Buenos noche from the beautiful Isla Ometepe!I am beyond thankful to say that I have spent the past three days on Ometepe, the largest island of Lake Nicaragua. After completing two weeks of work, my friends and I spent a four day vacation exploring Nicaragua. We spent our first day at the Lagoon de Apoyo - a lagoon which formed in the crater of a errupted volcano over 23,000 years ago. The volcano is now dormant with certain volcanic activity still present in a few hot springs. The lagoon was beyond enticing and- after a day of swimming and kayaking- refreshing...an oasis from the relentless Granada heat. The lagoon's water was only deep blues- clear yet seemingly dark due to its depth over 5 miles deep. Rachel, Nicole,and I spent the day kayaking along its 6 km coast line and swimming to different coves throughout the lagoon.The following day, after a morning spending time at our site and meeting with two adminstrators of the Nicaragua Christian Academy, we began our journey to Isla Ometepe. And a journey it was: Beginning at the bus terminal in Granada, we made our way to Massaya on a bus filled beyond capacity- people sitting with cargo on the roof, women selling chicken, eggs, and sweet treats along the way (evening tossing items through the windows at stops along the highway). After switching buses along the highway we made our way to San Jorge- a port on the southern coast of Lake Nicaragua- to catch a ferry to Ometepe. And when I say ferry I mean boat- it was a wet and rocky ride as we made our way through ceaseless waves and daunting monsoon rains. Upon arrival, we took a taxi two hours to the coast along the Volcano Maderas- only rocky dirt roads and farms for miles. We arrived at our beautiful eco-farm and lodge- Finca Mystica- just in time for a delicious dinner of vegetable curry.Finca Mystica is owned by a couple originally from the States who have now lived in Nicaragua for over seven years and have been working in the community at the base of the Volcano Maderas while developing their hotel business at Finca Mystica. The ecolodge is largely self sustaining with all food grown directly on site. And the food sure was delicious. Called Roots and Fruits Cafe, it was definitely my place with whole made dark chocolates and curry popcorn for snacks; vegetarian dishes from rice and bean burgers on homemade bread to delish beet salad; and endless fresh fruit- mango, banana, white pineapple, and papaya (lets just say I did not want to leave).
We spent the night in a cabin for six, quickly falling asleep to the sound of light rain, howler monkeys, geccos, and a numerity of insects. We had no idea what awaited us with a planned trip to hike the volcano on which we slept the next morning.
Up early we began our day with delicious coffee and fresh papaya and banana grown and made from the property and began our 7 hour hike up Volcano Maderas. It wad amazing to see and explore the various biospheres as we hiked from 300 to 4000 feet. As we neared the top the temperature drastically cooled and the ground we were hiking consisted of only mud and immense tree roots and trunks... we were literally climbing through the tree canopy at the volcano peak. After a re-energizing picnic lunch looking down at the crater lagoon, we hiked our way back down Maderas. Sliding through mud and relying on every tree branch possible to get down the treacherous slope, it was a physical and mental challenge for sure. We spent the rest of the day in recovery lounging in hammocks and catching up on good books at our ecolodge. One of the best days of our time in Nicaragya yet.
During our final day on Ometepe, Nicole, Rachel, and I were off on another adventure horseback riding and hiking to San Juan waterfall. Flashbacks to the days riding at Pompositticut Farm- we even cantered our way home. The rest of the day was spent at the beach swimming to cool off from the island heat. And of course we celebrated our last night on Ometepe with locally made vegetables burritos and Nicaraguan Flora de Cana straight up on the rocks. Swinging on hammocks and playing charades with the ecolodge owners, the night was one to remember.
Up and at em at 6 the next morning, we made our back to the colorful, awaiting city of Granada excited to begin the second half of our trip with our client Charles. The rest of our time will be hard work for sure but we are beyond ready to move forward in the design process and get back on the ground exploring El Pantanal and supporting GCEC's visions for the community here.
We spent the night in a cabin for six, quickly falling asleep to the sound of light rain, howler monkeys, geccos, and a numerity of insects. We had no idea what awaited us with a planned trip to hike the volcano on which we slept the next morning.
Up early we began our day with delicious coffee and fresh papaya and banana grown and made from the property and began our 7 hour hike up Volcano Maderas. It wad amazing to see and explore the various biospheres as we hiked from 300 to 4000 feet. As we neared the top the temperature drastically cooled and the ground we were hiking consisted of only mud and immense tree roots and trunks... we were literally climbing through the tree canopy at the volcano peak. After a re-energizing picnic lunch looking down at the crater lagoon, we hiked our way back down Maderas. Sliding through mud and relying on every tree branch possible to get down the treacherous slope, it was a physical and mental challenge for sure. We spent the rest of the day in recovery lounging in hammocks and catching up on good books at our ecolodge. One of the best days of our time in Nicaragya yet.
During our final day on Ometepe, Nicole, Rachel, and I were off on another adventure horseback riding and hiking to San Juan waterfall. Flashbacks to the days riding at Pompositticut Farm- we even cantered our way home. The rest of the day was spent at the beach swimming to cool off from the island heat. And of course we celebrated our last night on Ometepe with locally made vegetables burritos and Nicaraguan Flora de Cana straight up on the rocks. Swinging on hammocks and playing charades with the ecolodge owners, the night was one to remember.
Up and at em at 6 the next morning, we made our back to the colorful, awaiting city of Granada excited to begin the second half of our trip with our client Charles. The rest of our time will be hard work for sure but we are beyond ready to move forward in the design process and get back on the ground exploring El Pantanal and supporting GCEC's visions for the community here.