From Grenada to Leon...from hot to hotter!

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Alright! How´s everyone going??? Hope all is well. This is the first time i don´t feel i have to apologize for ages between blogs...go me! So I left you off last time with some pictures of Nicaragua...and now for a few stories!

Me and Alison left the totally Tranquillo attitude and hammocks behind and headed off towards Grenada. We noticed the heat immediately. Sweaty, sweaty!! But the city was just beautiful. Cobblestone streets, colourful buildings, backdropped by a volcano and a beautiful lake. We stayed at this incredible hostel - Oasis - and met a great group of people. We wandered the city - climbed an awesoem bell tower of one of the 500 year old churches for an incredible view, we played some drinking games, we hit the dance floors (Live salsa music!) and we fell in love with the mango ladies. Seriously. These women sit on the side of the street selling bags of mangos, 2 per bag, pre-cut and delicious! For approximately 30 cents. My goodness. We wanted to bring our own mango lady home with us. Figured they might not let that slide past customs. But man, if you tasted the mangos here...you´d risk the smuggling charges. Yum!

We got our group together and rallied to go on a day trip on a boat around the isletas of LAgo Nicaragua. There are 365 mini islands in close proximity to one another. And we took a boat around them and explored a few. Including monkey island. Which is an island some guy bought because he wanted somewhere close to his own island where his 7 monkeys could live. We got SOO close to them..but then, remembering Callie´s experience...i stayed an extra bit away...

We took the same crew - more or less - to Lago Apoyo the following day. Which is a crater lake half an hour from Grenada. The lake was formed when a volcano collapsed and then it´s crater filled up. So the water is warm from the volcanic activity under the water! So cool. We had kyacks, a dock, a great lunch, and more comfortable hammocks to chill out in. We played this charades game (really called ¨a game with no name¨...soon to be a favourite back home..when i introduce it to friends and family- all credit for fun times to be had goes to Michael from New York)..and then we made our way back to the city for another fun night.

Me, Alison, and Will (an English bloke) said goodbye to our buddies and headed off to Leon. Now, we thought Grenada was hot. My goodness. Were we wrong!!! Leon was absolutely stifling!! We checked out the markets there, wandered some more (but not too much, cuz we were dying of heat) - thank god there were mango ladies here too!! Our second day in Leon we decided we needed to get outta the sweltering city, and back to the beach! So we did a day trip to play in the waves, and drink some Toñas. Much needed swims and winds!

We got back to the city, and had quite the time organizing our next move. It was finally decided that we´d take a 3am shuttle to Managua, and then catch the 5am bus to Guatemala via El Salvador. We didn´t want to have to spend a night in Managua (it´s the sketchy capital of Nicaragua) - so the shuttle would have to do. Even though it cost us way more than it should have. What´s 10 bucks more for safety right mom??

We made the first leg of the bus trip - stayed the night in San Salvador (the not so great capital of San Salvador) at the hotel attached to the bus station (again...more expensive for safety...) and caught the bus to Guatemala at 6am the next day! Got to Guatemala city (another sketchy capital....) and quickly got the shuttle to Antigua! Wow..all in one piece! Me and Alison joined forces with these two Aussie Chicks, Cara and JAde - and we have created an awesome foursome. Canadians and aussies, really, how can you go wrong right! Anyway, we spent our time in Antigua together..and now are here in Lago Atitlan together as well. Next blog will be about Antigua and the lake!!

Keep in touch and big hugs!

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Photos

Me and Al
Partners in crime

Our Kings Crew...
drinking games with aussies, americans, canadians, english...etc

a cool beer bottle
can't take credit for this pic though

El Club, in Grenada
packed, hot, and lots of dancing!

our Grenada Oasis crew
getting ready for a day out boating on the lake

Another crazy monkey
on our boat trip he took us to monkey island. a guy owned a bunch o monkeys...and the island next to this island...so he bought it for them. there are 7 monkeys and nothing else on the island.

What do you get when ...
you put an American, a Scottish, and an English guy with two canadian chicks?? Fun times in Grenada.

Crammed in among bags and intense HEAT
on our way to Leon

Yummy Veggies!!!
what a great idea....VEGGIE PLATTER night

Power lines and the sunset
San Salvador / over night stop over on our way to Guatemala

Will and Al on the rocks
Las Peñitas beach, near Leon. We had to get away from the heat.

My favourite beer so far.
Toña. So good.

Another beautiful sunset
i just can´t get enough

Comments

[G-Starr]

I dont know if we can be friends anymore. It hurts me to read your blog. Why isnt Dublin that fun?

[Mom]

Funny Gail!
That is a great comment G-Starr! love it! That Lauren is just having too many adventures! but how do you compare with beaches, that's what Dublin is missing! Are we all going to be able to put up with her when she's back??!! haha! will she be able to put up with us??!!

[Becki]

lol
So... yes mom, I think you're right... I don't think she will be able to put up with us... just reading all your blogs now, trying to catch up lboss! Miss you tons... oh, by the way mom, did you ever get my messege I left on your answering machine at home?

[Mom]

Yes Becki!
Thanks for the good thought Becki! It was great that you called as it was around Mother's Day and good to hear from "one of the girls" since mine is away! You are sweet! (Lauren did call too) It will be nice to see you all when Lauren's back - it's been quiet here!!!