There’s been blood, there’s been sweat and there have been tears. We’ve finished our projects in El Cacao and Matapolo and are currently at Field Base but it’s been one hell of a journey. Having finished work on Saturday the community was primed for our leaving party. The party was a long event spear-headed by the charismatic Brigado who spoke, sung and played guitar. The crowd gathered to hear his melodic strumming were not disappointed; their favourite undoubtedly being the “agua song.” After a quick meal (maybe it was chicken, maybe it was pork, we’ll never know) we were invited to dance. A few of the group members had been given the opportunity to showcase their talents earlier in Piñata but the blaring reggaton music saw the whole group and much of the community strutting their stuff on the dance floor.
After the despedida we swiftly moved onto Matapolo, a somewhat sleepier place than El Cacao and settled into life with new families putting our constantly improving Spanish to the test. The work here was hard with the community well spread and temperatures very hot. Nonetheless we were able to bring water to 4 of the houses there in a short space of time and our work was really appreciated by the community, something which meant a lot to the group. A highlight of our time in Matapolo was the afternoons after work spent washing in the beautiful river and the mini-trek which we did on our last full day to Guanasape and then camping out under the starlight as a group to round off our final phase of the expedition. After one final despedida when Felix and Noah said there second tearful goodbye (a third would follow in the morning) to their “mums” from El Cacao who’d made the 3 hour walk, the group was ready to leave.
Zulu 5 had a phase to remember and we are all extremely grateful for everything our families from the communities did for us. Thank you for reading everyone. We’ll be home soon!
After the despedida we swiftly moved onto Matapolo, a somewhat sleepier place than El Cacao and settled into life with new families putting our constantly improving Spanish to the test. The work here was hard with the community well spread and temperatures very hot. Nonetheless we were able to bring water to 4 of the houses there in a short space of time and our work was really appreciated by the community, something which meant a lot to the group. A highlight of our time in Matapolo was the afternoons after work spent washing in the beautiful river and the mini-trek which we did on our last full day to Guanasape and then camping out under the starlight as a group to round off our final phase of the expedition. After one final despedida when Felix and Noah said there second tearful goodbye (a third would follow in the morning) to their “mums” from El Cacao who’d made the 3 hour walk, the group was ready to leave.
Zulu 5 had a phase to remember and we are all extremely grateful for everything our families from the communities did for us. Thank you for reading everyone. We’ll be home soon!
The lovely Zulu 5 
Trench-digging pro Thea
With the local children
A spot of clothes-washing at the river
Gemma proved to be a dab hand with the machete
Helping out with the sesame harvest
Felix on his way up the mountain
well looks like you all did a great job see you soon gemma xx love mum dad and everyone
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