Rice and Beans 4ever

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So we forced ourselves to leave San Juan Del Sur. It wasn’t a bad idea since we are running out of time, but we do wish we could have spent more time here. After we left we headed off to Ometepe, the island formed by two volcanoes in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. One is called Maderas and the other, the larger of the two, is Concepcion. The boat ride over was interesting. Lucas forced Lindsay onto the most rickety rocky boat either of us has ever seen. She thought she was going to get sea sick, but luckily she didn’t feel sick at all. We spent the first night in a town called Moyogalpa, which is right underneath the still active volcano, Concepcion. We checked into a hotel that had a pet deer that would lick the salt off your arms, cuddle with the hotel cat, and let you pet it. We walked around a little and found a place that served pasta and had movies projected on a wall. We were very excited about this: for one, no rice and beans; and second, we watched Little Miss Sunshine (a bootleg of course). The next day we took a bus to Balgue, a tiny town at the base of Maderas. The bus ride was interesting. It was on a horrendous dirt road where we had to stop for cows, pigs, and horses. And yes the bus broke down a few times. In Balgue we stayed in a cute farm house where they grew shade grown coffee, cocoa, and petroglyphs. We took the first night off and went to sleep early to wake up and hike the volcano. We got up and started hiking at 7am. There was a neat petroglyph on the way up and cocoa fields. It started off pretty easy and nice. After about 1 ½ Km. or guide stopped and told us to get ready. From there on out it was pretty much strait up hill. After about 2 Km. in we decided to ask how far the hike was. The guide told us 5 Km. total. Ok, only ½ a Km. more. We kept walking through clouds and rain and jungle for a ways longer and then he stops and says we are half way up. Turns out it is 5 Km up and then 5 Km down. Ohhh, that combined with an increase of 1300 meters in elevation and literally walking up a waterfall we had our work cutout for us. It was extremely muddy and the hardest part wasn’t the hike, but trying not to fall. We finally made it and climbed down into the crater. At the bottom there was a very foggy lake and you could only see about 3 meters in front of you. We half expected a pirate ship to come sailing through the fog. After a break we had to make it back down. Lindsay only fell twice and at the bottom we were pretty much dead. The next day we woke up at 3:30 in the morning and took the fun bus back to Moyogalpa and on to Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. We are only here to catch a bus to San Pedro Sula on the northern end of Honduras. When we checked in to a hotel less then a block away from the bus station the reception lady said, “Do not go outside, if you do leave your passport and money in your room. Don’t go out after dark and take a taxi if you need to go more then 3 blocks.” We feel really safe. It doesn’t seem that bad, but we don’t test the warning. Luckily she said the ½ block walk to the bus stop at 4:30 in the morning shouldn’t be dangerous. Wish us luck. Tomorrow we leave to Honduras to see the Copan Mayan ruins and then it’s off to the beach and Belize. Adios.

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Photos

The Island of Ometepe
Look closely there are two volcanos on the island

The Hostel Pet Deer
This deer lets you pet it, it licks your arms, and the hostel cat and him are best friends.

Looking off the Deck of our Hostel
We are at the base of the Maderas looking at the other volcano, Concepcion.

Hiking the Volcano
Half way up the hike that seemed to never end. The volcano was very cloudy, misty, rainy, windy, and muddy, muddy, muddy. Cool Cloud forest though.

We made it!
Here is the top. No view, but check out the blanket of fog and plants. Hehehe, we promise this really is the top.

Down in the Crater
Heres lindsay standing next to the crater lake. Very misty!

Down inside and tired.
In the Crater try to translate.

On the way back down
The fog cleared a little and we got a view.

Petroglyph
There are many of these on the island. They date back to 300 to 600 B.C.

Just a little muddy
Lindsay's shoes after we got back.

San Juan Del Sur
Yes another sunset. sorry if they are getting old.

Comments

[Andrea]

Hello from Corvallis
I liked the misty lake picture, it was kind of magical looking. Sounds like things are going good still. It was nice to talk to you the other night lindsay. Josh and i got new jackets today from the Columbia Outlet store. Chris and Brian left today to go back home. I'm still sick, and maybe worse off than before. Mom's mad because she thinks I partied to much this weekend. Oh well. Come home soon. Love you lots. bye bye

[Caroline]

tisk tisk Drea
SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! It snowed so much that college campuses have cancellations. Lincoln was closed, but I still had PSU classes, until they were canceled. Chad and I are going to build a snowman in the Taco Time parking lot. :) Good Luck at 4:30 in the morning. Keep your passports in your underwear, and maybe if you were your muddy hiking shoes, people won't assume you're american. :)