Wow! This place is so cool! Have been studying Spanish in the ex-colonial town of Granada for the past week which has been really hard but I think I maybe just beginning to geddit. My teacher has been very relaxed in our one on one sessions and spends as much time cracking the joints in my hands and telling jokes as teaching me reflexive, preterite, exceptions and just plain silly rules. euggh! I'm sure English isnt this complicated to learn.
My hostel has been great, an old spanish stlye house whose dorms are arranged around a palm shaded central courtyard with rocking chairs and hammocks to chill out in. I have met some really cool people who I have eaten my way around the excellent restaurants with and danced merengue, salsa, bachata, cumbia and folkloric nicaraguense around bars under the stars - bliss. Every night for nine nights the Virgin has been paraded down a diffent street followed by a band and all the local Nicas. It ends in the central plaza where all the locals hang out, eat shaved ice dripping with pinapple syrup and yes, fire off mortars. I love this place so much, I could definately spend a lot of time here. It is a tourist town, with a lot of Gringo owned businesses but not to its detriment, not at all tacky.
Today I am heading to Laguna de Apoyo to spend the weekend relaxing, kayaking, sunning and studying. Its going to be really hard! On Monday will probably head to Isla de Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua for volcano hiking, more kyaking and horses.
Loads more photos on the blog.
Thinking of y'all - honest!
Love Ele x
