Vakay

WoW! I have not been able to stop, drop and collect my thoughts for about two weeks now. It´s crazy how time flies when you are BUSY and ENJOYING your day to day life. Things in Esteli are still difficult but they are finally getting better and I am happy- with all the previous bumps in the road, this in itself feels like an accomplishment.

This week all the children attending school received a week of holidays, and as Los Pipitos tries to resemble any other school in Esteli, they two had the holiday meaning some serious travel time for me! As I think about it now I should have known that this little vacation wouldn´t necessarily revolve around the beach and multiple cervezas because apparently my ´vacation´is a little different that what my travel buddies call a vakay, and so the adventure begins. This week the crew consisted of Sara, a BB alumni, Austin a new arrival from Canada, Siobhan, Marissa and yours truly. To tell you this trip was nothing but a laugh from beginning to end would be nothing short of the complete trip.

Our adventure to Granada and Ometepe started with us missing the express bus to Managua on Sunday resulting in an EXTRA long bus ride to the capital. Thank god for gravol. After a hot cramped three hour bus ride to Managua we had a second bus waiting for us which would take us to Granada, and that bus too was HOT, CRAMPED and had a very interesting group of passengers. One family had their pet bird out for a walk, while one disoriented man boarded bleeding from various places on his face. There were tourists, people protecting birthday cakes, four to a seat and my favourite -periodically men and women would board the bus with the soul intention of selling goods, and a variety of goods they were. Anything from ´cold´ water to watches to mystery meat dishes- just in case you got the urge to munch.

Granada- six hours, 2 buses and 1 taxi later proved to be worth it. Cathedrals, restaurants and shops all over the town were painted bright colors. We had a romantic carriage ride, all five of us that is and we received a great history lesson and the crazy William walker and all to do with Granada.I spent a fair chunk of change in Central Park because all the local artists were out displaying their works, and really who am I to say know to beautiful jewellery..
While in Granada fate jumped in and handed us two more travel buddies. Juan and Justin, both Canadians and oddly enough friends with BB alum Sara. We ate dinner at the Bearded Monkey which has a reputation for delicious burritos. They may not be tacos at Ethel's but they were nothing short of heaven.

The next morning like ALL mornings on our ´vacation´ began before I thought it was humanly possible. The trek to Ometepe was one requiring an over dosage of gravol, 2 buses, a taxi, one ´ferry´ and a whole lot of Nicaraguan booty in the face- My favourite. Ometepe is a beautiful Island surrounded by two very intimidating volcanoes, fresh water sharks and it´s fair share of beautiful beaches. The sun here is Nicaragua proved to be a strong little buggers and burnt my butt to crisp in a matter of minutes even WITH the SPF. You´d think my butt has gone through enough with the whole adjusting to the country and with Cerro Negro taking a chunk out of it but oh NO, the fight is apparently not over yet.

After spending a morning at a beautiful beach on the island we took another series of buses that eventually took us to Media, out final destination. Along the way we met many more travelers and we all stayed at the Hostel Hacienda. This hostel was beautiful! They had great views of both volcanoes, close Monkey Island (yes, where there are monkeys) and with the buy now pay later frame of mind that makes you think your at an all inclusive resort when really.. your not. Goodness gracious the visa came in handy. Multiple hammocks, great swimming, kayaking to monkey island, enchiladas, tonas, Internet and Sun- now this is the vacation I pictured! My travel companions who do not know what RELAXATION is and who rest little had the fantastic idea to climb of the two HUGE volcanoes on the island. After the terror of Cerro Negro I made a deal between my head and my body that I would NEVER do that to myself again ever ever ever again, so i climbed a waterfall instead and the view was spectacular and I didn´t have to die to get it, thank goodness!

The trip to Granada and Ometepe was a fabulous break! We met fantastic people, ate delicious food and saw some beautiful sights but I am happy to be back home in Esteli. It´s crazy to think I only have three weeks left here and the one week to travel and then ladies and gents I will be home!