Catch up since christmas

Hey guys
I hope you are all well. I can finally send you all some photos and catch you up on whats been happening since the last blog.
In brief (email me if you want more details and dont forget to tell me your news too!!):

I moved out of Funky Monkey around new years after finding a lovely house to rent in Santa Teresa. At the same time I started a serious relationship with my friend Randall (a tico guy) who at the time worked in a friends bakery there. Things are fantastic with him and we are together all the time.
Meanwhile the shine of santa teresa was wearing off as high season became busier and busier, more drama and gossip developed than anyone could handle (there was even a massive street brawl incited by a local gringo magazine editor who published some nasty generalisations about the ticos) and money slipped through ones fingers like sand.
So about a month ago Randall and I packed up and left the beach for the big city....
Nah, we just spent a week in San Jose (which despite what everyone tells you is a beaufitul, fun and relatively safe city) visiting friends and organising things to travel to Nicaragua.

Well, Nicaragua was amazing. Contrary to what they told me I didnt need a visa to enter and we passed through the border easily for once. This was hilarious since it involved sweet talking and slipping some money to the guards to overlook the lack of Randalls passport which had been stolen earlier. The one time I dont do everything properly it goes really smoothly!
We spent only 4 days in Nicaragua since it was just to stamp my passport, but it was a great trip. We based ourselves in San Juan del Sur (a really nice peaceful beach town) and travelled to Maderas, where there is great surf, and to Granada - the most beautiful and oldest city in Central America (500yrs). The markets, cobbled streets and stone buildings certainly took me back.
The definate highlight, and sadly I have no pictures, was the isles of Granada (actually look up images on google to get the feel of it). Over 300 little islands are clustered on Granadas side of the huge Lake Nicaragua and you can take a boat through them to see the nature and the amazing houses that people have built on them. Seriously, it is absolute paradise. Each island is about 1/4 acre and some have mini castles on them whilst others have little cottages. All have a beautiful view of the lake and the channels. Some islands are really isolated and inhabited only by spider monkey troops which cant travel between islands unless they jump onto a boat of unsuspecting tourists.

It really amazed me how different Nicaragua is to Costa Rica, considering Costa Rica is so small and its largest province used to be part of Nicaragua. Mostly because it is a less developed and poorer country, Nicaraguan people are more humble and are holding on more to their culture (not yet imitating the gringos!). The countrys natural beauty is available for the visitor to see without being exploited by tourism companies. Having said that San Juan del Sur is getting more touristy. If any of you ever visit there definately stay at ´Arena Caliente´ surf shop and hostel and definately eat at ¨La Iguana¨ where the meals are so big you can never finish them and they only cost you 45cordovas ($2).

After spending a couple more days in San Jose on returning to Costa Rica, we headed north again to La Fortuna, San Carlos (3 days ago). We are now settled there, living in the most beautiful, clean, green, peaceful town I have seen in Costa Rica. It is situated at the foot of one of the worlds most active and most perfectly shaped volcanoes - Volcan Arenal. Nearby are cloud forests, waterfalls, rivers and natural thermal pools.
We have a lovely little house which we are renting for so cheap its a steal and Ive found work as a hotel receptionist and Randall as a bartender. The plan is to save enough money to come back to NZ together and see you all again!

Take care guys
Love cass

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