declining my offer to take the kids to the playground, because “they might get dirty”. Harumph….

Fathers Day here has two main goals : 1) place flowers on father’s grave. 2) all fathers to get as drunk as possible. The crush and commotion of flower sales outside the house was heartening, especially for the 3 flowers gals. They say Fathers Day is the biggest of the year, eclipsing Mothers Day and Easter. Victor and Fernando and guests went through a staggering 8 cases of beer, between noon and 2am. When I refused more than a token glass of beer, Fernando was shocked and said “It’s Fathers Day, Goyo. You MUST get drunk!!”. My “community integration” has its limits. Fortunately, the following Monday is considered a holiday – out of deference to the majority of fathers who would not make it to work anyway.