Granada - final day

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We spent our final morning in Granada going out to see some of the work of Enpowerment International who primarily work with bringing education to young Nicaraguans.

The town we visited was on the outskirts of town and was a pretty humbling experience. No proper roads and the houses are basically shacks that house upto 5 families. No electricity, running water or sewage so the challenges obvious. No school either so the volunteers we met had set up a school and were basically trying to get as many kids as they could interested in education and through their grades. Sadly most parents don´t sent their kids to school anyway as they can´t afford the paper and pens etc so this groups work was brilliant. We saw the kids doing crafts, playing on some of the precious charity kids computers and playing in the field which was covered in rubbish and god knows what. They also make sure the kids get a good meal each lunchtime and one of the volunteers said he could never face eating his own portion and just shared it out.

The workers also encouraged us not to give money in Granada town to the performing kids etc as a chunk does end up on glue and not food - difficult though when you see such little ones. Definitely reminds us how much money we waste on material stuff in the UK and how lucky we all are. Anyway Enpowerment Intl do have the opportunity to sponsor a kid so for $200 a year this pays for everything from fees to uniforms and medicine so something to consider when we get home.

Anyway onto more cheerful stuff and in the afternoon we moved across the coast to San Juan del Sur. Immediately more my cup of tea than Granada, more friendly and chilled and maybe just because it´s a beach town. Plan to stay here for three or four days before we go back to Costa. Lucky for us we arrived on a major celebration day in honour of a 70´s Spanish missionary who did great work with the poor of this and another local town. These guys celebrate his death and it was such a lovely community atmopshere, the local church opened up with a concert and games for the kids favourite a stuffed ball suspended on a string which the kids take turn to try and hit. They have to throw some shapes first and when they hit the ball the crowd went mad especially when all the candy flies into the crowd. Fireworks galore and just so many people singing and having a great time, it was great to be part of it.

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Photos

Granada Town
Run down by our standards but considered a jewel of Nicaragua

Tica Bus
The cheapest but noisiest form of local transport

San Juan del Sur
Like a mini Acapulco!

Sunset
Kirst enjoying the first sunset in town

Beer O´clock
Neil taking it easy - we are getting good at this now!

San Juan del Sur
5 storey statue looks down on the bay

Sunset
The sun seems so huge here