http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Nicaragua , Isla de Ometepe en-us Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:54:50 BST Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:54:50 BST The Final Leg of My Journey or perhaps just the starthellip JIt is with joy and praise that I write this next entry. I have successfully made it past the halfway point and am making my final stretch home. I have battled storms such as Tropical Storm Alma getting sick my first night and week to Nicaragua and throughout transportation strikes sudden absences of directors and doctors and volu http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-314788.html To get out of Costa Rica we had to go via Liberia to get the Nicaragua bound bus. From Liberia we needed the bus that travelled onto Rivas and from here we planned on getting a boat to Isla De Ometepe a volcanic island on the Lago Nicaragua. We were organised and although it was only to be a 2 night stop we were keen to get to the island. The bus to Liberia was on time and we arrived at the poi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Merida/blog-312518.html Our first destination in Nicaragaua was Isla de Ometepe an island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua formed by two huge volcanoes Maderas and Conception. Having taxied from the border to the dock we got a lancha across the lake a boat for all the local produce to get to the island which was great. It was immediately clear to us that Nicaraguans are extremely friendly people within an hour we had http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-311886.html Hey The Bainbridge Review published the first article of my monthly columnGo here httpwww.pnwlocalnews.comkitsapbiropinion26886244.htmlOr see belowOr see image for the real thing.Woo hooA missive from Bainbridge's sister islandToday 100 AM NEWAllow me to http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-311810.html I thought I would tell my story in images...click on the photos for detailed captions. If the photos don't load at first press Refresh on the webpage and they should come. Be patient there are a lot of themHere is a good map click on it to zoom for you to follow on with my island journeys to different townshttpwww.nicatour.netennicaraguaOmetepe.aspP.S. I updated the captions of my last http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-310690.html Made it to Isla de Ometepe the island made up of two volcanos. I have great pictures of the two volcanos. I will upload them soon. We stayed two nights. The first night we stayed at hotel that was very secluded and had very little for children to do. Macayla did not enjoy it so we moved on the next day. Plus this place Hotel Merida had a monopoly since it was the only place to eat. We p http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Merida/blog-309612.html Hello all Al here once again. Sorry for the lack of updates we were on Isla de Omtepe without much access to a computer.So from San Juan del Sur we hopped on another Jesus Christ pimped out bus full of crosses and stickers and loud music and headed towards Lake Nicaragua. Its a massive lake with more than 300 islands on it. Some of which are being bought up by rich people for their own private http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Santo-Domingo/blog-308271.html Revolting Volcanoes by GeorgeActually that should read revolutions and volcanoes but I prefer my version.After our spell in Granada we headed to Lake Nicaragua home to Isla de Ometepe and its two volcanoes. For those interested in facts and figures here you go Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America The lake is home to the Freshwater Bull Shark The name derives from the Nahuat http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-307185.html First set of photos http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-304471.html We had all heard raving reviews of Isla de Ometepe so a few of us made the journey to the island after a couple of nights in San Juan Del Sur. A very easy journey in all although the 2 english girls I was travelling with were very concious of their bags thus wanting to take a taxi everywhere rather than the local buses which made it quite expensive in total but a little quicker. Upon arriving in http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Santo-Domingo/blog-303725.html Wandering along muddy trails through barbed wire fences past cows horses and pigs feeding in the green rolling hills speckled with banana mango and avocado trees. We finally stumble upon the farm and see the familiar pasty white back of our giant Canadian friend Liam standing under a thatched palapa against the backdrop of the lake. Liam is a good friend of ours from language school in Gua http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-301968.html My worn sandal soles struggle to grip the steep muddy path. We stop to observe some petroglyphs carved into a stone by the side of the trail. A sun various geometric shapes and what sorta looks like an animal etched into the rock. Remains of a past civilization people who long ago inhabited this land fished its waters and cultivated its soil. The island still remains sparsely developed but http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-301959.html Ein weiteres langes Wochenende machte es moeglich die Insel Ometepe im Nicaraguasee zu besuchen. Sie besteht im wesentlichen aus 2 Vulkanen Concepcin und Maderas.Wie immer war die Anreise mit ChickenBuses lang und einigermassen unangenehm aber wenigstens die Ueberfahrt an Deck eines uralten kleinen Schiffs hatte ihren Charme. Am Samstag Morgen machten wir uns also aud Concepcion zu besteig http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-300760.html It is often impossible to share exactly and accurately everything I feel and experience here. That would take a whole lot of dedication and a lot of volumes of books filled with my thoughts and perceptions and experiences. So I am offering to you the short version. Any longer versions of these stories will have to be in person upon my return. J I am happy to share. To my loyal readers who happen http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-300328.html For some reason we were stricken with the idea to climb a volcano. This despite the various literature telling us it was extremely difficult and required one to be very fit. The smaller volcano on Ometepe takes approximately 7 to 8 hours to climb and we wisely chose Maderas vs. Conception which takes ten. We set off with our guide Felix at 830 in the morning from El Encanto. Felix is 44 but http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-297706.html Isla de Ometepe is in the middle of Lake Nicaragua and is flanked by two volcanoes Conception active and Maderas inactive. We stayed at El Encanto a small 4bedroom hotel in the middle of the island. The hotel is owned by Helen Carlos an Australian and Honduran who are both wonderfully warm and helpful. The hotel is set on 5 acres filled with magpies butterflies and mango trees. It http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-297698.html Thursday morning Mo joined us for breakfast at Betty's. Again Betty cooked a traditional Latinoamerican breakfast with lots of fruit avocado tomato salad fried plantains and rice beans. At 9am we left for San Jorge where we boarded a onehour ferry to the island. The island is made from the eruptions of two volcanoes. The lava from both volcanoes has connected to form one island. The n http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Santo-Domingo/blog-295882.html Let's start with good news as of today I am officially homeless the sale of my flat has been completed woo hoo It also means A LOT of worry has just disappeared OK a bit of worry the eternal optimist in me knew it was going to be alright... 6 months on and my beloved little flat belongs to someone else... I was attached to it but let's be honest no flat or garden even if mine did http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-292585.html OK...so one of those was imagined... my last few days in San Juan del Sur should have been lovely but then I caught a touch of Sandino's Revenge at least that's what I think you would call it in Nicaragua since Montexuma wasn't really present down here. Suddenly glad that when I left Hotel Estrella I got a private room with a bathroom I went through about fifteen hours of being convinced I http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Merida/blog-290522.html I went to Isla de Ometepe last weekend. Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes in the middle of a large fresh water lake Lake Nicaragua. The island is very beautiful it is inexpensive there are no taxes and the streets are calmer than the busy streets of other Nicaraguan towns and cities. I stayed at Hospedaje Central a hostel in the town Moyogalpa where one of the ferries are locate http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-289684.html I spent a couple of days in Nicaragua.I agreed to go on a border hop with Krista and Ashley and their new friend Melody. Border hop you are only allowed a 90 day on a visitor visa for Costa Rica so before the 90 days are up you have to exit the country for 72 hours and then reenter to get a fresh 90 days.We went to the Island of Ometepe on Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe island is strait out of a adven http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-288818.html Saturday June 14th Today started off pretty much the same as yesterday except once we were up and going we decided to go hike the Maderas Volcano or at least until the point of the waterfall. Around 830 a.m we left and hiked to the next town where the entrance was. Looked so beautiful and peaceful until we started hiking it. Only a 3K hike but all uphill was so steep we were SOO hot http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-288632.html I decided to separate our Nicargua Adventures into two entries because between 4 people we took a TON of pictures. Don't want to make this entry to much information to handle in one sitting. Thought I would try to make it easier for everyone Ashley and I have successfully returned from doing another border hop but this time we had some company Our boss hired a new girl M http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Merida/blog-288618.html Being a paid volunteer does away with the necessity of obtaining a work visa. This is in operation for English teachers around the world where having the correct work permit often involves unfathomable bureaucracy and a lot of money. One advantage of this slightly fishy scamentirely legal opportunity is visa runs. Basically every ninety days I am given some time off and a bit of extra cash http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-288469.html I was asked to write something for the website. Here is my story. Please find it on the websitewww.nph.orgGo to Nicaragua at the top flagThen go to volunteer testimonials on the right sideMichelle Jacobson USA English Teacher23 May 2008 NicaraguaKnown as Friends of the Orphans in the USA the recruitment office in St. Paul actively sought me out while I was a senior in college. Planning t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-284906.html Time has seemed to take a back seat here in lovely Nicaragua. Lush green forests and plantain forests loom in my backyard. While I eat my breakfast on the patio I sit and stare at the aloe plant and look out into the distance of tall green trees mixed with palm trees. The sound of the waves in the distance lulls me to sleep. The striking blue bird a relative to the blue jay I believe hawks its http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-284810.html The next morning we went to Granada Nicaragua after waking up early to catch the bus in Managua. What a great thing to have Michelle by my side now to do all of the things I was accustomed to doing solo for so long waiting for buses looking for places to stay discovering a new city etc. Michelle got her first taste of Latin America unpredictability when an old lady about 80 years old in front http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Santo-Domingo/blog-280561.html So I met up with my brother and sister last tuesday in Liberia I ended up getting in about 45 mins after them because I missed the early bus out of Managua oops. Rather than double back across the border we spent a day in Costa Rica at Rincon de la Vieja park. Tiff and Dane were getting used to the hot and humid climate while I was enjoying the cool dry weather. It's definetely not 'honduras http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Merida/blog-277670.html After crossing the very lax border over the bridge between Panama and Costa Rica see photo and with help from a very cool old lady from the Caribbean a short bus journey stood between us and Puerto Viejo. We couldn't get in at the infamous Rockinrsquo J's but found a good hostel and crashed out. The next day it was Char's birthday so I bought her the only cake in the town which was massive http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-277247.html Hola todos. Saludos de Ometepe Island Nicaragua Hopefully soon to be in the new and revised list of the 7 Wonders of the World. Post your vote on www.laisladeometepe.comMany changes have been taking place which is the norm here. However some are worth taking note. Along the way I will tell my stories.First off NPH the organization I am serving through has recently partnered with the Enri http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-275189.html