Mighty Rio San Juan

Trip Start Aug 15, 2007
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Trip End Aug 31, 2008


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Flag of Nicaragua  ,
Wednesday, September 12, 2007

After a night in San Carlos we hopped on a collectivo boat, rickety contraptions that somehow transport 50-60 people plus goods down the mighty Rio San Juan, to Sabalos and the Sabalos Lodge.

For four days we enjoyed this jungle lodge on the banks of the San Juan, a river rich in history containing Spanish and pirate conquests as well as Mark Twains tour in the late 1800s. Our pleasant host, Yaro, was extremely knowledgeable and an interesting fellow in his own right. A veterinarian by education, turned Sandinista after the murder of his father, he was part of the Marxist revolution in the 70s to overthrow the Somoza government. For the next 11 years, under Sandinista control, he oversaw the entire Rio San Juan region (so we made every effort to stay on his good side).

We spent most of our days in hammocks, doing a little kayaking and visiting El Castillo.

After a brilliant time on the Rio San Juan we are traveling back up river into the lake, to the Solentiname islands. This time in company: Vicky and Lochlan, the entertaining, scrabble-playing, rum-drinking Irish (not meant to be redundant : ) couple.

 
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