Volcano boarding

Trip Start Sep 13, 2006

141

178

Trip End May 08, 2008

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Where I stayed

Big Foot Hostel

(Leon hotels)

Flag of Nicaragua Leon, Nicaragua
Thursday, February 14, 2008

It was an easy trip up to Leon and we found out way to Bigfoot Hostel in the centre of town which turned out to be a pretty cool place. Our first day in Leon we spent around the town centre markets and museums. Leon has an interesting history from the time it was founded right through to the recent civil war. We met some of the guys who had fought in the civil war at the museus and they were full of stories and information.. sometimes they speak to quick for me though.. Also met mothers of the Disappeared.. still waiting to see their son�s after they dissapeared in war 30 years ago.
The Cathedral is the centre point of the city and surrounded by markets and quaint streets. the history of the civil war takes in corrupt governments installed by the U.S and the people who took years to over throw them in a bloddy war.
Nicaragua has a bad name for violence and crime but statistically it is the safest country in central america and the people are lovely
Following day and a little more exploring around Leon it was onto the bigfoot Volcano Boarding tour...lol.

leon sunset

. Volcano boarding is like snow boarding but without the snow and more ash and lava and 35 degree weather than you would get on the ski slopes.
This was great it envolved an hours drive off road to reach the Cerro Negro Volcano.. this volcano last errupted 9 years ago and to look at it is just pure black rock. Anyway it took an hour to climb the fecker.. Carrying an orange jump suit and a sledge.. We were able to take a good look about the crater at the top and watch the steam coming out, it also stinks of sulphur. After a little lesson and safety instuction on how to board.. which pretty much involved hold on for dear life and brake if you want. We hit the mountain slope... its all fine rock and sand with a few boulders thrown in at points for good measure...lol.. So i braced myself into my sledge.. which was a piece of plywood and after hitting a speed of 60kmph it took me about 30 seconds to get to the bottom .. (an hour to climb up)...lol.. no crashes or cuts but i was full of ash and lava dirt head to toe.. loved it. as we stood at the bottom of the volcano admiring the size a few random guerillas ride by on horseback with machine guns.. very random. From there it was a ride back to town admiring sunset and into the free mojitos at the bar. happy days.