Pool and concrete waterfall on left
Concrete bunk beds in our room
Poolside seats
Lounge area beside the pool
These don't do justice to her artistry.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
On to Managua
Yesterday afternoon we happily hopped into an air conditioned SUV after sweltering in Leon. It was so hot, 97, felt like 120.
After a few calls to our hotel owners we found La Tora Hotel. It was totally cool. The house was right in the middle of Managua, but it was a little oasis. The owner explained that she was transforming her mother's house into something she could live in. She was the Michaelangelo of concrete. Our room had all these stucco compartments and even bunk beds out of concrete. There was a pool in the back with a concrete waterfall and seats, steps. More pics to follow.
Last views of Leon
Another church in the central square
City buses
One of the murals inside La Tortuga Booluda
Last day in Leon
The Cathedral in Leon
Extremely bright white roof
It's painted with Limestone, so we're our feet by the end
Bad family photo in the brightness
Monday, June 27, 2016
Volcano Boarding Pics 2
Standing in front of the caldera in seriously strong "breeze"
T and I prepared to do this. You couldn't see the bottom it was too steep!
One of us coming down the volcano. Totally fun and all of us emerged without injury. T and I wanted to go
More Volcano Boarding Pics
Les, not at all sure about this whole thing
Hiking up the volcano like Buzz Lightyear
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Volcano Boarding
To begin with, we were all a little anxious about this after seeing a girl at our hostel with scratches all over her face and two black eyes from volcano boarding the other day. With some trepidation we climbed into a van and headed off. A mom and son who were in the van already were from Huntsville, Alabama. She didn't know Nina though. Her son was not feeling well, so they didn't go.
We headed into the Volcano Park to the trailhead. We all got jumpsuits goggles, gloves and volcano boards, that looked like a cross between a sled and a snowboard. Then, we hiked up Cerro Negro, the volcano. It was a pretty strenuous hike, but we stopped from time to time. Our guide, Miguel, told us about the volcano's past eruptions. The first was in 1880 or so and the most recent in 1999.
Once we got most of the way up the volcano the wind became really strong. It felt like we might get swept off the ridge, especially with the boards in our hands.
After getting to the top we dropped our boards and walked over to the caldera at the summit. The ground felt warm. If you dug down a bit you could really feel the heat and see steam coming out. Back down with our boards Miguel asked us to suit up. We looked like a cross between Gumby and the Michellin Man, in these huge, heavy green and yellow jumpers. Miguel gave us some tips about What we should and should not do. Poor aunt Les was really wondering why she had said yes when asked to come along on our vacation. All we have done is hiked up and down a bunch of mountains on "trailish" paths since we got here. So Tilghman and Sully were the suckers who went first. The place where you go down is a 40-45' angle but it looked straight down. The boys did great and made it safely to the bottom with no wrecks and the girls followed suit. We all had a fun ride down , it only took a minute, while the hike up was at least an hour. Great day but we are completely cooked.
Dorky Parents preparing to volcano board
The kids do what we say or this thing goes viral with their names tagged
On to Leon
We left our beautiful beach house around 10 and made it to Leon around 3... Long day in the car. We headed through the mountains where the driving rain made it freezing, then across plains that looked like Tucson or West Texas where it heated back up. After a little tour of Leon where we searched for La Tortuga Booluda (the lazy turtle). Our cute little hostal is very nice and welcoming with a pool table and drinks up front. We made a foray into the market and walked around a little bit before dinner amidst some sort of celebration in the city square. Leon is a bit on the wild side, sensory overload for 5 weary travelers. We got a quick bite to eat at a local restaurant called Hong Kong, apparently a Nica name unrelated to China. We came back and crashed early. We are off to the volcano this morning to sled down it. Whoo Hoo!
Friday, June 24, 2016
Monkey Manana
This morning Les spotted some Howler Monkeys passing through the tree canopy just below our deck. There was a log that looked like it was placed right above the roof of another cabana. It made the perfect spot to see the monkeys. We scrambled all over the deck, down by the pool and way down the steps by the road to see probably 30 or 40 monkeys pass by. They were totally unfazed by us. Some climbed 4-5 feet above us eating leaves chilling in the trees and jumping across gaps between trees using their tails to hold on to the branch behind them. They would howl every time a car or truck came by probably because of the rumble of the engine. Totally cool!
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Playa Colorado
(Tilghman)
Today after our normal breakfast (consisting of scrambled eggs, bacon, homemade corn tortillas, Nica cheese and some assorted fresh fruit) we headed off to Playa Colorado which is past Redonda Bay, Playa Gigante and past Playa Amarillo. We walked across rock outcroppings that are not passable during high tide. That was fun, but a little tricky. Mom and Les went on the trail bypassing the rocks. Once we got around the point, we were able to see 7 to 10 foot swells on the coast. We ate a delicious lunch at Pili's. Dad and I played volleyball with some of our friends from Monkey House, the surf shop where dad took surf lessons. One of the guys we played volleyball with is a documentary film maker, who has been nominated for an Oscar. Dad had a great discussion with him on the walk back. Dad and I went by the store to get some butter and sugar. We walked up to the house and we got there, but the girls had not returned. So, I jumped in the pool while dad went searching. The girls got back and we all got in the pool. The rain tried to stop us, but we had just walked 5 miles in the heat of the day, so we stayed in the pool. And did I mention that we love the view.
One of the crazy surfers paddling out into those enormous waves
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Did I mention we love this view
Sunset over the Giant's Foot
T down at Redonda Bay with the Giant's Foot behind
Surfing in Nicaragua
Yesterday, I hoofed it over to Gigante and took a surf lesson at the beginners' break. It was awesome, but exhausting. My instructor, William, was from Corn Island on the Caribbean side. He got me all straightened out right away and after a few wipeouts I started catching waves. Hallelujah!
It wasn't long before I was totally exhausted from paddling everywhere on the board, but it was well worth it.
Walking back I found out that William grew up speaking Creole and English. He didn't learn Spanish until high school. Not only that, he has a Psychology degree and did a semester in Boston.
I may give it another try today, although the waves are getting bigger and consequently may be out of my league.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Sudden storm
Yesterday a stray thunderstorm came tearing through on its way out to sea.
We were all glued to the view watching it as the sun set.
Monday, June 20, 2016
So beautiful!!
We still haven't quite adjusted to just how beautiful it is here. The view is beyond amazing, there is always an awesome breeze, it's hot but the pool is completely refreshing and we have been eating like kings. There is a serious possibility that we will not come home ;)
Yesterday, Sully, Leslie and I took a reconnaissance mission into "town" to get the lay of the land. We went the long way, following the road, to get there. On the way back we found a trail that looked like it would take us over the saddle of the Giant's Foot and down to our beach. Bad Idea! Very bad idea... We wandered around on a very steep mountain taking trail after trail and finding dead end after dead end. Each dead end stopped at a sheer drop off into the surf and rocks below. We were pouring sweat and struggling along determined to find a short cut. We finally gave up and turned around. We made it back home, drenched and exhausted and quite happy to take the road into town and home the next time we venture out.
Spent the rest of the afternoon rehydrating and recuperating. Went down to our beach and played in the ocean for a while. Alden and Tilghman got rolled by large waves and came up spitting sand. Came home and watched the gorgeous sunset, played some black jack and went to bed early. We are headed out this morning after breakfast to try some surfing.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Insert favorite exclamation here
This is view from the deck of our house for this week. It defies understanding. More to follow...
Friday, June 17, 2016
Last day of class
Okay, we are psyched that we will finish school today. It has been like the Olympics for our brains. All of us are understanding way more and noticing different verb tenses. I'm telling you we have had moments when we literally couldn't answer yes or no questions because our brains were so overloaded with Spanish. Yesterday, I literally had to go for a little walk and stretch because I couldn't think of anything, my name, where I live, nothing. Laura and Alden are learning all kinds of useful tenses, Tilghman is learning the future tense and I am trying my hardest to master the two past tenses. Meanwhile, Les has been a really good sport diving into these classes for the first time. She says she's been telling her teacher all about her cats. Sound complicated? Now, you know why we're happy it's Friday.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Photo update 2
Hammocks 
View of La Laguna Apoyo as seen from the town of Catarina, where we listened to a mariachi band and drank pineapple juice with our Spanish teachers
How our Spanish school looks, with a beautiful breezy courtyard in the middle
View from one of the two church towers we climbed today, with Lake Nicaragua in the background 
View inside of the church above
The stairs in the older tower...
And the walk back home..
Photo update 1
We went to a town that specializes in making pottery, and this guy gave us a tour and showed us the entire process, describing everything in Spanish. This is a man-powered pottery wheel
A popular pot that they make there with the kiln in the background 
This is only a corner of their display room
A mural on steps
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)