Home away from home

I am now resident in San Gerardo - my home away from home for the next two months. San Gerardo is to the east of Santa Rosa and is situated in the shadow of the volcano, Rincón de la Vieja, in the national park of the same name at about 600m above sea level. The house I’m living in is an old ranch and has two out-buildings, one of which has been turned into a rearing barn for the caterpillars we find. The house is big and simple and old, but secure (it has metal doors to keep out Nicaraguan immigrants!).

Two of the local ‘gusaneros’ (caterpillar collectors) I’m working with, Gloria & Osvaldo, used to live here with their two kids so it has all the necessities including fresh water from the mountains. Sounds good but its not so nice when it dribbles out of the shower in a single un-heated stream! My room is on the first floor and is mucho comfortable. Gloria & Osvaldo have made me welcome and, despite my bad Spanish, we are building a good rapport. I am known to them as Felipe, which I think makes me sound better than I actually am!

The climate here is pretty inclement. Since I arrived its pissed it down almost constantly and the wind has been clattering the corrugated iron outside, which makes a hell of a noise. Temperature-wise its pretty mild, which suits me. It’s a big contrast with Santa Rosa, which was sweaty and dry. Gloria and Osvaldo...