Profile of a Nica (Evan)
Trip Start
Aug 06, 2009
1
5
26
Trip End
Ongoing
Balgue,
Rivas,
Nicaragua
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sophie and I flirted with the idea of climbing Volcan Maderas unassisted, but conceded to taking a guide after hearing horror sotries about tourists getting lost and losing their lives. Marvin was our guia (guide) for $15. He boasted 1500 trips - each an 8 hour trek up Volcan Maderas. And even though he was a smoker - "I dont drink," he insisted. We discovered later his only exception to this: a liter of Toņa, the popular Nica brew, to loosen up for karaoke night. Any doubts were laid to rest when the 5 ft tall man threw me over his shoulder and jokingly, yet confidently, proceeded down the steep, rocky and muddy path during our descent.
Beach. Trash. Horse?
He was patient with my limited spanish and loved to talk. I liked him immediately. The hike was filled with slow conversations aided with many hand gestures. Sophie was also patient since it took a long time to have anything of substance to translate for her. We never technically fell (our butts didn't touch the ground), but you would not have guessed it...we took half the trail with us on our clothes.
But Marvin was always there for us...I mean to laugh at us. Marvin's sense of humor was always present...most notably when he explained how he and his "corazon" kept their romance alive. He deliberately flirts with other women and she calls him ugly. He explained it brought fuego (fire) to their relationship. Ah, true love.
Even though the main vantage points of the hike were obscured by the cloud we were hiking in, Marvin took the time to explain in detail what we would be seeing, had it been clear. Thanks for going above and beyond Marvin, our amigo!
