Sarita's Wellness Journey...PURA VIDA!!: CR #10

We were in the bus a total of 12 hours before we got ot our final destination….HOWEVER – the worst part of the journey TO Nicaragua was the border (la frontera) between CR and Nic. – have mercy – worse dan any government / immigration line in JA…for 2 (TWO) @#$%^&*()_ HOURS we stood in line outside a ole bruk building to get entry….then we had 4 more checkpoints in the road with police with big guns…one man was in the building stamping our passports – ONE MAN and the line is wrapping around the building…there are men with huge wads of money walking around if u need to change out – but we are warned dem will short change u so better to wait….let me tell u – we were steaming…hot wid heat, impatience and WHY DIDN’T ANY BODY WARN US!!! Anyway –we get over it and drive 2 more hours before we arrive at our hostel…I never knew we were staying in a hostel..di guide tell me – oh we staying in a nice villa which sleeps 10 YA YAYAYAYA….

Being checked at the border

Oh and when u finally drive across the border – they spray ur car with some sort of fumes – I don’t even know what (to get rid of any germs we may be bringing)– like a cleansing (set up like a car wash) b4 u enter dem country…very odd!!

First impression driving thru - I like what I see A LOT –

very quaint..yes – see the poverty – but lots of old buildings and character…may remind u of an old European town..cute…I love their doors…not like Heredia with nuff grill and bab wire…oversized and colorful front doors with ‘deep’ houses….love the colors…bold / bright.

Now folks – by NO MEANS am I high maintenance…I can rough it like any soldja right…I do have issue with sharing intimate quarters with strangers however….so we arrive and the first sign at the hotel I see is one warning of water and light lock offs – and a WELCOME TO THE 3^rd WORLD at the end…ATL – u wouldn’t have been happy AT ALL!!! (LOL)

DI BEST SIGN!!!

Di ‘villa’ is a converted house that sleeps like a dorm set up…10 bunk beds in one room…I never did the college campus thing or back packed thru Europe – so this is new to rita…OH BOY!!

I choose my bunk bed – bottom bunk…was closest to the door and a fan beside it…they have beautiful wooden lockers for ur tings…we off load and cause it so late and we hungry – we rush out to eat…no restaurant is open at 10:30p so the guide tell us he knows of a spot….MEMBA MI TELL U – jerry (guide) heard some CHOICE words when he rolled us into ON THE RUN for our dinner….(yes – on the run – as in ur local gas station mart) – well - when hunga a bite u and di option dem is 0…. I have to wait because they obviously serve locals first…hmmm – by pass u without a thought…we not the only ones with C/S (customer service) issues – anyway I box off a chiken sandwich and the younguns say they want to go out…I need a drink after 12 hours in di damn bus so I head out…

YEP! this was dinner...ON THE RUN gas station

My bunk in hostel...

Now the mix this trip is – about younguns 6 people (between 18-24), me and the rest are 45 +….interesting mix and very interesting conversations and perspectives…WISDOM and EXPERIENCE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING eh????....

Outing at a local hang out spot

We get to a hot likle spot with a live band…the locals clearly love this place – we observe the dancing and get some drinks….they start to play a likkle token reaggae and the crowd is excited…sean paul, beanie man and buju
belt out some tunes…I have noticed that the men aren’t aware of WHAT reggae dances men must not do….get a good laugh and head home early…jump in the communal shower, slippers and all at about 1am – when no one is around…there are 2 showers to share – one is fairly wide open (cant take much with u) and one is an enclosed bath…first nite I have to use the open one…see me juggling all mi toiletries and nightie ….FUN!! quite the experience…

amazing crater!

Next morning we head out for a tour – eat some yucky breakfast and got the masayan volcano….jerry never told rita to bring hiking shoes or sneakers – I brought flip flops and light nonhiking shoes…anyway – NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HIKE AND SEE A CAVE in slippers…di trail dem come een like Mountain Spring…my feet weren’t my own when I done. But what a great national park – beautiful craters…about 5 in there and caves…basic but educational and quite a leg work out…learn more bout di history of volcano and caves and bats and BLAH BLAH BALHhhh…the volcano actually remnds me of the movie apocolypto (which I watched in spanisH)…J - mouth of hell they called the volcano and sacrificed maidens and children back in the day..

Bats in the cave...

We leave there and head for lunch…then we get to visit the local market…lots of goodies are purchased cause DEM CHEAP AS HELL!!!

Hiking to caves

Dinner that nite was at a Mexican restaurant – wait time is 1hour…OH JOY!! Not in mood to party – the young folks go (HAHHA! LOL) – I head to bed for a good nite’s rest…

The hostel is comfy with a pool, lots of hammocks etc…cosy spot to chill in….IN am – we head to a boat tour on the Granada lake…there are 365 small islands that were formed from the eruption of a near by volcano – some folks have gorgeous holiday homes there…we get to faaass in one – really pretty…

VERY friendly monkey came on our boat

Highlight of that was a monkey boarding our boat and hugging up some of our passengers – NOT ME THANK GOD! He cute and ting - touched me ever so gently– but di hug up ting – I wasn’t really feeling it…

We eat and then head out to do a city tour – dem put us on some horse drawn carriages which I feel guilty to ride on because di horse dem need some HAY & a burger BADLY – mawga so tilll! Pobrecitos! Of course they are not treated right either but are expected to perform…cho!

Entry to hostel

We learn some tings and get to explore tha city a likkle…I really like Nicaragua and am glad I came….they are one of the poorest countries yes but the people are very warm.

That nite we eat at un restaruante de espana – la comida es muy rica… we have some VERY interesting conversations and are serenaded by a local singer…

We make our way back on Monday – same drama at border but looking forward to getting home…made some good connections with the students - great bunch of folks.

BATA a Nicaragua !!!

We say our goodbyes and plan a reunion…of course – IN JA!! J

Most interesting question I received: “so where did u learn to speak english?”…..uhhhh ????– I respond as nicely as I can – ‘actually, we speak english in JA’…embarrassed – the person apologizes for not having a clue about our little island….i invite her to visit and learn! J

I also realize I don’t have much tolerance for folks that dont bathe often or don’t smell good….i know it’s not nice – but how can u be in the sun hot and dusty place and don’t bathe??? And den wear di same clothes 3 days in a row den change up and DON’T BATHE???? Jus nasty if u ask me….green arm in a bus – tenk goodness I had a window seat! J

Side note -

pool at our hostel

There is a very interesting documentary on JA that I managed to catch – never heard of it before….Life & Debt (talks about JA in the 70’s / 80’s) – quite interesting…

Recommended read – “Measure of a Man” – Autobiography by Sidney Poitier…very interesting life journey!

I have had my fill of bus rides!

what more could i want? a cervesa &
a hammock -PEACE!

I am so grateful I was not robbed or didn’t get sick there….lots of students were targeted in heredia and I am happy my angels protected me! A swiss girl that was in Nicaragua with us – she was listening to her ipod in the central park in heredia and it was snatched right out of her hand…she attempts to run di yute down and leaves her bag (with her digital camera in there) on the bench – and that too is stolen…I felt so bad for her – but they do watch u to see what u have…I made sure never to take out my gadgets in public…anyway - she had travel insurance so they will be replaced…not her pictures of course but – betta dan nothing… pobrecita!