D151: Surfing Donkey Hostel @ San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

I spent three nights at the Tortuga Booluda aka Lazy Turtle in Leon. The city is a typical Nicaraguan one not overly touristy. It was the perfect spot for me to rewind after the El Salvador marathon. On the day (D144) when I arrived just explored the city, ate street food and watched my first chick flick at the local cinema since I left Ireland.

The following day (D145) was about visiting museums: Museum of Revolution guided by a Nicaraguan ex-guerrilla and the Museum of Legends and Traditions housed in a former jail used under the Somoza regime. In the evening I met up for a drink and laugh with my new friend Ade whose objective was to visit six Central American countries in two weeks. Basically a marathon but he did it! Fair play to him!

One of the reasons why tourists come to Leon is to try out the volcano boarding on the dramatic and active Volcan Cerro Negro. I signed up for it too even though I was freaking out as I did not know what to expect. I woke up on the morning of D146 and it was raining. One side of me was hoping that they cancel the tour because of the rain but I was informed that this was not the case. I was picked from the hostel and driven with nine other people to the foot of the volcano. There a rucksack with the protection gear and a wooden board was handed to each of us. It was not enough that the hike was pretty difficult but you also had to carry the damn heavy board for 45 minutes. At some point the water was dripping off my face. Unbelievable!! Once at the top we were shown where we would slide down. It was a long and pretty steep slope! Funny enough I was pretty calm (what a surprise) whereas the two girlies that I met from Scotland and England (Team GB) were a bit freaking out!

But you have to finish what you have started so we geared up and queued to slide down. I was the last one which really helped me to see what it is good to do and what is not! I had a pretty amazing slide and a huge adrenaline rush!! I have to say I would have wanted to do it again!! Team GB and Team IRL had a lot of fun!

After this amazing experience I was ready to leave Leon to Masaya, the capital of hammocks. I need a hammock for South America so I was on a mission to get one from the recommended Mercado Viejo (Old Market) of Masaya. At the market people were very helpful so it was pretty easy to pick one.

My only problem was that I did not like the colours on offer (how silly) but eventually I picked a yellow / black combo one (busy as a bee colour)! My job was done in this city.

The next morning (D148) after a nice coffee and ‘quesillo’ (toasted cheese on tortilla with fried onions) I got the bus to Granada to meet up with my friend Jennifer, who I have known since Santa Ana, El Salvador.

Granada is the touristy colonial city of Nicaragua as it is Antigua in Guatemala or Arequipa in Peru. In these cities it is quite difficult to pick a place to stay before you arrive as there are so many options but in the same time shitty and expensive. So I walked from the bus terminal towards the Parque Central and a colonial house with an amazing courtyard caught my eyes. I inquired about the price but instead the lady showed me around. The dormitories at Backpacker’s Inn have high ceilings with 3 beds respectively 6 beds and simply but tastefully decorated. I liked the atmosphere and the staff so I decided to stay here. I was the only person in the room for three nights so it practically felt like a private room!! Later I met up with Jennifer at the Casa del Agua whose owner Gerry is an Irish man from Gorey, Wexford. We were trying to plan our days in Granada so we spontaneously decided to make a night tour to the active Volcan Masaya which also consisted visiting a lava tube (cave) and a bat cave.

The Volcan Masaya is also called the “Mouth of death” as in the past indigenous people were throwing young virgins and children into the active crater as a sacrifice to the Gods! How creepy!!!

The lava tube or a cave that is formed from hardened lava was very interesting to see.

All this area was surrounded by bats and Felipe our guide brought us to this cave where were hundreds and hundreds of flying bats. It was not only us who were scared they were freaking out as well when our flashlights were turned on.

After the nocturnal nature tour we were brought to the Mercado Viejo in Masaya where every Thursday night they have a traditional folklore night with dancing and singing.

The plan for the following day (D149) was to visit Catarina a local village with a mirador (view point) to the Laguna Apoyo, Volcan Mombacho, Lake Nicaragua and Granada city.

The first time I heard about zip-lining was here in Central America. Basically this consists of playing the modern version of Tarzan and Jane in the jungle. You climb up to a certain height wearing a helmet and a harness which can be attached to strong cable through a rolling wheel and you slide from one platform (tree) to another. The sliding can be up to 300m or maybe more. On the morning of D150 this adventure really brought up my fear of heights. I was scared and sweating like a pig for the first part but then I started to relax and enjoy the view from the above. It was an amazing feeling!

During this trip I have realized that I have a few moderate phobias that I was not aware of it before. I am scared of heights, of jumping into the water, being squeezed in the bus for a long period of time etc etc. But fortunately all these cannot stop me to try out adventurous stuff!!!

For a couple of days I was very tempted to have a Britney Spears moment: have my hair shaved off. The only difference would be that I am totally high on happy adrenaline and feeling fearless whereas she was supposedly depressed and lulu. When we got back to the city we passed by the barber shop just beside my hotel and I went in to ask how much would cost to shave off my hair.

The next moment I was sitting in the barber ladies chair and she started cutting off my extremely dry blonde hair while Jennifer was documenting (taking pictures + making short movies) this once in a lifetime moment. Ten minutes later I was bald and happy!!

Later on we went for dinner to O’Shea’s the only Irish restaurant in town where they served amazing Irish and not only food! It almost felt like home! This morning (D151) Jennifer and I had breakfast at O’Shea’s and an hour later we said our goodbyes after three adventurous and amazing days.

It was about time for me to move on to my next destination: a beach /surfing resort called San Juan del Sur. Here I am staying at the quiet & cool Surfing Donkey Hostel. What a funny name! Earlier I asked for directions from locals and they were laughing when I said the name of this hostel J! But because of this catchy name people know about it!

Tomorrow is another day and another destination: Isla Ometepe!