From the Pole to the tropics, and everything in between: A Race Against Fire, opossums, whale sharks and Spain

The dry season is coming. Actually, it is more than arrived. And it is hot. And sweaty. And humid (the dryness refers only to rain). In fact, my hair has gone curly, for the first time in my life.

This means that the farmers in the area will start clearing land and making fires. Sometimes to clear the land, sometimes by accident and, sadly, sometimes for fun... and the dryness and heat of this time of the year involve that these activities can easily go out of control.

This is why Ya'axché organizes every year the Race Against Fire, a bicycle race (accompanied by many other activities) that becomes a big awareness rising event, in which we try to emphasize the importance of using the molching instead of the burning to clear the land and, if not possible, to promote safe fire-use practices. This took place last Saturday (the day before yesterday), and there was the normal bicycle race, a slow bicycle race, sack race, kid games, corn seeding contest, dancing contest, music... had tons of fun, but it was tiresome, as I was in charge of documenting everything with pictures, which meant I had to be everywhere. I present many pics from the event below.

This means we didn't really have an Easter break... but we are taking it next week! I am going with Erik, James and Jauma today to Placencia to try to see the whale sharks, which are supposed to be around after the full moons during the dry season. I can't wait for that!

On the other hand, I am having more and more new neighbors at home... OK, not really new, they have been there all the time: the unavoidable cockroaches (you can't get rid of them in tropical climates), scorpions (yes, already got some at home), mosquitos (clouds) and, on Friday... an enormous opossum walking around our house!

And last, but not least, I want to tell you in advance that it is very likely that there will be no blog entries the next couple of weeks. I have to go to Spain for 10 days, kind of a last minute change of plans... I must recognize that I am looking forward to it: some days in Madrid, some in Vitoria and, most likely, a lightning strike over Pamplona! But I will be back before the end of April. Don't desperate meanwhile!