Nicaragua

I was originally supposed to return to the States on the first of December. However, halfway through the program, I realized that that Central America is an awesome place and that my classmates were awesome people, so I changed my return flight to the fifteenth, giving me two more weeks in an awesome place with some awesome people.

On December the first, our group of seven hit a bit of a speed bump. We went to the bus station to buy tickets to Nicaragua, but there were only two seats left, so our group had to split up. Jake and Ahasanur decided to go first, giving the rest of us an extra day in Costa Rica with our CIEE friends. The next day, after lots of wandering and asking for directions, we finally made it to the bus station for our eight hour long bus ride to Rivas in Nicaragua. We were all scattered throughout the bus, so talking to each other was difficult. Fortunately, I managed to get the lady sitting next to me to switch seats with Caitlin so that we could have a slightly less boring ride together. The catch? I had to fill out the lady's customs papers for her (I have no idea why she couldn't do it herself). So, thank you, Maria Esther Meña Hernandez, DOB: March 11th, 1961, Born in Managua, Nicaragua, mother of two, I appreciate you switching seats with my friend.

Since we arrived at Rivas late at night, we had to stay there for the night at Lidia Hostel. It was there where I met a crazy old man who would not stop shouting about the hilarity known as Herman Caine's presidential campaign. It was funny, guy, but please, simmer down a bit. The next morning, after escaping this man, we scrambled through the city, managing to hop on a bus that brought us to San Juan del Sur, our first destination. Waiting for us there were our two long lost companions, who had managed to snag us a room in the fantastic place known as Joxi Hotel. After arriving, we hopped on a truck that took us to the beautiful Playa Maderas.

Vacation in Nicaragua? It doesn't get much better than this. Photo credit: Alexandra Kurth

If I had gone to Playa Maderas before going to the other beaches that I had the chance to go to while in Costa Rica and Panama, it would have been the best I had ever been to by a long shot. Don't get me wrong through, it was beautiful, and I can happily place it among place it among Playa Llorena and Playa Naranjo as my most favorite beaches (Maricela told me that the Spring 2012 CIEE group doesn't get to go to those two beaches? How awful is that?).

San Juan del Sur, home of the second largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world. It also has really good burritos.

Playa Maderas. The place where I was made into Poseidon's bitch. Photo credit: Jake O'Connor

We stayed here for three days at the Tres Hermanos hostel. The water wasn't always running, not all of the doors locked, and the architect was clearly blind, but there is no other place that I would have rather been at. This is because this beach was a great place to surf and boy did I (try to) surf. When I finally managed to catch a wave and stand up (which is no small feat, considering my mind was screaming "Abort, abort, abort!", I was not ready for what it would feel like. When you catch a wave, you are immediately accelerated downwards, making the whole 'keeping balance' thing an extremely difficult task. Even though I was thrown like a rag doll 9 out of every 10 times, it was that tenth time that made me keep going. Despite the numerous bruises and near whiplash (whiplashes?), surfing is something I want to do again in the future.

After San Juan, our next stop was Isla de Ometepe. Before I start to explain what Ometepe is, here's a photo so that you can have the proper context.

Those aren't mountains. Those are volcanoes. And they're active.

Isla de Ometepe isn't just some normal salt water island. This is an island in the middle of the 9th largest lake in the Americas. These waters also used to have the highest densities of bull sharks in the world until the surrounding residents decided that that was a problem that should not exist. Of course, on the island are the volcanoes Concepcíon and Madera. Concepcíon is the active one, and it was smoking as recently as 2009. Once we got there, we took a taxi across the island to the hostel Finca Zopilote. Unfortunately for us, when we arrived, we found out that there were no vacancies. Fortunately for us, we found a different hostel named La Brisa further up the volcano. This place was fantastic. Nacho (yes that is his actual name), the owner, cooked meals for us from food that he grew right there on his farm. Our lodging, for the seven of us, consisted of four hammocks and a mattress under a thatched roof. It only cost $3 a night, so who can complain? 

Hammocks aren't nearly as comfortable as you would think they would be. Still, that's one item checked off the bucket list.

The next day, we headed down to the beach. The water was warm and clear, and since the sharks had been mostly wiped out, it was amazingly relaxing. Also, this happened.

Just hanging out by the lake.

Hi.

Oh, there's more of you.

Those cows are really mooooving. I'm sorry, I'll show myself out. 

The day after our bovine encounter, we biked over to the other side of Volcán Madera. It was a 16 kilometer bike ride on awful roads that led to blistered hands and a pain between the legs like no other, but it was, as usual, entirely worth it.

We biked down this road. Now just imagine this with lots of pain. You take the good with the bad, right? Photo credit: Jake O'Connor

Once we got there, we had a short 5 kilometer hike up the mountain to reach yet another stunning waterfall.

Seriously, how do places like this exist?

After frolicking in the waters, we biked back to our hostel, and it was there we had to say goodbye to a member of our team, Alex, since it was time for her to go back to the States. That sucked, especially since it meant that we all had to leave this paradise soon as well.

The next day, we left Ometepe to return to San Juan del Sur for a few more days of surfing before Julia and I had to leave. By the time we got there though, all we wanted was a few days of lounging around. I guess there's a limit as to how many things you can do before you need to rest.

Isn't he so adorable? This hammock broke when he was using it to sleep the next night. Ha ha. 

On the eleventh, it was time to start heading back home. Julia and I returned to Rivas and stayed there the night, then got back on the bus the next morning for San Jose for eight hours. One of the things that shocked me the most in Costa Rica was the cost. After paying $2-$3 per meal in Nicaragua, paying $6-$7 all of a sudden was quite disconcerting. Imagine my shock when I returned to the states and had to buy a meal in the airport. Jeez.

Tell me you've seen a bigger key ring than this before.

My last few days in Costa Rica were great, but tiring. Having to say goodbye to people is difficult, especially when you're not sure if it's a permanent goodbye. Saying bye to Julia was rough. After she left, I went back to the Costa Rican Backpackers hostel, where I got to see some of our other CIEE faces one last time. On my last night in Costa Rica, I had my last Costa Rican casado with Logan, Caitlin, Sarah, Laura, and of course, Maricela and Moncho.

Also, apparently Santa and Elmo work together in Costa Rica? 

On the fifteenth, my last day, I headed over to the airport, after saying goodbye to friends one last time. Here's a picture of my last Costa Rican sunset, as seen from my plane.

I'll miss you.

My experiences in Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua were utterly amazing, I will never forget them. I am so thankful for everyone that made them possible. You're the best.

My classes at Vassar start tomorrow, so I guess it's fitting that my blog is finally finished. Time to start a new chapter.