Saturday on the compound.

Construction workers are building a new cement walkway to the houses in the back of the compound. They laid out a strip of sand and mixed it with bags of cement and small rocks. I asked where their revolving cement mixer was and they showed me how they turn their shovels to mix it all up, and of course then they add water. They are also building a shower room and washtub area (for doing laundry). They do work in the hot sun and I don't think they take siestas here. All the manual laborers are toting six packs.

Saturday was cleaning day in the compound. I sweep and mop out my place. The neighbors, Didi and her daughters, were also cleaning and they had all their figurines laid out on a pallet outside. This brought back memories of my Saturdays as a child when it was my job to dust my mom's Hummel collection. That's when I swore I would not be collecting dust bunnies of any sort, and she had no where the number of ceramic idols and collectibles as Didi.

Old Resources!!

After school, in the CI Primary Library, it's coloring time. These kids love to color, even 30 year old coloring book pages. My sister, Charlene, sent me a coloring book that belonged to my niece, Beth, 30 years ago. Who would have thought it would serve as entertainment in Guyana in 2014.

Also the popular check-outs here are all the Disney tales; Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Lion King, The Little Mermaid, even Bambi. The boys especially like Goosebumps and I've gotten many requests for the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.

The hanging baubles seem to be acting as a deterrent, keeping the pigeons at bay except in one corner right over the door. I've even hung origami parrots, hoping that the competition will drive the pigeons to other roosting grounds, but they are not life size, they look more like parakeets. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the centipede that woke me at 5 am this morning with a painful bite to my middle finger. This is the third centipede that I've captured in my house since arriving in July. They are fairly compliant when presented with an empty tin can. Evidently they are drawn to dark places, but they quickly realize their mistake so I have to slap a plastic top on to prevent them from doing an about-

face. They are fast. Of course, who wouldn't be with 100 legs. The can enables me to dump the dangerous villains and then immediately chop, chop them in half. But here's the really unsettling part, at least for me. Four hours later, I returned home to take some benedryl (After the initial throbbing, redness, pain, my hand swelled and the PC nurse advised), and half of that wormy critter was still wiggling outside in the rain. Besides cockroaches, centipedes will probably survive the holocaust.

Magnificent Kaieteur Falls

The day was sunny. The clouds were stacked like cotton ball sculptures. We flew over miles of pristine jungle, untouched by man and one could only imagine the wildlife that abounded under that vibrant canopy. There's an airstrip, a welcome house and a very basic guest house on the grounds near the falls. We were few in number, three small planes of 13 passengers each. Our plane was all PCV's. The mountain that is topped by Kaieteur Falls also goes by the name of “Oh My God”, because that is what so many say when they come upon the first viewing point.

Golden Rocket Frog (probably only about an inch tall)

Giant Tank Bromeliad

The guide books say it is one of the longest single drop waterfalls in the world. I thought the volumn was a bit thin, probably because it is the dry season in Guyana, but it is amazing to see the gentle meandering Potaro River roar with fury as it spills over the sharp jagged cliffs.

The guide told us that if we were to hang around at dusk or wake at dawn by the falls, we could see thousands of swifts soaring and diving in the mist of the falls. Sadly we had to depart before dusk. We were able to photograph the golden rocket frog who lives his entire life in the giant tank Bromeliad and also the Cock-Of-the-Rock, which flew off before I could focus my lens.

No litter, easy hike to catch several angles of the falls, and a chance to get a close-up view of the falls from the plane, both coming and going.  

Hairstyles of Guyana
I took these pics on Sports Day at CI Primary. The students have been preparing for running, jumping sport events for the month of Sept. The day was spent in competitions between four separate teams in the school.

View of Demerara River and Georgetown from LaGrange Water Tower.

Bridge shuts down for passage of boats each day.

Demerara floating Bridge with Georgetown in background.

Standing on rusted, questionable water tower for fantastic view. LaGrange in background.

Celebrating World Literacy Day at Cornelia Ida Primary with newly donated books from friends in Kodiak, Alaska.

Head Mistress Desiree Sundar with students.

Wedding Weekend

Ester was getting married and I was given permission to attend the wedding. Yippee! I took some shots of Georgetown while waiting for my mini-bus to depart the bus park.

Then, on to Laluni for an authentic Amerindian Wedding. The mothers of the bride and groom do not attend the actual service. They wait back at the reception site to welcome the newly married couple with a glass of some red liquid. The bride’s mother tips the glass for her new son-in-law to drink, and the groom’s mother does the same for the bride. I was a little nervous that the red liquid would end up down the front of either Ester’s beautiful satin and pearl white gown, or Enoch’s crisp pink shirt, but my fears were unfounded.

The bride and groom were seated at the table of honor and then subjected to words of encouragement as the fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, teachers, cousins, and friends took the microphone and delivered their parting sentiments.

The cake was cut and shared with bride and groom, but that was it. Food boxes and cherry juice were passed out, then music by the very talented extended family and friends.

So I kept eyeing the cake (they call it black cake). Finally I asked the sister of the bride, “When do we eat the cake?”.

“Oh, we don’t eat the cake here tonight,”

“What?”

“We will package it up tomorrow and give it to the families who helped out in so many ways, and to the attending quests.” Sure enough the next morning they were cutting and wrapping portions intended for certain housesholds. I was offered a piece right then and they also wrapped up a take home bag, so I had cake for dinner too.

The first photos are scenes from Georgetown, while I waited for the bus to fill up.

Famous Stabroek Market

Ester and Enoch

Tired out

Bridle Party disembarks

Entertainment

Coconut wrapped with gauze

Enough food for everyone

Dad and brother of the bride

Congratulations to Ester and Enoch, who make a gorgeous couple don’t you think?