Oh my goodness. So I'll start with the good stuff. I went on a wonderful tour of the 365 islands that were created when Mombacho erupted a long long time ago. It as peaceful and beautiful out on the lake.
Then, after splurging on some artwork, I went on a tour of Masaya, and more active volcano. It was a landscape out of another world. I loved it. We also went into a bat cave and witnessed millions of bats flying out of the opening.
After returning to the hostel, I was beat, and stumbkled to a restaurant for a nice steak.
After returning to myself hostel and getting ready for bed, a terrible central American fear was realized. Bed Bugs! Nooooooooo! It was 10:30, and all I wanted to do was to collapse into the bed in my private room. Instead, I had to grab everything and, in the dark, transport it to the dorm.
Needless to say, I didn't sleep well. Instead of spending the night as planned, I'm going to return to Managua to share a room with Jill and Kathy, whom I've been travelling on and off with since Leon.
Words to accompany the post of pictures.
Yesterday I went with Jill and Kathy to Selva Negra, a coffee farm, restaurant, hotel, nature preserve.
It was beautiful, and I learned more about coffee and tasting coffee.
I also went on a wonderful hike. After that, I visited the post office. Then I went on a night hike. I saw a cicada hatching! Oh, and I saw a red eyed tree frog.
So, if you love Chocolate, those tree is what it's all about.
The castle, which I visited as part of my chocolate coffee tour, is the Castillo de Cacao. Three women run this chocolate factory, and crank out about 7,000 bars each week. 80% are consumed domestically, but mostly by tourists.
We also visited a coffee plantation.
Yesterday was my last day in Leon, and now I'm in Matagalpa. The land of chocolate and coffee.
And I'm going to learn all about it.
Anyhow, before catching my ride with Jill and Kathy, I went to the nature reserve. It was beautiful, and just as important, it was shaded and cool.
Yesterday I bid farewell to Edgar and Stella. A young couple from Holland who are traveling for 3 months.
I also had a relaxing conversation with a deportee from the US. I'm sorry, I forgot his name. But he grew up is the states and was deported 5 years ago to Nicaragua. Who knows. But he was very nice and great to talk to.
I also did some museuming yesterday. Rocked their museum of myths and legends and the entomology museum.
Oh, and had dinner and beers with a couple from Scotland who are on the road for 5 months.
I also had a nice "conversation" with a 10 year old. :-) He discovered my resting place after I walked to another church, and we had a short and rather one sided chat.
I went volcano Sledding on Cerro negro yesterday. I can't say that it was a great time. But, I'm glad I did it. Check out my face after going. I was ridiculously filthy.
I hiked to the crater of Telica, an active volcano outside of Leon last night.
It was amazing. The sky was clear, and the stars were brilliant.
There were molten rocks in the crater and you could hear the volcano's indigestion roar.
Oh man...so cool!
I went on an open top tour of the city yesterday with the owner of the hostel and her father.
It seems that this is something the locals do. The bus has party lights and music blaring.
Anyhow, it didn't really stop anywhere or slow down, so it's hard to call it a tour. But I was fun.
Afterwards I sat down for dinner and was invited to join two travelers from Holland who I'll be doing the Telica hike with today.
I'm going to stop here. I'll probably have a volcano picture tomorrow
Quick post. I'm at the airport now (BWI). It's a 2 hour or so flight to Atlanta.
I tried to look happy, but it appears that I'm pensive.
Let's see if this works. I'm hoping that my replacement for the next two weeks will be here in picture form.
