The Motorcycle Diaries

Guevara's health improves somewhat. Guevara and Granado visit the leper colony, which houses 600 patients in "typical jungle huts" (121). The colony is like a village, with its own judge, its own policeman, and a "rhythm and style of its own" (121). They accompany Dr. Bresciani on his rounds as he compiles data for a study of nervous leprosy, the variety of the disease prevalent in the region.

One part of the colony houses approximately seventy healthy people. Guevara notes that it lacks crucial resources, such as electricity, a refrigerator, a laboratory, a microscope, a microtome, a technician and a surgeon. He also observes that there are very few blind people in the colony. Granado spends some time performing bacilloscopes, while Guevara devotes his time to the leper colony.

In their spare time, the men fish, swim, play football, and play chess with Dr. Bresciani, or chat with him and the dentist, Dr. Alfaro.

Guevara celebrates his 24th birthday in a cheery mood: "I, just a lad, turned 24, on the cusp of that transcendental quarter century, silver wedding of a life, which, all things considered, has not treated me so badly" (122). He fishes, plays football, and then enjoys a big meal at Dr.