Primero Fin de Semana: La Isla De Monos y Volcán Mombacho

¡Hola!

Este fin de semana fue muy bueno! This weekend was very good!

Bus Picture Compliments of Leila

Saturday was Clacine and Baastian's last day in Granada. They were such a nice couple and it was great meeting them. Today we all- including some spanish teachers- met at the school around 9:30 and took a Big yellow school bus to Isla de Monos( Monkey Island), which is quite close and just a bit farther from the lake. 

Pre-Boat Ride Selfie

We arrived at a port where we boarded boats and then we explored the different islands in Lake Granada as well as stopped to take pictures and throw fruit to the Monkeys on Monkey Island.

Kaitlyn Looking Good!

It was really interesting to see some houses with For Sale/ To Rent sign, guess this is one of those places where wealthy people say they

own an "island" in ....(Nicaragua). It was really fun to do this with everyone and finally get to explore around. The breeze was also very nice.

Nice Houses

This house had an American and Nica Flag

Volacano Mombacho

The middle patio

When we got back, we went to a pizza place, which was organized by the school! pPzza is not my first meal choice but it was really good. The restaurant was very westernized and had all these pictures of famous Western artist. After some people decided to go to the pool but i headed home because i was tired. We all met up later at night and hung out on the Tourist street and had a fun night.

Candid

On saturday a few people figured out the arrangements to go to  Mombacho Volcano on Sunday. We woke up really late and almost missed everyone. We boarded a bus by the market that dropped us off by the entrance of the volcano. The people on the bus were nice enough to tell us when to get off. It was not to expensive, we paid 8 Cordobas each. When there we paid $16/ ~640 Cordobas for entrance/shuttle to the hiking trail of the volcano. It totally crossed my mind how much Cordobas $16 was and did not bring enough money. I only pay in cordobas and don't carry around dollars like the other but luckily someone brought extra and Elliot borrowed me so much! Thanks Elliot! 

Leilani in our SPHS T-Shirt! Memories :)

While waiting a group got off the bus and Guess who it was? Leilani! Again! Leilani is a friend i went to Hight school with who is in Nicaragua with her school TCNJ for a mission trip and we ran into each other a few days ago by coincidence and again at the volcano.

By the waiting area there were all these malnutritioned Dogs it was really quite said. I must note by default and the stress of all the roaming stray dogs in Nicaragua I have Almost Conquered my Fear of Dogs WHOOOO! 

Ready!

Its interesting to note there are some people who live on the streets towards/on the way to the volcano and in the gated area where the entrance is. We took another bus up and had a rest stop by a cafe where i tried Vanilla Nicaraguan Coffee, which in general is quite good. Finally we made it to the last stop where we had a lady explain the hiking trails. Unfourtunately the Puma trail was closed due to reconstruction so we only hiked the smaller one that circles the main crater. We also decided to do it without a tour guide but during the hike when we didnt know which way led to the path or to the viewing point the tour guides we saw on the way were nice enough to direct us.

Getting Info Before Hiking

Group Picture

Emily, yo, y Betsy!

Cool path/cave

Hi Guys

Beautiful Landscape!

Brittany's Cool Yoga Pose!

Brittany y yo :)

Coming back down we found out the bus/shuttle wouldn't return until 1pm and it was around 11:50 so we decided to walk back to the cafe stop. I don't think we anticipated how far that was we ended up divided into 3 groups but then the farthest in the back caught up to my group who was in the middle. we explore new ways of walking down an incline.  On the way down two shuttles passed us so it was not completely true that the bus was at 1pm so when another one came past we begged the driver to pick us up and then we picked up the others at the Cafe. 

Our Sweet Ride 

The drivers also offered for the price of $1 from each of us they could drive us back to Central Park. We took them up on that offer and avoided having to wait for the bus. 


We all went for lunch together. I had a Burito. 

Today being sunday we are all relaxing. I sat in one of the rocking chairs by the patio and studied some spanish vocal. I also had a pretty long conversation suprisly in SPANISH with Maria Fatima, our host sister and it was really cool that i could work through a conversation in spanish and really did try and ask and talk to her and not limit my questions because i was talking in spanish. I guess its a sign of progress. I learnt a lot about her and we do have things in common and got to ask her about things to do and places to go in Nicaragua. We plan to go dancing together, which I'm excited about and hope to get to know her better.

Dinner!

When Snra.Bernada called us for dinner she Hugged me when i opened the door and she said in English that she loved me. I love Señora Bernada. She is such a nice woman and a great cook! I hope to get to know her better and spend time with her and learn how to cook nicaraguan food with her. Finally got a Dinner Picture. We had a typical Nicaragua Dish: Enchiladas which was DELicious.

I have to get to reviewing our homework and post my weekly pictures and get back in school mode haha. I still can't believe its been basically one whole week in Nicaragua. I look forward to more amazing weekends traveling and exploring Nicaragua. 

Adios for now.

Buenas Noches :)