A few days in Granada

Lex and Oscar

Sunday 27th January

I was thrilled today because we went fishing again. I liked today's fishing. We went on a small boat to a island to pick up our guide. She showed us how to use crabs for bait. We used a bamboo stick and fishing line. Between us we caught five fish and Lex caught the biggest one. The boy used a net and he caught some too. We went back to the lady's house. She had some skinny dogs and a very cute puppy. She cooked us the fish, rice and tomato salsa using a fire. Dad had the whole head including eyeballs. It was delicious. I noticed that their washing line was made from barbed wire.

Wednesday 30th January

Hijacked blog!

Mum

Today we volunteered at Proyecto Mosaico. www.promosaico.org This organisation gives volunteers the opportunity to help in projects all over Central America for a few hours or up to a year.
We followed directions from the tourist centre of Granada to an orange house in a very dusty street. Carlos our guide was waiting for us and explained some more about the project. Locally they work with children in one of the poorest areas of Granada, a short walk from the office. We were going to show the children how to make kites from rubbish and Oscar and Lex had to drum up business by running though the streets with them first.

We stopped outside a brightly coloured brick house. The houses were all the same and built by the government but each was a different bright colour as are most of the houses in this city. Each house had a barbed wire fence, an outdoor toilet, one room , and a small yard. We we were welcomed with open arms and taken to the yard where Carlos showed us how to make Eco kites. The idea was that the children could find the items needed on the streets such as newspaper and drinking straws. They were also shown how to make glue from yucca root flour.
When the children arrived they watched a short film about looking after their environment. A huge ditch ran across the back of the houses. It absorbs shocks for earthquakes but is used as a rubbish dump. Carlos explained to them that rubbish here would end up in the lake and on the beaches and the water would be used to drink. I think they were bit shocked.
We divided into groups and helped the children with their kites. Some used newspaper and some plastic bags with scraps of tissue and rubbish scraps for details like tails. They were all colourful and worked brilliantly. I'm not sure how much help we were but the children all seemed to have fun and come away with something to be proud of.
As the last ones finished it was great to see the boys running around the yard with the others seeing who could make the kites fly highest. Oscar ran with his kite all the way back to the city. A fantastic experience.

Lex

How to make an Eco-kite

What you need;

4 straws
Newspaper or plastic bag
Cotton
Tape
Glue

Instructions

1. Cut a square out of paper or a plastic bag about 30 cm square.
2. Squeeze the end of a drinking straw and slide into another. The double part should be about 5 cm. This makes the straw stronger.
3. Put the straws into a cross shape and tape them together in the centre.
4. Stick the four corners of the straw cross into the corners of the newspaper. Don't stick them too close to the corners though about 5 cm from the ends.
5. Next cut the ends of the straw off about three cm from each end. Cut a diagonal line where the straw used to be.
6. Now fold the edges of the paper square to enclose the ends of the straws.
7. Stick the edges with glue.
8. Stick a piece of cotton 15 cm long to three straw corners with tape.
9. Pull the three strings together and make a knot in the centre.now attach a longer piece of string to this central knot to fly your kite with.
10. Cut some strips of newspaper or plastic bag and attach to make a tail.
11. Add wings and any other decoration.
12. Finally you can enjoy flying your kite.