Hotel Los Arcos Nicaragua

Isla De Ometepe was formed by two volcanoes which stand side by side in one of the biggest lakes in Central America, Lago De Nicaragua. The first, Volcan Ascension, is still active and has rumbled as recently as last year, whereas the other slightly smaller volcano named Maderas is now non active. Our initial intentions were to go and climb the mighty beast, but when we arrived we were drawn into a whole different world.

The boat ride over was a ...

Returned to town, this time to the other hotel. Was sure I had picked up bed bugs at the Castillo plus the rooms are much worse there.

It's fiesta time, the town patron San Diego's bash so there are processions & local ant dances, though not today! However it was the anniversary of the school so the kids got dressed up & paraded the streets which was fun.

The prime draw for me was the bull run - had hoped it would be a ...

Wanted to see the attractions of the most famous playa on the island - overrated! Only people in the water were families fishing with their net curtains/mossie nets - the women & girls hold it open while the boys splash from shore chasing the fish into the nets! The men are off drinking beer, lying in the hammock or playing footie I presume!

Still, lovely breezes on this side of the island so even the ...

Off to the other side of the island to see the petroglyphs at El Porvenir - definitely felt more than 600m up the driveway!

Headed off the check out a couple of places for lunch - first the organic finca to get some bread/other lunch ingredients but already sold out. Glad I didn't stay as very unfriendly hippy snobs - seem to look down their noses at anyone without dreads, tats, piercings, holey clothes & dirt!

Went to an apparently lakeside Gringo run place ...

Crammed ourselves (me & the Dutch couple from my hostel in Granada) into the daily microbus to San Ramon to get to Hacienda Merida. Cheapest rooms $23 + tax so had to go into dorm & wait > 2 hours for it to be cleaned.

Couldn't sit waiting any longer so took a mountain bike to "town" (2 shops & a school) to check out another hostel closer to the croc infested river in order to get a shorter kayak trip. $20 a head sounded too steep to see the same ...

... courtyards that every house seems to possess. That’s my favorite part of the city I think, the indoor/outdoor living. Most houses, and hotels and guesthouses, contain a private outdoor courtyard that the rest of the house (or guesthouse) is centered around. Instead of front and back yards, each place has their own little yard within the house. The result is a private hideaway feeling that combines nature with everyday living.
We stayed at Hospedaje Valeria, an eight ...

... always used to get to Panama City. We got there around 4:30am. We knew the next bus would leave at 6am. When we got to the counter I asked for a ticket for the 6am bus, the guy told me that there was no more room. Uh-oh. And there would be no room until 12pm. Double uh-oh.

Let me back up slightly and explain that we had not bought our tickets early because we everyone including the directors of our program told us that it wasnt necessary ...

After a killer party in Cafe Nuit last night with the local Rum being consumed at the rate of knots, this morning was a slow start for most so we hopped onto a horse drawn carriage to see the city. Granada is simply stunning much more so than Leon it is probably my favorite city in Central America so far. The colonial architecture has been seriously well maintained so the colours are ...

... 2hours, we could not bribe the officials (possibly the only people in central america that you cannot bribe), paid our fine, and headed into Nicaragua, which may possibly be the best country so far! We passed through a really nice small town of Somoto to get a super cheap beer/lunch combo, and headed to Esteli (which is coffee country). This was not as happening as we thought it would be so we headed down to the travellers capital of Leon. First ...

... hiring the cab and the driver for a period of time. Solo, no company on-board. We have decided not to spend an additional three weeks here. We are going to "Toss the salad", and make a move. We hired a tourist cab company for the ride from Granada to the Agusto Sandino International Airport in Managua. We rode in a SUV, AC, doors all worked, one driver from Columbia who owned the business, called Paxeos. It cost $10 each more, but was worth it. We are on the move. Stay tuned!