What Does 20 Sticks + 42 Cohune Leaves Equal?

One “Tutzil Nah,” or in English, a Thatched House!

Yes, ladies and gentleman, after only a week of chopping trees and gigantic leaves with a machete, digging holes, and tying them together with lengths of bark, I now have a place to hang a hammock and cool off when the sun gets too hot. Seeing as how my zinc roof turns the concrete house into a sauna when it gets really hot and since the sweltering months of dry season are just around the corner, this was completely necessary.

Don’t worry…I had help from a few of my friends in the village, who are all well versed in the art of “bush” construction. My landlord, Veranus, and I did most of the work throughout the week- collecting the parts and putting the frame together. Then on Saturday morning, Ricardo (my neighbor), Fausto (my host brother), and Mallory (my fellow PCV) came to help us put up the cohune leaves. By 10 AM, I had tied the last piece of Mak’ a pal (this is the tree bark we used to tie everything together), and my Hut / Palapa / Man-bunker / Jungle-den (whatever you want to call it) was finished.

Traditionally, the owner of the house will serve caldo (Mayan soup, for those who need a reminder) to the helpers. Thus, I made my own version of “gringo” caldo (aka Grandma Agi’s Chicken Noodle Soup) and served it to the crew. Although the villagers are often skeptical of new foods, I think they enjoyed the soup. Now all that’s left to do is hang a few hammocks- one for me and one for a friend. However, if anyone feels like mailing me a plasma TV, some surround sound speakers, or a neon Budweiser sign, I’d be happy to make use of them too.

Check out the rest of the pictures..

Collecting trees and such.

Veranus, the expert, tying the following knot...

The knot.

Me, ghost-riding the frame.

Now, posing on top of the finished frame.

Putting up the first few leaves, early Saturday morning.

Team Gringo Thatch getting ready to put up the other half of the roof.

Ricardo, Veranus, and I after tying the last leaf.

The finished product, a view from the inside.

Proud of all our (mostly his) hard work.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Happy 2011 Err’body.

-DL

P.S. - Jayyyyyy Eeeeeeeeee Teeeeeeeee esssssssS….JETS! JETS! JETS! Let’s do this gang green…