February 13, 2003
Photos - Magical Nicaragua
Hola! Although I planned on being in Nicaragua for maybe a week, it's over two and counting. The land and people continue to enchant me, and the relatively high prices in Costa Rica help keep me away.
Although most of us see images of puppet dictatorships, the Iran-Contra Affair, and Ollie North when we think of Nicaragua, it is more than just a chapter in the book of Reagan-era U.S. foreign affairs screw ups.
The following are images of this beautiful land.
Current Stats:
Miles from Home - 5,600
Days on the Road - 62
Days sick in bed - 5 (3 of which ended two days ago)
Times I thought El Cabroncito was about to plunge into 10m deep water - 3
Lives I've saved with the Heimlich Manuever - 1 (more on that another time)
A look into the world's largest natural air polluter -- Volcán Masaya. Nicaragua has upwards of ten volcanoes within spitting distance of it's capital, Managua. Well, spitting distance for a volcano.
Finally, some other riders! I met up with Erin and Chris of Ultimate Journey fame on Volcán Masaya. We spent the next two days talking nothing but motorcycles. It was heaven.
And here's what Erin and Chris look like!!
Marcel and (I forget, sorry!) sitting on the hood of the '91 Crown Vic he picked up in Chicago for $500. He's driving this yacht on wheels all through Central America, hoping to ditch it (burn it, get it stolen, drop the oil) in Panama before flying home to Switzerland.
This handwritten sign on the plaza in Leon reads "Do not urinate or defacate here, under penalty of arrest." I guess they have a problem with that in these parts. Reminds me of Philly in the 80's.
From Leon, I cruised down to San Juan del Sur near the border with Costa Rica. At sunset the tide pools were mysterious. Two feet behind me the rock ends and the water is at least 10 meters deep.
Playa Madera. I spent six days lounging in hammocks, cooking fresh fish on an open fire, and generally wasting away in Margaritaville on this beautifully barren stretch of the Pacific Coast. It was relaxing until the crew I was camping with decided to run into town, rent a sound system, and throw an all night dance party on the beach. The old man (me) only made it until 1:30.
The 1610 meter high Volcan Concepción on the Isla de Ometepe. The isla in the middle of the Lago de Nicaragua is the largest island in a fresh water lake.
Where's Waldo? There are 11 monkees in this admittedly poorly exposed photo. Don't be surprised if you can't see them. I could see them in the tree, but I can't find them for the dickens in the photo.
Just to prove I wasn't BSing about the monkee thing...
A friend from Germany, Johannes, basking in the cascade of waters coming down hill from the second peak on Isla de Ometepe, Volcan Maderas.
As I'm always behind the camera now, I just wanted to peek in front to say hi!
As the sun was setting this family waded past our camp in Charco Verde on the isla dragging a net through the water. They fish for sardines every night at sunset for dinner.
Two of the boys saw me take a picture and ran to shore asking for me to give them one. I took another and showed them on the back of the camera. Take it out! Take it out! they shouted excitedly. I gave up on trying to explain that I had a little TV in the back of the camera, and that there was no paper to give them.
Leaving isla de Ometepe, the ferry had broken down so I had to load El Carboncito on a smaller cargo/passenger boat. What you don't see is the boat moving two to three feet up and down in relation to the dock.
While my stomach pitched with the rough surf, the sight of El Cabroncito lashed to the railless top deck of the boat didn't help. Note the angle of the deck compared to the horizon. It got worse later and was easily pitching 25 degrees to either side.
More written entries coming soon. Now, off to Costa Rica!!