More problems.

When we realised that we had to replough the fields I was livid. Roger admitted his mistake and apologised to me but I didn´t feel any better. I had already begun to think tat there was some sort of celestial conspiracy, a force from above working against the project. I was feeling tired and very negative about the situation, and that perhaps I had taken on too much and the whole thing would be end up a disaster. We had to overcome obstacles to make even small pieces of progress. Things were certainly not going as I had hoped.

During this time the rainy season was still in full swing. The rain comes down very hard in that part of the world and the people of Cajamarca get wet ofen. Every year in late January or early February they hold a week long carnival with large scale water and paint fights on the city streets. People throw buckets of water and water balloons at their friends or at strangers and passers by. Water is thrown constantly and spontaneously and nobody is safe. Of course boys get the girls wet and all the girls target the boys. Tourists also get it and apparently some of them find it too much and leave town early. Tthere is also much drinking, dancing eating and dressing up in fancy costumes for a large and very colourful parade throught the historical centre and the old barrios of the city. It´s reputed to be the best carnival in Peru.

October roughly through until March is the rainy season with December until Match being the worst (or, depending on your perspective) the best time for rain. Strangely the rain always starts at about the same time of day. The morning is always sunny, at lunch time the dark clouds roll over into the valley and at about 1.30pm the rain starts and continues until early evening. The water comes down off the high surrounding mountains and quickly forms muddy rivers running down the sloping narrow streets of Cajamarca. In a spare afternoon it´s entertaining to watch people in the rain walking home from school or from work trying not to get too wet. The rushing water is often quite deep and people get wet shoes and socks and ankles crossing the road. The blocks in the town centre are small and you probably have to cross a street four or five times in a ten minute walk. Not only that but the roads are dotted with pot holes and cracks. You have to be very careful when walking on the pavement not to get splashed by a car running through a water filled pot hole. if a car goes to fast pedestrians on both sides get covered. It´s always very funny to see someone get splashed by a car.