Thursday 16th - Saturday 18th October

On Thursday we set off for Martinez de la Toro in Veracruz State, a field station for UNAM (the Autonomous National University of Mexico) vet school and home to the Veracruz sub-project. We go with Mariano, the vet in charge of the Veracruz sub-project, and Avril, Elena and Josue from the Education programme. Later we are joined by Horacio, Mexico Project Manager, and Luis, his driver and logistician. From Mexico City to Martinez de la Torre is a 5-6 hour drive.

A big day is planned for Friday - a combined Veterinary Clinic and Education day at Laguna de Farfan. The name means ‘the lagoon of Farfan’ but it is a village in the mountains. Unfortunately at 02.00 hrs on Friday morning, we are all woken by incredible rain, which continues through the night and the following morning. Mariano receives a telephone call from the village to tell us not to come - the place is awash. Instead Mariano shows us around the immediate area, taking us to visit leather embroidery workshops in the village of Emilio Carranza. We stop briefly at lunch time and find ourselves sitting with a land owner from the Laguna de Farfan area. He tells us the place is indeed like a small lagoon today. He also pays for our food as a thank you for providing assistance to the poor people in his area.

On the Saturday we return to Mexico City via Tecali, a centre of onyx and marble carving.