There seems to be distinct demarcations in the process of constructing a major drain. Digging a massive trench down the middle of the road could be seen as a starting point. With the use of large wooden panels the sides and base of the drain are set in place and the concrete is poured.
The concrete mixer always seems to be two or three blocks away and thus the wheelbarrow comes into play.
While all this is taking place there are gangs of men right below our bedroom window creating the steel reinforced sections to be placed in the drain cover.
These sections are quite substantial and are all constructed by hand!
First a template is set up on long wooden benches and then the steel rods are bent into the required shape by the use of a long steel water pipe and pure human strength! Slide the pipe over the end of the rod and then bend it, simple. When they are all wired together two men carry each one up the hill for the next stage of construction.
Boxing up the drain cover using curved panels of heavy duty plywood.
It is also necessary to insert lengths of timber into the cover before pouring the concrete, this will allow the water to drain away when all is completed.
A big union meeting or simply a crowd of very anxious men waiting to be employed for the day.
Yesterday afternoon this corner and street outside Hotel Tres Mascaras was a total flood scene. The entire width of the road was under water, I know because I completely filled my shoes when I eventually made up my mind to cross over regardless of the cost!
The water racing down the unmade drain and over the road was as close to a waterfall as you could imagine. I could even hear the cascade as I trudged up the hill for one more time!
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