Blogs from Leon, Northern Pacific Coast, Nicaragua, Central America Caribbean - page 20

Leon is a great contrast to Granada. These two cities are similar in size and both have many sights to see but their similarities end there. Leon isn't a tourist town like Granada and we saw few foreigners, beggars or as many signs of obvious poverty. The locals don't take much notice of you----unless its just to nod and give a quiet "hola"----unlike in Granada where it seems that every male under the age of 30 (and some of the females, too) is sizing you up as a potential source of income. Don't get me wrong here; Granada has its merits. But Leon is more real somehow...... read more

After a great send off in Tegus with Nadia and Julie I headed to Leon Nicaragua on Sat. After nealy all day on the bus I got to leon, got a hostel and some food ad crashed. Next moring I woke up early and walking to see some sites and beat the heat. After have too much off the heat and not entirly digging Leon I decided to take the bus to the beach. I got off at Las Peñitas and got a room in The Oasis which is literally right on the beach. I immedietly went for a swim and was surprised by how hot the Pacific is. I spent 3 days here, about 2 days longer than I had planned but that is the beauty of traveling alone... I can change my plans ... read more

Decided I´d better get up to date and then backtrack or I´ll be home before I get chance to write about my extended little jaunt around Latin Am sans girlfriend :-) On 5th April took a 6am bus from unhappening capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa (try remembering how to say that after a few light ales) all the way to the sand-pit that is Managua, capital 'city' of Nicaragua. I didnt get any pics of Man, but suffice to say the centre of town is simply the highway where there is a junction, marked by an incongruous Holiday Inn. On arrival at the bus station, a gang of portly middle-aged latinos, shirts open to their sweaty navals, were all crushed up against the wire fencing hawk hawking at us like a pack of seals. "Taxi taxi!! Amigos ... read more

Hayden and I are writing posts for each other´s blog. His blog is really good and does a much better job than mine at describing day to day life as a volunteer in León. Check it out at: Hayden´s Blog Hayden and I volunteered together at Las Tias. One quirky wonderful friend. And he was just accepted to grad school in Chicago! ····················································································································································· By Hayden Kantor Let me tell you a little something about my friend Janine. You may know the girl can dance. You may know the girl can rap. You may know you she likes to go out and have a crazy time. But did you know she is a rescue-dancer? What´s rescue-dancing, you ask? Dancing that helps people, maybe even saves lives. On Frid... read more

Momotombo is an intense climb and I had been fearing it since I started being a guide. When people come into the office to sign up for this hike we have to tell them "It´s a really really difficult climb, you have to be fit. The top half is volcanic ash and rocks so we have to wear gloves to protect our hands as we pull ourselves up. The campsite only has room for 3 people because it is so steep, and often we slide down a few meters in our sleep-if you are able to fall asleep. Do you still want to sign up? Maybe you should climb Telica instead..." So I´ve hiked it twice in the last four days- the first time we went up and down in one day and the second time ... read more