Hoy es el jueves 30 mayo 2009, dia quarto!

No class today as my teacher is sick, but I have class tomorrow even though it’s a national holiday. Tomorrow is Independence Day and the activities and parades may be cancelled due to the fear of swine flu, no cases in Nicaragua yet. I’ll spend the morning at a couple of internet café’s reading the news and explore the city some more. I found a few places to get cowboy boots handmade for my feet for about $50.00. Today I am looking for the barber shop that makes handmade guitars! After lunch (la comida) I’ll study some Spanish. It was Gerri’s birthday yesterday so I bought her a small “la tarta de cumpleanos” (birthday cake) so we could celebrate her first birthday in Granada, she has been here for 10 months.

Yesterday as I walked around I went through some poor borrows, (neigbourhoods), had to ‘shoo’ the chickens out of the way. I went through the market, a very typical chaotic Central American sight! Animals, fruits and vegetables of all sorts, bags of grain, beans, cooked food, crafts and other items, you could hardly move as you went through. Tomorrow, (Friday) is the local farmers market in the main park across from the cathedral. It opens at 6 am and the farmers from the surrounding hills and area come down to sell their wares.

For supper we had empanadas with cheese, beans & rice (gallo pinto – the national dish) and avocados and of course birthday cake! Next week when I go to order a pair of new boots I’ll take Lilliam with me so she can ensure I do not get charged the ‘gringo’ price, LOL. Hasta manana!

Estile Nicaragua Wed 29 April 2009

Interesting day yesterday; I had language class in the morning until 12:30, then lunch, fried fish, rice, fried plantain and melon, very good. The coffee is excellent here. After lunch I explored the city a little with Gerri another student from the USA, she has lived in Nicaragua for 10 months. We visited the public library, only one for a surrounding population of 200,000 people. Surprisingly no high rises, most buildings are o9nly one or two levels. Then we went to that cathedral, very beautiful and had coffee at a garden café.
The streets are very busy and you can see daily life all around you. Vendors walk up and down the streets selling torteas, fresh fruit tamales etc. \even little girls and boys travel door to door selling what their mother has made that day. Labourers push these three wheel carts with their wares to sell, or if you need building supplies delivered they do that also by their cart. In the surrounding areas people still travel by horseback, no buggies though. I even see horses parked at the ESSO station LOL.
Last night I had lots of homework and Lillian (the made 23 anos) helped me with my pronunciation as I helped her with her English. Everyone seems to be very helpful and the area though poor is safe. It’s just wonderful to be able to sit outside and look at the mountains. The weather is semi-cloudy and about 24 deg C, it’s a little cooler hear than on the coast.

Miami and Managaua

I landed in Miami at 9:30 am and had to kill 3 hours before my flight, what a busy airport! I was tired but awake after getting to the Toronto airport at 3:15 am! LOL We left Miami at 1pm and arrived 1:30 Managua time 2.5 hours flight in an airbus. Needless to say the flight was uneventful. A driver from the school met me and the adventure started. The drive was great except for the garbage on the road -tons- and all the cows, bad drivers, hot sun and road side food, lots of markets, it was great. The people are obviously very, very poor but extremely frienfly etc. I got to the school and was introduced to my host familly, Geovanny and her husband Norlan who is a police officer ' go figure'. Anyways the accommadations are ok, food typical of Nicaragua but healthy, it should be a great experience! The country looks exciting and the people very kind. I have 4 hours of Spanish in the mornings and exploration and homework the rest of the day. More later.

It's Saturday, I have to finish packing and get some more USA cash! It'll be a long day once I catch the flying canoe! LOL

Dive Shop

I was in the dive shop trying to get my computers looked at. The primary one turned on and then went "BLIP:, its a Uwatec and I use it for air and nitrox up to 50%. I need it for the trip to Nicaragua, I want to dive off the Corn Islands and in Lago de Nicaragua which has fresh water sharks! :) So I will use my back-up Uwatec and buy a new computer in June when I return. Only 6 days before I get into the big bird and fly south.

Anyone who needs dive equipment should head to London Travel Sports on Warancliffe, London, Ontario. Doug and Daphne are great people to deal with.

Preparation for Nicaragua

I have finally started the preparation for the great escape to Nicaragua. Soon I'll be in the air and then finally in the mountains. Still lots to do, packing, papers, insurance, find the passport, check Nica Living etc.