Hey Everyone. Well it’s been a crazy couple of weeks in Nicaragua. After a shuttle down my friend and I ended up in Leon. It’s a pretty unique place with a ton of good restaurants and cafes. Finally was able to find a super good steak and mashed potato meal with a yummy mojito. 

We decided to take a 2 day trip to Somoto Canyon up near the Honduras/Nica border. It is a place in the middle of no where run by a local family with 7 brothers. Probably one of the best ways to spent a birthday was to be canyoning and cliff jumping and trying to have spanish conversations. We had a 5 hr chicken bus ride back to Leon to celebrate the rest of my day. A bonus I finally saw a chicken on the chicken bus! We got back just in time for the hostel owner to have a piece of cake for me and some shots ready. Then might have turned into going out for some rum.

We spent the next couple days exploring some more cafes and going out to Las Penitas beach. I did manage to actually get in the water again and catch a few more waves. Next adventure was to go on a 2 day trip to the volcanoes. Early in the morning was the hike up Cerro Negro Volcanoe which hasn’t erupted since 1999 and usually erupts every 8 years! After the 45 min hike we put on some coveralls and goggles and sat on a board and was down in less then a minute. So much lava ash everywhere but we weren’t done yet and was ready to start hiking the next volcanoe. It was a 3 hr hike up to El Hoyo in 38 degree weather. I might have struggled a little but by the time we set up camp and hiked the rest of the way to the summit to see the most amazing view and sunset. From the top you can see the whole line of 10 volcanoes and the crater lake. Oh watch out for the boa snake though hiding by the path. Eeek. The best part of camping on Hoyo we just had to unzip the tent in the morning to see again the most amazing sunrise. Next was the long 4 hr hike to the crater lake and well by the end of this trip I might have had a bit of heat stroke but the trip was well worth the struggle. Determination goes along ways to see beauty. 

We ended our week in Leon with a night at the French bakery for cheese and wine. And then of course goodbyes again to head to Playa Gigante. A shuttle and taxi ride later we ended up at Monkey House Hostel on a cliff overlooking the ocean and beach. To the left a fishing village and to the right a surf break. Couldn’t ask for a better lookout especially with the guitar and ukulele that a couple girls were playing for the chill part of the days. For three days I got to go watch my first surfing competition a little ways down the beach. Oh the trek there one day and on the way back was all part of the experience which included walking 2 km, hitching a ride from the veggie truck and another truck. A few of the locals that I met were entered in the competition so it made it that much more better to watch. Funny how 4 years later I met again my surf instructor from a different town and we have never stayed in contact. It’s so easy just being yourself in such a chilled village too. I keep following in love with all the places I’ve been going. The last day was a boat trip out to a couple extremely good surf spots not for beginners. Great to just be on the ocean though and watch some massive waves. I also was able to have a good day learning spanish again with the boat driver. 

Yesterday was time to leave bright and early and get moving to Costa Rica. One of the worst days to travel because of Holy Week but I made it. It might have taken 3 buses and a couple hours and the border crossing and a taxi to but I arrived at a nice hostel in San Jose. I’m only here long enough to get a shuttle to Panama for tomorrow as I have run out of time and no longer can travel Costa Rica. There’s always next time. It’s time to volunteer in a couple days on an island. 

Until next time….time for island time!!!