Travels with Kila: July 2005

I've been to Hades and back

I am listening to Juanes song Camisa Negra, great song... Well I just got off the bus ride of my life. I have been in 4 countries today... Nica, Honduras, El Salvadore and Guate... look at a map my friends that is a long way to go. Not to mention that since I wrote last I had everything but my clothing, passport and camera stolen out of my locked room. Yes... cell phone gone, iPod gone, comb, tooth brush etc, etc. I replaced the tooth brush. After Poneloya we returned to Leon and had a wonderful morning where I even bought candy to hand out to the kids that were in town hanging around the square and returned to an open door... so much for the guard at the front door of my hospedeja. So then we headed to Chinendaga... Hades as in hotter than... to try and make it to the border of Honduras only to hit ferria and everything was closed. I mean everything... internet, bus station et al. So we decided to relax in a room with MTV and AC. Headed to feria and adopted three kids, bought cotton candy to hand out to more kids, paid for rides on the old and rather scarry carnival ride and then bought the kids dinner... they asked for the equivalent of ramen noodles. It brought me back to my freshman dorm room at Tulane and I was happy that I was past the days of 25 cent dinners. Did I mention that my charger for my camera was taken too, as well as a few other important items. So I used Elisa's camera when I felt a shot or two was necessary and we should be burning a disk from her camera when we make it to civilization at a decent hour tomorrow. We have changed plans and are thinking Belize, I can never be sure where I will head next but the thought of heading south on a bus again gives me the chills. I am thinking airplane. Yes I aso received an e- mail from my friend Danielle in Australia about volunteering at the World Cup and then I thought about the midnight sun in Finland and Elisa is now trying to convince me to meet her in South-east Asia next summer in July. I said that maybe if I can learn to live super cheap then I would be in. Basically the only major price is the airfare and with the miles I would accrue I would have another free AA ticket to the destination of my choice. OK so back to the stolen goods, I keep realizing things that are missing like my most favorite eye stick from origins, could someone please mail me some to Buenos Aires. My Ms Smiths RoseBud Salve that I use for everything from scrapes, burns, to lip gloss and the occasional eye cream... gone as well. My swiss army card that had my scissors, tweezers, and all the other good stuff gone, damn!!! I figure they need it more than me but now I don't have anyones phone number or the photos I so enjoyed on my picture phone, I will have to buy a new phone in BA when I get to Argentina. So while I'm thinking about it a Happy B-day to my grandfather Charles, Marigel and in a few days to my favorite sister in the whole wide world - you know who you are. I will call you soon. Other than that Ferria was great, the bus ride long, I am relaxing for a few days, heading back to Comalapa to see Norm and Chrissy and then onto the next destination which is still unknown although we have found a great route through NE Guate... Semuc Chambey and Livingston - accessible only by boat... up to Belize, missing Sun Jam 2005 in Honduras but I am not sure a rave on the Keys is really my speed anyway. So now I am going to order a glass of wine soon and just relax, maybe look for some things I forgot to buy the last time I was in Guate and try to buy a comb for my hair and maybe a scrub brush to scrub the dirt off my feet that has now become more a part of me than I had ever hoped. In closing... So Long, Farewell, Avertizang, Adeau... My dirty feet and my nappy hair bid you all a good night. Besos y Abrasos............

Onward to Chinendaga Nicaragua

Yesterday was wonderful, we sat at the Hospedeja Chill-age and drank Cuba Libres with San Diego and Portland, two guys we met independantly from eachother who were now traveling together. Other than that everything else has been uneventful. I have been eating my share of fish tacos, they are very fresh and keep me full, something that seems a bit hard to do with rice and beans. All I hear about this next place we are heading is known for being hot, everything we read about mentions sweating and being hot. I am not sure how to take all this because I have been sweating for days and I am afraid we might melt by the time we hit Chinendaga. Canada will probably melt before me, as you would all expect. So we are winding our way north, to get the rest of my stuff from Norms and I have no idea where we want to go. We thought about Utilla in the Bay Islands but I am not sure I want to hit SUN JAM only the coolest party in all of Central America. We shall see. OK we gotta go, check out in our hotel was two hours ago and I am sitting on a computer, everything moves very slow here, and so do I.

Sunset at Poneoya

Sunset at Poneoya
Posted by: kilastravels.

Elisa at the Hospedeja Chill-age (Real Name)

Elisa at the Hospedeja Chill-age (Real Name)
Posted by: kilastravels.

Poneloya Nicaragua

Poneloya Nicaragua
Posted by: kilastravels.

Poneloya Nicaragua

Poneloya Nicaragua
Posted by: kilastravels.

Iglesia Subtiava - Nicaragua

Iglesia Subtiava - Nicaragua
Posted by: kilastravels.

Leon... a City of Culture... a Cacophony of Sound

Elisa and I arrived in Leon after a brief stop over in Managua to hop on a collectivo bus to the colonial city. We did have an exciting ride from San Juan del Sur including lots of attention from men and one in particular that asked me to dance in the aisles while showing me his own special dance of the Atlantic coast, um yes, that is lovely, you sure can shake that thang, could you please keep you sweat from dripping on me, and no I would not like to dance in the aisles. After arriving we walked around and visited many of the murals the city is famous for including the Sandanistan man standing on a grey Uncle Sam and a snake coming out of a box trying to get to the ballot box, the snake has CIA painted on it. I have a feeling we meddled in things a bit here. Anyway, we ended up going to sleep rather early because we were so tired from traveling and staying out late on our last night with Norm, Jeremy (Colorado), Aviv (Fez), and Katrine (Germany). To my surprise they started ringing the church bells at 6 AM oh yes, everyone rise and shine it is time to get to church, but wait that´s not all... then start in the bombas, explosions and bells all at the same time... should we run for cover or head to church. Maybe this is all occurring because we are refusing to get out of bed and join the throngs of people streaming into the churches. Now add in the bird squawking, the bird was from our hospedeja, he was in a cage. I have named him Larry and Larry does not like bombs or bells, in fact he protests the bombs and bells by joining in at the top of his lungs. So I am now awake, time to find breakfast. For a little bit of back ground information let me first tell you that in 3 days I have spilt 4 glasses of liquids. Water twice, beer once and wine once. I spilt wine on my white skirt and Jeremy, I spilt a full beer in my lap right after I poured it while reaching for the limes... the water was truly of no consequence. So we head for breakfast where spill number 3 will soon occur. Ummmm, breakfast gallo pinto and eggs. In all honesty I am craving the refried beans of Guatemala (which we will later find at a french cafe on the square) not whole beans and rice mixed together. So I pick at my food and we decide to head to the market to buy some avocados and make guacamole for our next meal or snack which ever comes first. While walking through the market we come to a beauty shop, one chair one woman (pictures to come later) and I decide I am tired of the curly/frizzy mop I refer to as hair and that I am going to have it straightened... hmmmm, why is she using a crimping iron on my hair? Patricia, with the skinny, skinny eyebrows and her diploma from beauty school on the wall, then talks us into pedicures and an hour later I walk out with psudo-straight hair and a NICA-French pedicure and Elisa with hot pink toes (a color selected by Patricia´s husband who she has been married to for 11 years even though she is only 27)and a white flower painted on each big toe. We are laughing somewhat uncontrolably and walking down the road trying to figure out whose feet they have attached to our ankles and decide it is time for guacamole. So the night ends with a stand at Via Via, only the hippest supertraveler hostal in town, a couple of caparhinias and a guy from the Dominicann Republic that is hitting on Elisa. He then calls over his friend Ceasar who is wearing a guerilla style cap, a la Che Guevarra, not to be confused with the berret he also doned from time to time, I take this to be a consolation prize for me, Hi Ceasar, no thank you I am not interested in company this evening...I think it is time to go home... So off we go in the cab, laughing and still trying to figure out whose feet are attached to our ankles.

PS the air raid sirens just went off again, marking the noon hour... gotta go to the beach, Poneloya about a 20 minute bus ride away. Should be nice, our last day in Nicaragua we are heading back to Guate tomorrow... until then Abrazos por todos.

My new car

My new car
Posted by: kilastravels.

Fresh Coconuts

Fresh Coconuts
Posted by: kilastravels.

On the Playa at Night

On the Playa at Night
Posted by: kilastravels.

Last Dinner with the family

Last Dinner with the family
Posted by: kilastravels.

The amazing Sunset

The amazing Sunset
Posted by: kilastravels.

Getting off the Island and onto the Beach

We woke up on Wednesday to torrential downpours, I think I remember
someone asking what the **** is going on out there. My reply was I
think they are building an ark. I woke up a bit later and reminded my
roommates that it was time to start gathering the animals, two by two.
Geccos, most certainly we would have to gather geccos. We could not
figure out what all the ruckus was beyond the constant hammer of the
rain against the metal roof, until we stepped out to see about 100
people dressed in spandex, an eco challenge group had arrived in the
night and a very large group of very fit people we standing in my
breakfast area, while I stood half asleep in my duck pajamas with what
appeared to be an afro and sleep in my eyes. Great, good morning, pass
the pancakes and bananas please. I recovered quickly and waited for
the others to wake up. Let`s get off this Island, as beautiful as it
was we were tired and craving civilizationn, plus the volcano hike
they begged me to join them on had been the hardest climb of their
life...They were sore, tired and muddy and we were ready to go. I know
some people like to think they know the art of haggling, and at times
I have been know to haggle a little myself, but there are times when
supply and demand comes into play and capitalism is the key. A bus had
made it to our place, one of very few that would even attempt and so
he doubled the price of the ride. I had no problem with this because
it was 3.50 for riding in the back of a truck in the rain or 5.00 to
be in a covered coach. Well the supertravelers that were also at my
hostel refused to pay the inflated fee... you never know when a dollar
fifty might come in handy... can I get another beer please. So on they
went rain gear on, in the back of the truck. We sat there with the eco
challenge people contemplating our next move as they plotted theirs.
The owner called in some favors and a speed boat came around the
corner, it was to drive us to the nearest town in the middle of the
island, we would have to hike to the nearest raod and hitch hike into
town to get to the ferry, the last one leaving at 4:00. Well to make a
long story short we made it, and then hopped in a cab to San Juan del
Sur, where we hit civilization. I am staying with two other girls at
the moment, they guys paid for a room with television, we paid for a
room with aprivatee bathroom and shower and to our surprise a full
length mirror. I had forgottenn what my knees looked like. So here we
are in a surfers paradise not to be confused with a gangsters
paradise, drinking micheladas, eating piazza, and I might even get a
pedicure today. We will be here until Saturday and then off to
possibly another colonial city, Leon. This is our last night together.
The Boston boys head back to Costa Rica as well does the girl from
Germany, Katrine, to catch her flight home. We are sending Norm back
to Guatemala and I am staying with the Canadian and heading back to
Guatemala a bit slower. Everything is good, it is beautiful and I have
turned a nice shade of milk chocolate. I sit on the beach or at a bar
that has nice seats and stare into the surf, then possibly I will read
a bit.I am reading a David Eggers book, I like his writing style. Hope
everyone is well and survived hurricane Emily. MAKTUB.

Chillin by the beach

Chillin by the beach
Posted by: kilastravels.

Watching Paint Dry - San Juan del Sur

Streets of San Juan del Sur
Posted by: kilastravels.

Religious Procession

Religious Procession
Posted by: kilastravels.

The menacing San Juan police force (me & Katrine)

The menacing San Juan police force (me & Katrine)
Posted by: kilastravels.

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur
Posted by: kilastravels.

Michelada con Victora

Michelada con Victora
Posted by: kilastravels.

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur
Posted by: kilastravels.

Getting off Isla de Ometepe

Getting off Isla de Ometepe
Posted by: kilastravels.

Playing Guitar in the Hammock

Chilling in the Hammock
Posted by: kilastravels.

Tamales

Tamales
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Jeremy & Taylor

Jeremy & Taylor
Posted by: kilastravels.

Walking back from the Tienda - Katrine & Elyssa

Walking back from the Tienda - Katrine & Elyssa
Posted by: kilastravels.

Sunset on the pier - Ometepe

Sunset on the pier - Ometepe
Posted by: kilastravels.

Bananas

Bananas
Posted by: kilastravels.

In the Granada Mercado

In the Granada Mercado
Posted by: kilastravels.

Granada - Norm, Me & Katrine

Granada - Norm, Me & Katrine
Posted by: kilastravels.

Granada

Granada
Posted by: kilastravels.

Taking the Ferry to Ometepe

Taking the Ferry to Ometepe
Posted by: kilastravels.

Nicaragua and Ometepe

I just had my entire blog erased and so now I am starting over. I am sitting here in a hospedeja or hacienda if you will in Merida. I am sharing a room with a German woman (Katrine) we picked up in Managua and a Canadian woman (Alyssa) we picked up in Granada. There are two other boys from Boston (Aviv and Jeremy) that are now traveling with us as well. It was the boys idea to come to the place we are and it is absolutely beautiful here. Granada was wonderful, an old colonial city in southern Nicaragua with bright colored paint and lots of tourists but not as many as Antigua, many being surfers on their way to San Juan del Sur. We decided to hop on a chicken bus... the direct route... wink wink... to Rivas and head to the Lake Nicaragua and Ometepe Island. On the way there was a feria, so the bus was at maximum capacity, which made us nervous because we have read about all the pick pockets on the busses (nothing happened), what would be an hour bus ride turned into two and upon arrival we had to grab cold beers, jump in cabs and race to San Jorge which was where the boats were leaving from within minutes. After an hour long ferry ride we arrived in Mayogalpa and took an hour and an hour and a half truck ride past one volcano over to Hacienda Merida. Since then we have been reading books while sitting in hammocks, swimming to islnds inhabited by monkeys, walking through villages of indigenous people (Mosquitos) wearing olny my bahing suit and no shoes, drinking Flor de Cana, the local rum while playing Youker and Joseph, sitting on the docks, climbing black lava rocks, floating under an almost full moon and a million stars at night, and on and on and on... tomorrow we plan on heading to San Juan del Sur and hitting the beach. I am not sure if we will try to attend the Surfing Competition in El Salvador, because really I can't be bothered to try and hurry and get there. We did convince the Boston Boys and Canada to head back to Guatemala with us... Germany has a ticket out of Costa Rica in a week to go home so we will leave her after we head to the beach. Norm, Germany and Canada went to climb Volacn Maderas, I have a date with a hammock. Maybe I will head to the waterfalls with the Boston Boys this afternoon or work on my tan. It is beautiful, I wish I could upload some photos but soon enough I will, when I can. We are leaving for San Juan del Sur tomorrow and that is supposedly the best beach in all of Nicaragua. I have been laughing and laughing and the additional girls has been a nice change because sometimes 3rd world countries where machimo is the name of the game increase machismo in men that would otherwise not behave in such a barbaric way, for example spitting on floors and walls is a totally acepted practice in these parts. Beyond that I have been laughing and laughing, the way I did when I was in Australia. I Am so looking forward to traveling with Canada, she is my age and a teacher in Ontario. I was going to go back to Comalapa for a while but I am thinking that maybe I will go back to San Pedro with Canada and just chill out there instead. Have a great day... until the next time!