Nicaragua Day 1

Woke up at 640am to shower (with no hot water and very little water pressure) threw on a sundress and met Luis Alberto in the kitchen where he made me scrambled eggs and toast. His mother got ready and we packed day packs to go to the lagoon. His mama brought us to the bus station. You get in the back of a 15 passenger van they stuff with 23 people, no air conditioning and they drive off. Stopping all along the way to pick up people and let people off. We were going to the last stop Marasaya. Where we were going to catch a "chicken bus" a school bus overflowing with people to the lagoon. We were late. The 30 minute bus took about 50 minutes and we missed the bus to the lagoon.

Quick thinking luis alberto and I decided on Granada. A "gringa" town (full of foreign tourists). This bus was another 50 minutes. When people wanted to get on or off the bus slowed and you jumped. Good thing we were going to the end of the line. Arrived and climbed up atop the bell tower in one of the three cathedrals. Saw the view of the town complete with volcano background. Then we went to Kathy's waffle house for american omelets and homestyle fries. Amazing. And like 4$. We then did a walking tour of granada. Stopped at an irish pub for some cereveza. Then worked our way down to the water front where we were picked up by guys in a horse drawn carriage for a 1 hour tour of the town (for 8$). Saw all there was to see.

Went back to the irish pub for maracua (rum plus FRESH squeezed guava juice. 2x3.50$. We had 3 rounds of those, but shortly into the second round it started pouring. We seeked coverage inside, ordered tostilla chips with cheese salsa and beans while watching american football bowl game. About 430 we started the hike to the bus station where we hopped a mini coach bus (of course overstuffed with people) where I feel asleep on the 45 minute ride back to managua where Luis-albertos mom was waiting for us.

She had some business to take care of (signing lease agreement for a new tenant) so we waitied in the house while they checked to make sure everything was okay. We then stopped at the supermercado for cranberry juice, redbulls, and sprite before heading back to luis albertos house for a quick nap before heading to his brothers to welcome in the new year.

We napped for about an hour, then made pizza and Luis-Albertos mom brought us to his brothers house. There were many people here and appetizers. We arrive about 1120pm. Rang in the new year with noisemakers and sparkly hats. Then we started dancing and having a good time. People started leaving around 3am and I finally laid down on the couch here at 345am.
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