Hotel Austria Leon

... to be more small pieces and less rock-hard chunks, so walking up volcanic ash is similar to walking up sand -- two steps forward, one step back.

A while back, someone around here decided to take advantage of this slippery feature, and start investigating ways to just slide down. After much experimentation, they settled on the sport of volcano boarding. With a specially designed board, similar to a sled or a ...

... first night Al and I met Greg, a guy from New York travelling through Nicaragua for a few weeks. He was watching the Red Sox v Yankees baseball game and offered to teach us the rules and how the game goes. We really enjoyed it although sitting here now I wouldnt be able to tell you the rules, but the next thing we knew it was pushing 9.30 pm and we hadnt eaten yet! Greg was pleased the Yankees beat the Red Sox and we went off to forgage for food. We met up with Jules ...

... There were dancers and 'firework' bulls. The bulls made of fireworks were shooting firecrackers into the crowd. We had a great vantage point. After awhile we went down into the party and saw it all first hand. then they lit up a board with firecrackers that said "Long Live the Virgin, Coca-Cola!" The festival was to honor the Virgin because around 50 years ago the volcano was getting ready to blow and a love priest went to the top and prayed to ...

... crema on top this is one of my favorite Central American dishes and it will be missed as I move on to countries with less creative foods (Argentina). A plantain smuggling business would be a gold mine to get these superior ones to the states but if caught by the authorities (DEA) they would probably think the plantains were filled with blow so maybe I should rethink this plan.
Next up is a quick stop in Granada and then Isla Ometepe.

... luggage rack, blood absolutely ******* out of my head all over my face and singlet. Turns out half the bus ended up giving me first aid, giving hankies, water to wash with, looking at the wound, pain killers. Cheered me up no end after the rubbish from earlier in the morning and restored my faith in the world.
I arrive in Granada late in the evening and find a hostel, I go for a wander around town to get some dinner and can already tell im going to love Granada, its absolutely beautiful!

... 8217;t believe that not one person in the entire community (which wasn’t that large, but still)… no one had a ball! That was really sad.

We then went back to see how the doctor was doing, and she was taking her lunch break so I decided to play with the kids… our driver had brought a Frisbee so we played with that… that was fun. I also swung on the swings and talked to a group of about 8-10 year old boys who were amazed by ...

... worst thunder/lightening/rain storm I have ever been in. and when I say in – I mean on the back of this huge metal truck being pelted with rain drops and with lightning and thunder literally right above us. It was honestly the dumbest thing I have ever done. I got to the point that I could do nothing but laugh because I had absolutely zero control over anything. I was just holding on to the rail and my classmates who were holding on to each other for dear lives! It ...

... we need him. It was a great message – and the bible verse of the day was “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil. 4:13 (Steve…I know this is your favorite verse so it made me think of you =))

Well, I just tried using my phone card from a phone here – but of course the access card for Nicaragua is not on the card, and I have to visit their website to get it… which is awful hard without internet. So.. I tried to contact ...

... and Cookie and off to Northern Nicaragua with Dr. Val again.
It's about 2.5 hours to get there and we head through Leon and
Chinendega. Once again, great ride with Dr. Val. We make it to Hotel
Chancletas at 2pm. This area of Northern Nicaragua is very remote and
not for the faint at heart. I check in at the hotel and wait for my
El Viejo, Chinandega, Nicaragua scott_beebe

... no
worries, low stress, good people, good drinks, good surf, and all in a
tropical paradise!
So 2pm comes around and I have my appointment
with the real estate agent. Mauricio comes and picks me up and she
shows me lots of properties in Poneloya and a couple strike my eye so
I'm going to think about buying one, we'll see. Mauricio takes me to
his house ad I meet his family. Very nice people ...