Day 10 update: craziness and the police

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  Granada, Nicaragua
Monday, November 26, 2007

Ok, while i was blogging the last update melissa ran to the paxeos office to get details about our upcoming trip to Leon which i'll blog more about later. Melissa went and got the info she was looking for then walked back to the internet cafe. On her way, guess what she saw? Two men and a woman rifling through my bag!!! So she did what anyone would do, right? She went right up to them and grabbed my bag out of their hands. :) Then she went through it, noticed that, of course, my camera was missing and demanded it back. they said they had no idea where it was so she returned with the bag to the cafe. After telling me the story, we went outside and she pointed out the kids to me (in 20's). I pointed them out to the police who proceeded to take them in for questioning. They claim that they found the bag laying on the street. The police didn't believe them, and wanted to arrest them! I declined to press charges though, because i think they were telling the truth. First of all, they didn't have my camera on them. And if they stole it earlier and got rid of the camera, why would they return to the central square and rifle through the rest of the stuff in plain site for all to see?

so anyway, they took my info and told me they would contact me if they found the camera. Even though my camera was gone mel and i agreed that we felt alot better. It provided closure to know that it was stolen, although we are mystified about how someone got it from me without either of us noticing. We are pretty sure it was one of the street kids. One kid walked up and asked for money, distracting us while we think they other took it. The irony is that we've spent a fair amount of time in the poorer neighborhoods and never had anything happen or felt threatened. However, when we went to the gringo street, filled with tourists and american-like restaurants, i got robbed.

While i talked to the police, melissa watched a performance in front of the cultural center where young kids performed all different kinds of plays and music while their friends and family looked on. It was a good reminder that most people are good and wouldn't steal anything.

After that, we went to find a restaurant but the power is out again. The streets are extremely dark creating the fun game of the day: avoid the random holes in the sidewalk that are filled with poluted water and rotting garbage! it's quite a challenge.

Ok, back to the leon trip... After leguna we are going to leon. There are only 3 ways to get there: a taxi, a private paxeo bus (both very expensive) and public buses (extremely cheap). There's really no middle ground. So we are thinking about taking the bus. The problem is that we'll need to take 3 buses: Leguna to Granada, Granada to Managua and Managua to Leon. All are public, over crowded, and un-airconditioned in 90+ degree heat. Hmm... i wonder if we'll wimp out and take a taxi :). In any case, mel has all the details now and trip like that can be as entertaining as anything so we'll see!

later, steve

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