Hausbau in Kolumbien Teil 2

Bananatree – Epic Journey 2016-2018 Part V

Have you missed the post „Building a House in Colombia Part 1"? Here you find it.

Back on the construction site

We are entering the final phase. We have about six weeks left until we leave in mid-June to head back to the States. There is still work to be done so that we can leave the house ready to rent out.

Since our return from Central America at the end of March, the appearance of our cottage has changed a lot.

The roof is rainproof, the upper floor Seraina and I finished with wooden boards, while David and his helper cemented the lower floor. We built a rustic staircase, bed, and other furniture.

Since the road in front of our entrance always turned into a mud pond during heavy rains, we piled it up and consolidated it with gravel and sand. Something also had to be done inside against all the rain puddles.

We decided to throw a bunch of sand everywhere to raise the soil a bit and make it drier. So right now there is a lot of sand lying around waiting to be spread.

Also, we're working on a wooden railing upstairs, which takes quite a bit of time and - let's just say - will match the rustic staircase.

Tomorrow we plan to start with the bedroom that we want to build on the lower floor behind the kitchen out of wood and bamboo. The week after next, the clay oven is on the schedule, later the bathroom wall, then the wiring of lights and sockets.

We work on the garden almost every day, although it does nearly everything on its own. What plants grow here! Without our intervention, we always have thick banana bushes. The mangos are still green, but more and more fall from the trees. Besides avocados, we put pineapple, papaya, guanabana, limes, arboles de pan, and more plants and herbs. Thanks to all the water that fell from the sky the last few weeks, everything is shining green and thriving.

Most of the time we are still working as a team of two, only sometimes we need David's advice and help with certain things. We have been able to acquire a lot of knowledge, made acquaintances, learned to throw our innate Swiss sense of punctuality overboard, and be patient.

When someone says, "Yes, I can do that." Then it means, "Let's see what I can do." Or, "Yes, tomorrow night the wood will be here" can mean, "if not this week, maybe the next." Or then, "Can you lend me 20,000?" means something like, "Thanks for the money, can I work it off?"

We talk like that almost every day here. By now we know pretty well where we can get what at how much. It pays to ask at many different places because prices vary a lot. Well, what is very? In Swiss francs not very. But it depends on the amount, then it makes a difference.

We can also count on the support of friends who have made their experiences with construction projects in Palomino. We are glad about this exchange. We could avoid many mistakes and save quite a bit of money.

Every morning at 6.30 we wake up. We don't need an alarm clock, the daylight and the waking neighborhood are enough. After a few Taiji exercises, coffee, and fruit muesli, we start working on whatever is at hand.

The days pass quickly. Immediately it is lunchtime; either we cook something ourselves if there is nothing left from the last dinner, or we quickly go to a corner restaurant, where a strengthening soup, coconut rice, and fried fish or meat is waiting for us.

At noon it is usually too hot. Until about 2 o'clock we allow ourselves a siesta in the hammock or just do some simple work. And then it's already 6 p.m., the sun goes down and we relax with thoughts about the next day in our heads. Day after day, week after week. It certainly doesn't get boring here.

Only on Sundays do we (usually) take a break and take some time for hiking in the mountains, swimming in the river or sea, working on the computer, or reading a book in the hammock.

Oh yes, that sounds good. I think I have written enough. Time to seek the horizontal 🙂

The clay oven

Nachdem das Gestell steht, lehmen wir die Basis des Ofens — After the frame is in place, we form the base of the oven

Der Boden ist trocken, der Sand aufgehäuft. — The base is dry, the sand piled up.

Mit Zeitungspapier wir der Sandhaufen vom Lehm getrennt. — The pile of sand is separated from the clay with newspaper.

Zusammen Lehm stampfen macht viel mehr Spass! — Stomping clay together is much more fun!

Auch die Hunde geniessen die Arbeit — The dogs also enjoy the work

Schicht für Schicht wird gelehmt — Layer by layer we form the oven

Jetzt eine Woche trocknen lassen. — Now let it dry for a week.

Der Sand kommt gut raus. — The sand comes out well.

Eine 2. Kammer kommt obendrauf für die Hitzespeicherung — A 2nd chamber is added on top for heat conservation

Seraina gibt dem Lehmofen den letzten Schliff. — Seraina puts the finishing touches on the clay oven.

Der Ofen macht das Ambiente nicht nur gemütlich... — The oven makes the ambience not only cozy...

... sondern produziert auch die besten Pizzen in Palomino! — ... but also produces the best pizzas in Palomino!

Then it is accomplished

We are done. We are now proud homeowners in the Colombian Caribbean.

It remains to write the description for the Airbnb listing, take some good photos, and brief Karina and Alejo. Because from now on they will take over the management of

BANANATREE in the Mango Village.

We are incredibly happy about what we have achieved here in such a short time.

And at the same time, we are excited to be traveling once again after the successful completion of our work. In California, our van is waiting for us. And who can say what adventures!

Making of Bananatree

It took a while, but finally, after 5 years, the movie is ready. Have fun with the Making of Bananatree 🙂

Epic Journey 2016-18

Back to Part IV:

Epic Journey 2016-18

Forward to Part VI:

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4 Comments

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April 6, 2022 at 11:24 am

Unbekanntes El Salvador - Auszeit von Palomino, Kolumbien
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April 15, 2022 at 9:24 am

USA-Roadtrip Kalifornien bis Washington - Im Van quer durch die Staaten
zula

April 30, 2022 at 1:52 pm Reply

Was für ein schönes Haus in dieser Umgebung! Ich wurde vor vier Jahren durch ein gratis Inserat auf ein Projekt in Kolumbien aufmerksam, wo freiwillige für den Bau einer Schule gesucht wurden. Es war mein prägenstes Erlebnis in meinem Leben. DIe Schule wurde mit sehr wenig finanziellen Mittel innerhalb eines hablen jahres errichtet und bietet für 80 Schüler platz.
- Simon
  
  April 30, 2022 at 4:17 pm Reply
  
  Hola Zula, vielen Dank! Wo in Kolumbien wurde denn diese Schule gebaut?
  Auch unser Häuschen ist mittlerweile eine Art Schule. Es bietet Raum für die Dorfkinder von Palomino, wo sie lernen und spielen können. Eine schöne Sache. Wir werden bald mehr dazu veröffentlichen.

Building a House in Colombia Part 2

Bananatree – Epic Journey 2016-2018 Part V

Back on the construction site

The clay oven

Then it is accomplished

Making of Bananatree

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zula

Simon

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Bananatree – Epic Journey 2016-2018 Part V

Back on the construction site

The clay oven

Then it is accomplished

Making of Bananatree

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zula

Simon

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