My Trip
It started as just a long overdue, visit to see my good friends Ben and Peta. Which, no matter where they lived, I would eventually plan to go see them. What happened on my 5 day trip was an eye opening experience that I would strongly recommend to anyone that 1) Know Ben and Peta and haven’t seen them in a while and 2) have been a little nervous about visiting Nicaragua.
When I arrived, I expected a hassle with the new Government and their welcoming process but was pleasantly surprised to de-plane, go through immigration, pickup my bags, clear customs all in about 20 minutes and was out the airport door where Ben and Peta were waiting with their driver. That was a huge relief, as I really don’t speak any spanish at all! While on the way to their home in Granada, about an hour from the airport, I received a very thorough (If you know them you also know how detailed they can be) orientation and in-country briefing that lasted the drive and continued long into the night after we arrived at their very well appointed, comfortable and spacious residence. The spanish colonial style with the open air architecture and flora surrounding the dipping pool was great and refreshing.
The next 72 hours was a complete immersion into their new Nica life style. You could tell it was going to be a hot day. (Most days averaged around 90 and I had left 45 degrees with cold rain). This is exactly what I was hoping for! We started with a fantastic massage from a Yoga and Health Studio directly across the street from the house. Talk about convenient!
The owner Warren, and Jens and Nayeli who work there, and are friends of Peta and Ben, were great and joined us several times for dinner and conversation making me feel quite at home.
I then followed Ben around while he was taking care of some CO2 Bamboo business. I met some of his staff and saw the facilities. It was interesting to see first hand the company and watch Ben in action. It was just like the ole days when we used to work together. I see good things occurring with the company and team Ben has put together. My prediction is that they will be a large employer in this area. Later that day, I had an old buddy, Rolf, who lives in Costa Rica come up to Granada for a visit. Ben and Peta were kind enough to let him stay at their house (You know how Peta picks up strays and adopts them). Later, strolling down through the neighborhoods on our way to dinner I was impressed with how friendly the Nicaraguan families that sat out on their porches were. Literally, everyone said hola to us and they all knew Ben and Peta and especially Mango their dog who was a hit with every kid on the street. I loved the nights. The temperature cools just enough to sit comfortably with shorts and short sleeve attire the entire evening while the city comes to life.
The next day, Rolf and I took off to find to Masaya looking for furnishings for his cabins in Costa Rica. We visited a pottery village (San Juan Del Oriente) and two large outdoor markets in or near Masaya. This was really an up close and personal view of how the average day is for many Nicaraguans and their families ie: make something and try and sell it. The food at the market was a variety of vegetable stews with some meat that was marvelous and inexpensive. A complete meal was about $2.00.
Next, we were off to the volcano’s that make up a portion of the “ring of fire” that circles central america, the carribean and the top of south america. We stopped at my first active volcano, climbed to the top of the rim of a huge crater that was spewing sulfur gases. It was magnificent to see an example of the tremendous power that is so close to these people. Our last volcano was filled with water and looked just like crater lake up in the state of Oregon. After all of this on a beautiful but hot day it was time for a couple of cervezas.
The next day, we were off to the coast to take a look at Ben and Peta’s view lot on the beach which will be fabulous. We first arrived at San Juan just one of many beautiful beachs. The day was filled with swimming, walking, playing with the dogs and yes I was able to get my skin to turn a nice pink. I never really felt like I was in a foreign country that has been labeled third world-ish. It is a land of economic extremes. But, I found a peaceful coexistence between a variety of mixed cultures. The interactions of the Nicaraguans, the large community of foreign nationals now living in Nicaragua (European, Canadian, US) and the multitude of tourists and missionaries constantly flowing through has created a place that many more people will call home.