At The Beach

Saturday we set out to explore Big Corn Island on four wheels. The golf cart we cruised in had enough room for 6 and was older than all of us combined. Micah was the courageous driver and the only time his courage failed was when we believed the cart could make it up a moderately steep hill. A few hundred feet up the hill, we slowly lost speed until suddenly the cart was beginning to go backwards down the hill. We coasted back down with the men controlling the cart from the back, since the brakes only kind of worked. Along with the lack of power steering, the four hours we had the cart were quite an adventure. After discovering the cart would not make it up that hill, we parked at the bottom and hiked past a school, found two young local boys who served as our tour guides, and were rewarded at the top with a great panoramic of the island.

      Backing the ancient golf cart back down the hill

                  Looking inside one of the classrooms in the school we passed

                             South end from Mount Pleasant viewpoint

We stopped for lunch at a recommended fish taco restaurant, but since they didn't have any fish, I ordered chicken tacos and the others ordered meat on top of fried plantains. The north shore of the island boasts a large reef with great snorkeling, but we were unsuccessful in finding a beach to access the reef. Plus we got rained on. 

      Boats were all along the beach front and multiple were seen ship wrecked off coast

After decompressing for the afternoon in hammocks with books back at our bungalows, we walked the streets in search of dinner. The food on the island didn't disappoint, although we didn't find the unique island food we all would have loved. Lobster season began July 1st, 2 days after we left. Rumor has it that during the season, lobster flows like water. We did partake in some lobster ceviche at the restaurant we found Saturday evening, otherwise the food that night was typical Nicaraguan: burrito, rice, chicken in a salsa sauce.

                                             Reading in front of our hotel

Our lodging at El Paraíso included breakfast consisting of gallo pinto, eggs, bread, and fruit. The four of us ate together Sunday morning before Megan, Brock and I decided to take advantage of the yoga class at 8:30, taught by the chef. It was a fine class, especially since it was free, and very basic which is probably necessary since it tailors to many different levels. We each grunted and struggled a bit and my hamstrings are still a little sore.

                                                            Bungalows

Micah and I promised Megan and Brock a Carribean Island get-a-way and although the weather didn't want to cooperate, we were determined to get our beach time in. The large swells and constant wind made the water too murky for us to snorkel in, so after a weak attempt we all laid in the sand and soaked up the warm rays for the afternoon. Brock lasted about 15 minutes before he had enough rays, which a few hours later turned his belly bright red, to match his back and his sides. Megan faired slightly better, a few shades less bright red. 

                                   Playa Coco, minutes from our hotel 

Around lunch time, we walked to Roxy's where we ate a few days earlier to find they were closed on Sundays. Eventually we landed in the town center and found a new local diner with typical Nica food and a refreshing cantaloupe watermelon drink. We played on the teeter-toter and monkey bars across the street and spent the rest of the afternoon nursing the burns with cool cloths and Ibuprofen.

                                                      Local food

                    Although we out-weighed him, Brock dominated on the teeter-toter

As Micah mentioned in the previous blog, we met the chef on the plane ride to the island. This felt like a stroke of luck since Megan has gluten and dairy allergies. He was helpful during our 4 days there, answering her questions so she could eat safely. Sunday night was pizza night and he had discussed trying a cauliflower crust for her, so we decided to eat at the resort for pizza night. Unfortunately, the cauliflower crust didn't happen so Brock, Micah and I ate an all-meat pizza and a shrimp pesto pizza while Megan patiently waited for her fajitas. We split two pitchers of sangria and enjoyed our last night together on the island.

On Monday, we had a few hours to kill before our 4pm flight. Megan and I had a private yoga class that morning, we went for a walk on the beach, packed our bags, and grabbed a quick bite for lunch. Caught our short 75 minute flight to Managua and taxied to our hotel. Megan's parents graciously used reward points and booked us a room at the Hilton Princess for the night. It was glorious. We had discussed finding a cheap dinner that night, but there was no need: we made a full meal of the "hors d'oeuvres" they set out in the executive lounge. Our room included 2 alcoholic drinks per person and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, which we also took advantage of. With full bellies of bacon wrapped beef, chunks of cheese, fancy bread and cheesecake, the boys walked across the street to pick up last minute souvenirs and Megan and I went to find the jacuzzi. We struggled to find the jacuzzi and eventually asked the front desk; once the man stifled his laughter, we were informed there is no jacuzzi so we decided to go swim in the outdoor pool so we didn't look like idiots walking around in dry swimsuits.

                       One last walk on the beach with Nike, our hotel puppy

Goodbyes were said at 4:45am on Tuesday morning, as Megan and Brock left us to catch their 7:30 flight. Like children on Christmas morning, a few hours later Micah and I excitedly tip-toed into the executive lounge, feeling bare without our companions, and found another large spread of food for our breakfast. We ate bacon (bacon!!), omelettes and fruit, and I snuck some yogurt out in case we needed more later. We checked out of the hotel at the last minute possible, and returned to what we know and are good at: walking in the heat with our backpacks on. 

We found the bus that brought us as close as any bus could to my sister's home, about 11 km away. Our plan was to spend 10 minutes trying to hitchhike the seldomly used road and then buckle and take a moto taxi if plan A failed. Within 5 minutes, we successfully flagged down a truck that just happened to be going to the office at Gran Pacifica, letting us out 20ft from where my sister sat at her desk. For as many times as we've come and gone from the resort, we've never done public transit to or from the resort and were pleased to find it is very do-able. This may allow us more opportunities for short trips in the next month.

                   Free ride in the back of a truck with a ladder and beer posters

Back at the house, we gawked at the fact that Kaiden seems to be taller and speaking more in just one week. We began the traditions of returning to the house; washing clothes, unpacking bags. Normal routine quickly fell in to place that evening too, catching up on the days with Angie and Osman and eating dinner together.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was a preview of our next 5 weeks here at the resort. We ate breakfast, chased Kaiden around the house, Micah began one of many house projects (repairing the drawers in the dresser) and Angie came home at lunch to eat with us. After Kaiden took his afternoon nap, Micah and I took him down to the beach to build sand castles and splash in the waves before we watched the surfers and the sunset from the pool. Once back at the house in the evening, we made a nice salad for dinner, Angie and I looked at paint colors for the two bedrooms in the house and we watched TV.

                                                 Back at our beach

We have little else on our agenda for the month of July. More beach time, more golfing and more family time is a given. Micah and I made a to-do list with Angie and Osman of house projects they'd like done, ideally before my parents arrive on August 1st. This, and Kaiden, should keep us plenty busy. And we will begin our research on the 2 countries we still have to visit, Costa Rica and Panama, along with the parts of Nicaragua we want to explore. Our week with Megan and Brock was just what we needed: time catching up with dear friends we've missed from home, and a reminder of all the parts of Nicaragua we have yet to see.

-J2