Chinandega, Playa Asserredores and Leon

Alright....so Chinandega is supposed to be the second biggest town in Nicaragua. I´m not usually a big fan of big towns, but I liked this place. The Collectivo dropped us off at the main bus terminal and from there we had to take a taxi to the only recommended place to stay, we didn´t have a lot of options because we got there after dark. We settled in, and asked where we could get some food. The owner told us that the Parque Central was just a block and a half away. We headed out and we were surprised to see so many people out with their families and friends and socializing and having food. I looked at my handy-dandy watch Rich gave and realized it was Friday night!!!! The whole town was out having a good time. We ended up having hot dogs for 22 cordobas each, which is pretty much $1.10. We found a place called Licuados Juanitas and ordered a Orange smoothie. It was amazing. we liked it so much that we ordered another one to go to drink while we were walking around the park. These licuados were huge...they filled a pitcher. And the one we took to go they poured into a plastic bag and gave us a straw. We ended up sleeping in a bit and by the time we were ready for breaky, it was time for lunch. We went back to the parque central and awesome hamburgers for 30 cordobas which is only $1.50. We got more smoothies from Juantias and another one to go, headed to the bank for some Nica money and then off to Playa Asserredores.

Getting to Playa Asserredores was an adventure. We grabbed our bags, finished our babano licuado and then headed to the bus. We get to where the buses are and none of the busses are for us. A few people try to help us including a kid probably age 9. Turns our the bus we wanted left 30 minutes ago and there wasn´t another one coming for a few hours. We were told to get on the other bus and get off in El Viejo to wait for the next bus. So off we go. The 9 year old and friends quickly became entertained by us. This kid was super friend and decided it would be fun to pull on Matt´s chest hair. I was laughing histerically. Matt told the kid, wait till you have a hair chest and some kid pulls on it. Off we go and are told to walk a block and sit on the corner. Asking when the bus is going to come they tell us at 3 pm and it´s only 1:15pm. So waiting on the corner for hours...sounds like fun. Within 10 minutes a truck driving by yells out ¨el mar!! (the sea)¨ They tell us to hope in so here we are accidentally hitch hiking to the beach. They drive and when they get to the cross road they ask us which beach, we tell them, and good thing it turns out we are headed to the same beach or we would have been walking from there. We drive some more and then they stop and tell us this is the end of the road. The book doesn´t have a lot of information about the town, except that it has a good hollow beach break. We are dropped on the side of the road without a clue of where we are or where we are going. A few minutes later a car load of Canadians is driving down the road. Matt goes to ask them what the deal is with this place. The drive tells him he´s been here before and stayed at a surf camp called....crap..can´t remember it anymore...anyway he said it was up the road and we could pile our stuff in and he´d drive us there. Thank you!!!!!!!!! we get in and are hitch hiking again...this was only a 10 minute drive on a bumpy road. Get out, get a room and time for a beer!!! Our day of work was done and it was time to play.

We hung out at the beach and went for a swim. The current and the waves were so strong that I could barely stand when the waves hit me. Thanks to Matt I didn´t get swept away with the waves. Had some awesome Tacos for dinner and then played cards through the night. A Cuban named Henry wanted to play with us, so I taught him how to play rummy. This guy was so drunk and/or high that he just didn´t get it. Every time it was his turn he did something to mess up. Super frustrating playing cards with him...No more cards with this guy! He claimed to be a big wig and was a name dropper and called himself a "soul surfer." He annoyed us and I wanted to argue with him. I kept my cool and finished the game and went to bed.

Next day Matt went for a surf and I was practicing my professional photography skills. Matt blew out his rail after a few waves and we had to go back in. Sat on the computer while Matt fixed his board, had lunch and just relaxed the day away. Late in the afternoon Matt went for another surf adventure. This time I mastered the camera and he caught some good waves. Met Ledira and husband/ boyfriend and showed them the pics I had taken of Matt, talked away, they are traveling the caost my sailing, pretty cool! Swapped info on the beach, litterally (see photo). That night ate a nice fish fillet and played cards again. We were doing great until Henry wanted to play and we were too nice to say no. He still couldn´t remember the rules of the game...it´s not like there are many. We vowed never to hang out with him again and went to bed.

Next morning we planned to leave and meet up with Matt´s friend Andy in Leon. We were getting ready to leave for the bus at 7:30 am, when the owner of the place we were staying, Chey, offered us a ride into town since he was already going. Hell yeah...hopped in the car and sadly so did Henry. We had to listen to how he only travels first class. He has people drive him and only business class and this and that. We told Chey, can you please drop us off at the chicken bus stop because we travel as low class as possible. On an express bus to Leon we go and off to meet Andy.

Bus drops us off and we take a taxi into the main part of town....we walk around until we find Hostel Tortuga Boluda, where Matt´s friend is staying. Drop our stuff off and head out for lunch and a walk around town. Everywhere I look I see my sister and I taking photos outside of buildings or us siting at cafe´s while Brandi drinks her coffee. I even see the place I fell asleep at the table while she drank coffee. We had a relaxing don´t do anything day. That night Andy, Matt and I headed out in search of dinner. Came upon a street vender and decided to get food there. We spent 80 cordobas, which is $4. Then walked to a store and bought a bottle of ron plata and two 1.5 liter cokes for 72 cordobas, just over $3.50 and headed back to the hostel for food and drinks. The food was great, so much we didn´t even finish it all. We ended up giving a full plate of food away to the night watchman. He was very appreciative. We started drinking our Ron Plata with cokes and playing cards. A couple joined us, it was great fun. At about 12:30 am our time Matt realized it was a good time to call home to Australia. The two of us talked to his parents for a good our or so slightly inebriated. I am now friends with Matt´s dad Patrick and friend from home on facebook. Good night, off to bed and to another beach in the morning!

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Part of trip: El Salvador

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