Full Steam Ahead!

As the supervisory board will have informed you all last week, Totoco Ecolodge has the green light to go ahead with all construction work for the very first time!

After arriving in Nicaragua in March of 2006 we are now 21 months on and have experienced our fare share of delays. Despite all the challenges the team here is now more motivated than ever. Martijn moved onto our property in a comfortable tent last week which is standing underneath the roof of the existing workshop. He shares this corner of the property with a troop of about 12 monkeys who sleep there every evening and have removed the need for an alarm clock. Having our guests appreciate that wake-up call is another challenge for the future!

The construction plan for the coming months will see the focus shift quickly up the hill towards the top platform of the property. The main bodega (storage building) is nearing its final stage of construction and before it is completed work will begin on the long-term dormitory and the first of our 2 main water-tanks. Meanwhile Jarbin, our resident road builder, is continuing where he left-off in August in order to continue the +/-600 meters of road still left in order to reach the top.

Besides all the activity on our property the town is actively preparing for its annual fiesta which happens to coincide with Christmas. The first Balgue cultural fair will be held this Sunday which Totoco is helping organize and will present an opportunity to communicate its plans to the local community. All in all it means there are interesting times ahead as we look to make Totoco Ecolodge a reality.