Weary after a long long day´s travel… the motorcycle and the ferry boat, the two buses and the taxi, underway for so many hours we fell into a kind of exhausted trance. So much to tell: the hike yesterday part-way up one of Ometepe´s volcanoes to a delicate waterfall; the day before, hiking through a different island forest, seeing a whole family of howler monkeys in the trees above us and stopping to watch them, the strangeness of these almost-human creatures moving freely in their natural world. We swam and swam for the last several days in fresh-water surf, a dreamlike experience, and the constant lake winds swept our minds clear. Ometepe is slow and has the feel of an island, lots of horses and cows on the roads, and the twin volcanoes always in sight.
Today´s travel began on the motorcycle at the windy lake beach, and ended half a country away on a candlelit terrace drinking white wine and lemon daiquiris. We´ve come back to Leon, to sink into this city we´ve become so fond of, and really get to know it. Tomorrow morning I´m going out to a cooking class given by a local woman in her house, traditional wood-fired oven and all. Bob may deal with laundry, (which usually just means sending it out) but will also be able to hang out in the swimming pool here at the hostel all morning if he wants. We´re due for a restful day or two, after the intense volcano hike and the marathon travel day.
We´re so glad for the chance to be here, and Nicaragua is soaking in through all our pores, the dusty roads and smoke, the cows and buses and murals and music, the lush green banana trees, the volcanoes always at the horizon.
Feeling like rocks in a tumbler
Weary after a long long day´s travel… the motorcycle and the ferry boat, the two buses and the taxi, underway for so many hours we fell into a kind of exhausted trance. So much to tell: the hike yesterday part-way up one of Ometepe´s volcanoes to a delicate waterfall; the day before, hiking through a different island forest, seeing a whole family of howler monkeys in the trees above us and stopping to watch them, the strangeness of these almost-human creatures moving freely in their natural world. We swam and swam for the last several days in fresh-water surf, a dreamlike experience, and the constant lake winds swept our minds clear. Ometepe is slow and has the feel of an island, lots of horses and cows on the roads, and the twin volcanoes always in sight.
Today´s travel began on the motorcycle at the windy lake beach, and ended half a country away on a candlelit terrace drinking white wine and lemon daiquiris. We´ve come back to Leon, to sink into this city we´ve become so fond of, and really get to know it. Tomorrow morning I´m going out to a cooking class given by a local woman in her house, traditional wood-fired oven and all. Bob may deal with laundry, (which usually just means sending it out) but will also be able to hang out in the swimming pool here at the hostel all morning if he wants. We´re due for a restful day or two, after the intense volcano hike and the marathon travel day.
We´re so glad for the chance to be here, and Nicaragua is soaking in through all our pores, the dusty roads and smoke, the cows and buses and murals and music, the lush green banana trees, the volcanoes always at the horizon.