Building site with gravel, sand + cement mixer

The gap where Don Gerardo is stood (blue shirt) is the back door from the kitchen. To the right is the sand and gravel (or is this what they call hardcore?) brought on the first day. They both go into the cement mixer to make the cement. I will find out more about how this works... sometimes the cement they mix is very liquid for pooring and other times it is thicker for laying the blocks.



The big barrels by the cement mixer are full of water so that the team always have water to mix the cement - it is important not to run out because that would delay the construction process. The risk of water shortage in Costa Rica in the dry season is not high but can happen, even with the public water supply. Our supply is from a river on the property and since river levels drop in the summer we know there is risk that the amount of water we have will be limited. It's a long story.