Molasses

'Tis the season for gingerbread and so last week we went searching for molasses. We couldn't find any. But, driving home later that day, the smell of molasses was all of a sudden overpowering. Sticking our heads out the window, the kids and I saw 3 guys with a bucket, a bowl, and a hose spraying the road and then flinging a viscous, dark liquid on the road. Yep, it was molasses.

Mucho polvo: A whole lot of dust on the roads

Once the rains end in Nosara, things begin to dry up very quickly and the dirt roads create enormous amounts of dust. Clouds of it hang in the air and cover the trees, the homes, well, everything really. It also creates health problems for many people. The dry season lasts from late November until April or May.

In an attempt to mitigate the effects of the dust, molasses is sprayed on some sections of the road. Which sections depend, of course, on who can afford it to be covered in front of their property, or how much money is raised by whom for some extra coverage. Each barrel of molasses costs just under $100 and two barrels are needed to cover 50 m of road. It works well and will generally last until the first rains. Apparently, the insects are not attracted to the sugar, but cattle have been known to break down fences to get to the road for a good lick.

Nosara now smells of molasses. I think it will make our memories of Christmas in Costa Rica that much sweeter. Also, Rich kindly brought us some fancy molasses from Canada and so we were able to make our traditional gingerbread lanterns in time for a warm, brightly lit solstice today.