Day 1 - Getting Started

Our first official day of the trip is almost over and to say that it was a success would be an understatement. We woke up this morning at the home of Luis "Pelayo" Diaz and enjoyed breakfast with them. Pelayo loaned us his pickup truck so that we could go to the village of Union Roja and to Tapachula to purchase supplies.

We got UR around 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning and went to the home Aides Santos and her husband Raul. Raul greeted us at the door and we spent at least one hour visiting with Raul. Their home is a very simple plank house with a tin room. Most of the floors are dirt with the exception of the main house which is concrete. The kitchen, however is dirt floored with a wood stove.

The home of Raul and Aides Santos

Raul Santos visits with us at the water building

Raul told us the story of his journey to the United States where her traveled as part of a group that was lead from here to the border and then across. Along the way, they were stopped and questioned by the police and many had to give up their money to continue the trip. Most hide money in other places so that the police won't find that to and just put bribe money in their pockets. They were also left in the desert in the middle of the night by their guide (known as "coyotes") and had to find their way on their own. Raul worked for about 2 years in the united states at both TJMaxx and IHOP where he had fake identification so that he could receive his wages (with income taxes deducted of course).

After that we visited the building where the water system will be installed. That building is very nice and they have prepared an excellent cistern for holding the dirty water before it is moved into the system.

The water building in Union Roja

We then drove into Tapachula and were able to purchase all the supplies and drop them back off at the water building.

As I write, it is 5:40pm an dI am sitting out in front of the Just Coffee building in Salvador Urbina enjoying the cool (75 degrees) evening air as I look up at the 11,000 foot volcana Tacana that looms over the village.

Tomorrow we will return to the water building where Raul, Ismael and I will paint the plywood to prepare for the arrival of the team tomorrow evening. We will also meet our driver for the week as well as check into our hotel in Tapachula.

This parrot, named Pacho, lives next door to the water building and constantly shouts "Agua!" to all passers by. I asked them if he was hired to advertise.

Until then...adios