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Published: November 29th 2007
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Traveling to the Island
I was ready to leave San Juan del Sur. It had been almost three weeks and I was itchin’ to travel around. My next destination was Isla de Ometepe, a small Island on a huge lake formed by two volcanoes. I hopped on a few buses and made it too the dock. I met a guy from Tahoe named Tim. He wanted to climb a volcano like myself. We decided to travel together on the island. Our first stop was an old farm turned hippy/traveler destination called Finca Magdelina. It was very peaceful until a group of climbers showed up and yapped away while I was trying to sleep. I wanted to wake up and greet them by choking every one of them. “Hi, my name is Evin what is yours? Aghhhhghgh.”
Anyway, I woke up at 5:30 and me and Tim got a guide to go up the volcano before the big group. I used all my will power to keep pace and we made it to the top in an unusually fast time. The trail was muddy and the clouds made it so we could not see anything at the top or at the lagoon.
Fellas on the Ferry
It's not often you see a man with a big gun in one hand and a "thumb's up" with the other. We made it to the lagoon and I was ready to jump in. I was hot from the hike and the lagoon looked inviting. It wasn’t I stripped to my boxers and slid into the lagoon. It was mostly mud that smelled like my nephews diapers after some carrot baby food. I quickly jumped out and put on my clothes. We took a few minutes and went back at a quick pace. Throughout the hike there were howler monkeys voicing their opinions. We got back around lunch time. After lunch I read and took a siesta in a hammock. I knew what it felt like to have a government job in the US.
The next day was Sunday, the day of no buses on the island. Tim and I were bored so we left with our gear looking for a ride. It was also a day of no cars so we walked quite a bit. We made it to a small town with nobody there. We found a little “restaurant” by the beach. It was a table and 4 plastic chairs covered by a thin tin roof. We had a few beers and had some great dinner. Two local kids
came up to us and we started having a conversation in Spanglish. They were funny kids. A Californian guy wanted to go to the same place we wanted to so we split a cab to a lagoon area called Choco Verde. We arrived and looked for the cheapest place possible. It was a small but nice Hostel on the beach. The feeling was “tranquilo.” Many people were lighting up spliffs while listening to air supply and Phil Collins which was blasting from the the main building. Tim and I decided to go for a swim. There was this cool looking dock with palm trees and light poles out on the lake. I started swimming towards it and pulled myself up onto it. I took a few deep breathes and had a sensation to go dive off the far end of it. I ran full speed and dove head first into the warm water. Horrifyingly, I found out the water was much more shallow than I thought. My head made impact with a sharp rock that I felt with my hand. I emerged from the water dazed and yelled to Tim, “I hit a rock” He didn’t believe me until he
looked over and blood was flowing down my chest and back. I put my finger on the back of my head and could feel a huge hole. I walked across the dock in disbelief and crawled my way to the grass. I was losing blood quickly and had a fleeting thought that this could be the end. I shook the thought, sat in a chair, and got a towel from Tim. He tried to close the wound with the towel and did a good job. I felt very peaceful and I was losing less blood. Two girls on vacation were watching with horror. One tried to give me some water, as her hand was shaking. I took a look at her face and I knew it was bad. A worker from the hostel got a car and put me in the front. I was laying back on the seat with only the sky in my view. The car honked as we sped to the hospital. Luckily, we were only 20 minutes away. Bump after bump, it felt like an hour. We arrived and I walked into the emergency room with only my trunks on and a bloody towel on my
head. There was only one doctor. I looked into the “operating room” and a man who had blood coming out of his ears was most certainly dead. He had gotten in a motorcycle accident. I laid on a bed feeling better but still lightheaded. The dead man was lifted off the bed and I was laid down in his spot. I could smell and see his blood. The doctor came in, cleaned my wound, put a few shots in my head and started stitching me up. 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9. I was stitched and cleaned up, given a prescription, signed my name, and sent off all in a half an hour’s time. I thought about if this happened in the US. There would be a huge deal made of it and I would have to pay a large bill. Here, I was just another quick patient and it cost me nothing, except for prescriptions. I went back to the hostile, had dinner, and called it a night. I could not fall asleep. I had so many questions. I played out different circumstances in my head. The only conclusion I came to is that I am lucky. The next day I felt ok and
The infamous dock
I will never forget this dock. we went for an early morning hike. We thanked the guy at the hostel and I gave him a tip for helping me and we were on our way to the ferry. Tim and I talked about the different situations that could have happened and when we reached the port and the bus depot we parted ways. I sat at the bus stop. I was the sole gringo. Some kids were trying to sell me some stuff and I was not in the mood so I took off my hat and they stopped bothering me after that. I made it to Granada after a long bumpy ride and I had much on my mind. I am feeling ok now, and I will take it easy for a couple of days. It’s funny, even though a few terrible things have happened to me here, I am very happy traveling and doing what I want to do. You can either sit at home and watch TV, or get up and have your own show. My show is very similar to Magnum PI, and I am Tom Selleck.
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John Bogar
non-member comment
Good Going Evan
Wow Evan! I envy you. Except for the battle wound. I'm glad you took the opportunity to travel. I spent 6 months backpacking in Europe and 4 years living in Okinawa as a child. It's important to see as much of the world as possible. South America in a relatively unknown land and you are getting it in person. Due to my heart condition I fear my traveling is over. So reading your adventures is really cool for me. Your a lucky Man. Keep on going and have the time of your life! Your Friend John