September 27, 2012
-
Start of Shrimp Season!
Shrimp fishing season officially opened 
last 
Wednesday, Sept 19- big news for Boca del 
Rio! Everyone waits for shrimp season like Christmas, because it is the couple weeks when they earn the majority of their income for the whole year. What a change in the village! So many cars and boats pulled in last 
week to join the fishing that the town
doubled in size. And everyone is busy (in the usually lazy village!)- getting up before 5am so the women can prepare the meals for the men and get the men out to sea super early with all of their equipment in 
good condition. 
Starting around 3pm, the boats start 
returning to the docks on the river. The 
whole village waits out at the river to receive them to sort and de-head the shrimp, clean equipment, and see how much each fishermen catches. It feels like a town festival- the kids run around playing in the 
water, the women talk with neighbors as they help sort through the catch, and the men stand around the weigh-station to see how much each fishermen brings in. Most are joyful knowing that they are bringing money and sustenance home to their families.Paco and I went out to the river the first afternoon to experience shrimp season with the rest of the village. All the fishermen and families were very proud to pose with their catch for pictures and tell us about their adventures that day on the sea. And multiple church families lovingly shared some of their catch with us
. What a new experience!
