Volcan Mombacho

We rallied our 7 other new roommates to make a total of 9 extranjeros (foreigners) to finally explore the gentle giant that serves as a magnificent backdrop to this city of Granada. The chicken bus took us there in about 30 minutes for 7 cordobas (not even 50 cents) each... and then we began the trek into the wild. I would like to state for the record that though it was our idea to go to Mombacho, we very clearly expressed our desire NOT to hike up it but to ride a commuter vehicle, with the quiet luxury of air conditioning, caviar, champagne and Bach -------- hahaha who are we kidding, and then hike around the top crater. Well it just so happens that the commuter vehicle is face sensitive and costs a whopping 200 cords (10 dollars) per person if you have a light skinned face. Ok so now you're thinking, 10 bucks is not that much, and in the face of death I'd likely pay it.... but when you put it back in perspective of the less than 50 cent bus ride to get there it just doesn't make sense!

And so the steepest hike of our life begins. Let me refresh your memory. We all know that the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line. Even though that straight line is straight up when you're going up a volcano. So they tell us, the first half is moderate and by that they mean a good 45 degree grade, and the second half is steep. Why yes yes indeed, a good 60 degree grade or more. They also told us it would take an 1.5 hours to climb and needless to say it of course took double that.

But there were many memorable moments along the way which made it all the more bearable. Like the drowning sound of cicadas, the rest stop at the coffee finca where they give you free samples (of coffee and coffee beans, not to be mistaken for peanuts which you immediately pop into your mouth as your getting quite famished on the way up), chatting with our British roommates, the views, the plants, the shade from the clouds....

half way up, resting at the coffee farm

And the way Matt rescued me from giving up. It went like this:

First he found me the perfect walking stick. Then when I sat down in the middle of the road on the depths of fatigue he fed me crackers, and then the last 100 feet when I really didn't think I'd make it (everything was shaking, mostly due to hunger) he literally pushed me the rest of the way up. Hooray!

So we made it to the top and we proceeded to gorge ourselves with the plato mixto para dos (mixed plate for 2) which came with rice, beans, tajadas (plantain chips), salad, cheese, fish, chicken, pork, and beef. Holy barn yard animals! We stuck to the white meat and gave the other stuff away. Then we took in the breathtaking sight of the crater surrounded by Lago Nicaragua and Granada in the background.

Ok now we have to take a time out and give a shot out to our awesome roomates: Rykki and Jenna, a British couple who seriously entertains us with their British accent, foreign words, and cute couple-y banter. Like when Rykki got to the top of the mountain, picked up a random concrete arm weight and proceeded to state "oh fucking hell" in his most awesome accent.

Because of them we can add the following vocabulary to our collection:

1. "plim soles" - flat bottom shoes like vans or chucks

2. "jacket potato" - baked potato

3. "shit the bed" - when Matt asked what this meant, Rykki replied with "well you'd be pretty upset if you shit the bed"

4. "pissing about" - messing around, goofing off

and my favorite: 5. "eggy bread" - french toast!

Ah the joys of diversity in the English language. Hopefully there'll be more to come!

Rykki and Jenna were the only roommates willing to wait for my slow ass on the trek up. And Jenna shared in my pain, and Rykki shared in Matts (you know, having to deal with us girlie girls). But with that said, we think our California couple Andy and Emily and the Spaniards Soraya and Ignaci are just as cool.... there is lots of laughter had by all. And the language barrier is a force to be reckoned with, as Rykki is at a beginner level of Spanish, and Ignaci is at a beginning level of English.... Let's just say they go to the gym together and communicate through gestures and grunts! And don't forget about Latino Spanish versus Castinallo from Spain. Who is really talking about what? And who is saying it right?

Much love - from Casa Santa Lucia

beach trip round 2: this time with sun

Entonces.... we got a week free to dabble in life's pleasures.... which means we instantaneously headed for the beach and sun. San Juan was quite familiar this time around, but with a different feel entirely, thanks to the change in weather. We actually got to do everything we wanted and more. Plus we didn't have to run around every day looking for a better hostal to stay in. We lucked out and crashed at Casa Romano our home away from home, from home.

Something about the metaphysics of emotions and physical injuries.... matt might still have a broken toe, then i stepped on his injured toe and might have re-broke it, and then he went and stepped on one of these bad boys .... ay ay ay

We also crashed right on the beach for 3 nights which allowed us to get very tan, listen to the waves, play in the cold water, watch hermit crabs crawling around, reminisce with our long lost dog friends, watch the sun set over the ocean every night, find a hidden bay just for ourselves, climb trees, build a sand half sphinx half poodle, attempt to play frisbee in the wind with a disk that definitely did not weigh 175 grams, lay in hammocks, read, read, read, and eat rice and beans and SEAFOOD and drink tonas like no body's business.

Matilda's.... nice environment but some things are overpriced.

Our dog-friend we met last time and reunited with this time.

We named her Bella. She enjoys long walks on the beach,

playing with sticks, and being pet and fed.

Since the last encounter, Bella had pups!

One of our favorite parts was finishing the book "Bringing Yoga to Life" by Donna Farhi that we were both reading simultaneously, yet taking turns. Matt finished first. Tada! We had many deep conversations on the topics it brought up and the most basic lesson I took was the following advice:

1. Friendliness towards the joyful

2. Compassion for those who are suffering

3. Celebrate the good in others

4. Remain impartial to the flaws and imperfections of others

Ah the things we can strive for!

And then we headed back to San Juan to organize a boat adventure in the hopes of seeing some sea animals! However, instead we just spent 5 wonderful hours on our first sailing experience, eating ceviche, drinking mai tais, learning about the workings of the boat, jumping into the water, meeting other Americans (a rarity as usually we only meet Europeans) and watching the frigging birds soar the skies. Apparently those birds are called Frigate birds, but we think frigging is pretty funny. We learned they get their food in the air and from stealing from other birds, they spend most of their lives over the ocean and only come on land to roost. They have the biggest wingspan to body ratio of any bird, can't walk well, and can't actually land on the ocean because they lack the oil resistant coat of other birds. Hmmm.... we might need to back those statements up with some scientific references, but for now its word of mouth. Or it might just be another fascinating Nicaraguan-ism (see blog to come).

captain skippy, aka Zac from washington state

"we're on a BOAT ... in this big blue watery road"

Frigate Bird

We made it back to our first home away from home here in Granada safe and sound after our 4 hour bus adventure.... to find the house construction project done (see another future blog) and to hear all the drama we missed on our week away. Like sand through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives.

- Feliz Navidad y Mateo -