Back to scary Managua
Trip Start
Dec 2007
1
17
30
Trip End
Feb 2008
Managua,
Nicaragua
Thursday, December 27, 2007
We caught the early flight back to Managua. It was another small Cessna Caravan plane with only 4 passengers and again direct to Managua.
Once in Managua, we decided we would not pay the airport taxi price of $20 and would cross the road and catch a normal taxi which would cost us around $5. We hadn't even got to cross the road (a major feat in Nica) when a taxi stopped and we negotiated our price and started to get in backpacks and all. He was telling us urgently to get in as the police were watching and he wasn't allowed to pick us up. It must have been funny to watch us attempt to get our bags and ourselves in the taxi before he raced off.
He was a very scary taxi driver and whilst i love roller coasters etc, i just closed my eyes and tried not to listen to the horns and die from the petrol fumes!
We had decided we would stay at a hotel close the the bus station as we were catching a 5am TICA bus to San Salvador the next day. We duly arrived at the bus station and headed off to the hostel we had picked whilst being followed by all the eyes in the road. The hostel was ok and two of the ladies insisted on telling us that Managua was very dangerous and that we mustn't take any valuable out of the house and that we mustn't go right as it was very dangerous. They even gave us a strip of paper with this written on it.
They also locked the gates and then also had locked gates to their house... but our room was between the sets of gates!
Not hugely inspiring but then Managua is known as a dangerous city. We headed off to the bus depot to book our tickets and our good travel karma persisted and we had tickets for the 5am bus the next day with instructions to be at the terminal at 4am. This was a little disconcerting as although we only needed to walk 100 yards, if it was that dangerous during the day, what would it be like in the dark!
Anyway we caught a cab and headed off to the National Museum which is housed in the National Palace. They provided an english speaking guide and she was fantastic and it really helped us understand the history of Nicaragua and its people. I don't remember her name but if you are ever in the museum, I would ask for the english speaking lady.
We then decided to take a walk to the Malecon (waterfront promenade) but after 100 metres gave it up as a bad idea as it was very rundown and full of rubbish. Lake Managua is very polluted and given the rubbish on the Malecon, I can see how it is.
Back in a cab to our hostel where we had a siesta..... well Justine had a siesta. She is amazing is that she can sleep through anything. There was a group of lads with their drum kits outside our room for 20 minutes, trucks reversing up and down, motorcycles roaring past, a van with a loudspeaker and two ladies gossiping about some people. After 2 hours of not sleeping, I decided to turn the TV on and Justine woke up. She didn't hear any of the above and gave me the ´`you are playing with my head´ look. Later she did hear the drums and couldn't believe she hadn't heard them. We went out to a seafood restaurant for a very nice meal before having an early night.
We survived Managua without being robbed..¨..
