May 22, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Off the island today. Sad good bye to family...they Took great care of us. They said they are now our Nicaragua family and that we must visit when back in Ometepe. Nice!

Caught the ferry, then a short taxi ride and into a chicken bus. Really an old school bus used for public bus.?.most are painted and decorated bu this one must be new to country try...still yellow. Called chicken bus as you could end up with anything on the seat beside you, including chickens. Lots of sellers on the bus, jumping off as the bus pulls out of the yard!

Arrive in San Juan del Sur rather quickly, not even an hour, get checked in and off to wander around the city. This is a beach town. Stopped at the local take away drink place and headed for beach. We ended up watching some games of beach Volleyball. Nice way to go. Drink was good too but there was a lot of alcohol in it.

Dinner and to bed. I was supposed to share with another guy but he is here with his wife and granddaughter. They been getting rooms with 3 beds, so I have been on my own until tonight.


May 21 , Ometepe Island, Nicaragua

Today 3 of us hike to 1000 m on Conception volcano. This Took about 3 hours. The last part also takes about 3 hours. It would have been great to go to the top but a 12 hour hiking day was just too much. I got a bit worried when we met a guy going down...he was only about 30 minutes ahead of us.... tough going but great. The guide was super but we only saw lots of horned beetles and not much else.

This volcano is active and the top is usually covered in clouds.....therefore a cloud forest.. 12 hours hiking in 1 day is just too much.

It was very hot and humid. Views from the top were great and very interesting standing and feeling the clouds blow through. We were on the edge.

After that off to lunch. After seeing a magpie jay in the forest the restaurant had several in the trees, hanging around for food.

Then to the Ojo de Agua.....Eye of the Water. This is where 2 underground springs meet and flow above ground. Very nice! It is famous for Coco Locos...a rum drink served in a coconut with the coco nut water...very healthy! The was was great and surprisingly cool.

Then to a pot lunch supper with the others and the host families. A couple of the girls even de,demonstrated some local dances...another super and busy day!




May 20, Ometepe Island, Nicaragua

Back in the van to travel to Ometepe Island island. It is 3 hours by van and then 1 1/2 hour ferry ride. The island is on Lake Nicaragua and has 2 volcanos, one active, the other not. We arrive mid afternoon and we are then split up to go with host families. I am rooming with a guy from Edmonton. It turned out I think we had the best family! Between the two us and our limited Spanish, we met the father, the wife and the 13 year old daughter and 8 year old son, as well as the sister.

They all live on their grandfathers hectare farm. Couple of cows, chickens, melons, corn, rice, papaya, oranges, mangoes...amnd several other things. Very interesting. I was not sure how it would go, but it went great and we ended up talking until about 10.30. First to the mother. She talked a blue streak! I only caught part of it, but the other guys thought I was getting it all....amazing what a smile and a nod

once in a while will do. Of course the odd question for clarification! Then it was the fathers turn. He talked a lot as well.

Later the daughter started. She practiced a bit of English but then switched to Spanish. We ended up see most of her school books, English included. The son was a bit shy. But he is the ball and soccer player. It turned out to be a great night. Our room had an outside door with private bathroom. The kitchen and dining area was outside as well...but underSpanish


May 19, Leon, Nicaragua

Today 4 of us off to Cerro Negro, an active volcano for Volcano boarding!
After a nice 45 minutes drive in country we arrive at base of volcano. We get fitted out with coveralls, gloves and goggles and of course a board!

We hike about 1 hour up the side of the volcano. The view is amazing. We arrive at the top given some instructions on how to control speed...and he says go slow!

We slide down on the board...a lot of fun...dirty but fun. It is about a 3 or 4 minutes ride down. At the bottom we are covered in black volcanic dust and ready to do again but we only allowed for 1 time. Oh well.

A quick dip in pool to clean up, hamburger from street stall outside and then off to hike for 1 hour to ridge of Telica volcano to watch the sunset.

This volcano is active and is constantly kicking out steam. It threw out rocks this past December! It got cloudy so not much of a sunset but once it got dark you could see spots of lava flowing in the bottom of the crater.

We all laughed as there was a danger sign at bottom warning about the active volcano, but you could stand on the very edge of the volcano, and there was a guy selling beer. A 1 hour hike down in the dark and back to hotel. Nicaragua is called the country of lakes and volcanoes! Great place.


May 18, Leon, Nicaragua

Off to Leon by private van. Very nice, and only about 4 hours.

A short tour around the city, lunch and then a tour of the Flor de Cana rum factory. A huge place for the most popular and common rum. Interesting as it is family owned. The family also owns the largest beer factory as well as an island on Lake Nicaragua. I bought a bottle of 7 year old.

Interesting as they use white oak barrels they buy from Jack Daniels after they have used for one year.

Great as the business also grows the sugar cane they use to make the rum.