Granada, Nicaragua 29 December to 22 January
It was nice to be back in Granada, though this was dampened as my checked in bag never made it out of Auckland. At one point 2 days after arriving in Managua, no one knew where it had got to, not Air NZ or United. Having equipment that had been accumulated during my time at home and in NZ, one was getting a tad concerned.
The phone rang on the second of January, shit I could not believe it had just turned up at the Augusto C Sandino airport in Managua. Having arrived there unattended it was not worth risking having it delivered to Granada, Felipe the La Ezperanza chauffeur extraordinaire took me to get it personally. Relief was a feeling that comes to mind.
Accommodation for the first week was in Santa Lucia, then in Hotel El Angel, breakfast was included while lunch was enjoyed deep in the markets, arroz, pollo, gallo pinto y ensalada. As usual the fresh fruit was such a treat. So too were the Eskimo ice creams for 50c in the cone.
Time in Granada was spent learning more Spanish with mixed results, doing minor repairs on the volunteer dwellings, Santa Lucia, Libertad and La Casita. The facade on La Casita was painted with the help of Phil from the states and Thom from Canada.
It was a fairly relaxed project that saw us using two colours to keep in fitting with the schema of the town.
Each weekend was spent away, firstly at Laguna de Apoyo with Pete from the UK whom was here last year. This lake is in the caldron of an old volcano, it is Nics most cleanest body of water, swimming was a delight here, made even moreso after dragging our bikes through the bush during the latter part of the trip. Secondly in La Borquita, a beach two and a half hours on the pacific coast from Granada. The weekend was spent with a group of volunteers from Boston. The beach ranchos provided local fish and lobsters at “couldn’t say no” prices.
Trying to compensate the luxury uptake a 12k walk was enjoyed on the beach at an early hour, Sunday.
The last weekend was sent on the North Pacific coast at Corinto and Jiquilillo. On the way up we stopped south of Sebaco on the Trans Am to see my friends Harold’s folks.
Corinto is where cruise ships pull into Nic, sadly the rustic coastal port sees little of their cash as they are whisked away to Granada etc in a fleet of buses.
Jiquilillo was a pleasure, a great beach as far as you could see, good surf, good swimming, dark sand and few people. We stayed at Rancho Tranquillo, it comes recommended.
It was a 7 hour tri bus trip home to Granada.
Lunch was also spent in Dorimo with Harold and his family, a town near Laguna de Apoyo.
The last day was spent visiting the pueblo where the solar coke bottle lights were installed. I was hoping the recipients of the lights were not going to throw rocks at me on the account their lights had leaked all invierno in the wet.
Instead they were ever so pleased with them and were really happy to see me, a feeling reciprocated. The “houses” that had installations near the fire in the kitchen revealed bottles covered in a brown film, which was soon removed. Not one had leaked, the epoxy used had proved itself, while the water was still clear, providing good light. Thanks again to those that contributed last year. These people have seen a great improvement to their living conditions during the day. It was a small but very successful project.
The last night was spent on the Calzada, before flying to Colombia at 0230 in the morning, bloody hell, no curfews here.
Flying Spirit Air to Medellín via Ft Lauderdale was chosen, this came at a saving of $500 on all other airlines, they come recommended with new Airbuses, though don’t expect much else and you do pay for bags, a bit of a dodgy carbon footprint, Managua is not a huge hub by any stetch of the imagination!!
It was nice to be back in Granada, though this was dampened as my checked in bag never made it out of Auckland. At one point 2 days after arriving in Managua, no one knew where it had got to, not Air NZ or United. Having equipment that had been accumulated during my time at home and in NZ, one was getting a tad concerned.
The phone rang on the second of January, shit I could not believe it had just turned up at the Augusto C Sandino airport in Managua. Having arrived there unattended it was not worth risking having it delivered to Granada, Felipe the La Ezperanza chauffeur extraordinaire took me to get it personally. Relief was a feeling that comes to mind.
Accommodation for the first week was in Santa Lucia, then in Hotel El Angel, breakfast was included while lunch was enjoyed deep in the markets, arroz, pollo, gallo pinto y ensalada. As usual the fresh fruit was such a treat. So too were the Eskimo ice creams for 50c in the cone.
Time in Granada was spent learning more Spanish with mixed results, doing minor repairs on the volunteer dwellings, Santa Lucia, Libertad and La Casita. The facade on La Casita was painted with the help of Phil from the states and Thom from Canada.
It was a fairly relaxed project that saw us using two colours to keep in fitting with the schema of the town.
Each weekend was spent away, firstly at Laguna de Apoyo with Pete from the UK whom was here last year. This lake is in the caldron of an old volcano, it is Nics most cleanest body of water, swimming was a delight here, made even moreso after dragging our bikes through the bush during the latter part of the trip. Secondly in La Borquita, a beach two and a half hours on the pacific coast from Granada. The weekend was spent with a group of volunteers from Boston. The beach ranchos provided local fish and lobsters at “couldn’t say no” prices.
Trying to compensate the luxury uptake a 12k walk was enjoyed on the beach at an early hour, Sunday.
The last weekend was sent on the North Pacific coast at Corinto and Jiquilillo. On the way up we stopped south of Sebaco on the Trans Am to see my friends Harold’s folks.
Corinto is where cruise ships pull into Nic, sadly the rustic coastal port sees little of their cash as they are whisked away to Granada etc in a fleet of buses.
Jiquilillo was a pleasure, a great beach as far as you could see, good surf, good swimming, dark sand and few people. We stayed at Rancho Tranquillo, it comes recommended.
It was a 7 hour tri bus trip home to Granada.
Lunch was also spent in Dorimo with Harold and his family, a town near Laguna de Apoyo.
The last day was spent visiting the pueblo where the solar coke bottle lights were installed. I was hoping the recipients of the lights were not going to throw rocks at me on the account their lights had leaked all invierno in the wet.
Instead they were ever so pleased with them and were really happy to see me, a feeling reciprocated. The “houses” that had installations near the fire in the kitchen revealed bottles covered in a brown film, which was soon removed. Not one had leaked, the epoxy used had proved itself, while the water was still clear, providing good light. Thanks again to those that contributed last year. These people have seen a great improvement to their living conditions during the day. It was a small but very successful project.
The last night was spent on the Calzada, before flying to Colombia at 0230 in the morning, bloody hell, no curfews here.
Flying Spirit Air to Medellín via Ft Lauderdale was chosen, this came at a saving of $500 on all other airlines, they come recommended with new Airbuses, though don’t expect much else and you do pay for bags, a bit of a dodgy carbon footprint, Managua is not a huge hub by any stetch of the imagination!!
Medellín 22nd -26th January 2013
Arriving in Medellín, with my bag!! It was a pleasure to be in a more idealistic environment temperature wise, that being about 25-29°c.
My internet desk top weather reports for Medellín had shown rain and storms here for weeks. Guy, Olgas husband in the house where I am staying here in Medellín has been here since end of November. He informed me that there has almost been no rain here. Much to my relief.
After 8 months of storage the bike was just as it had been left in the storage bay in the basement of the apartment block. Even the Brooks leather saddle had no mould. This climate here in Medellín is like an eternal spring. Very pleasant.
I have been really fortunate to be able to stay here with Beatrice, Olga and Guy.
Having my bike stored here, left me at ease with regards to its security.
A new rear cassette and chain has been fitted, other than that she’s ready for the journey south, probably moreso than me. It has been a while since I did any serious long distance riding, the last time being from Ben Ohau Station near Twizel in NZ to Mount Cook, whilst at my sisters place, unloaded of course.
Having had five days here and studying the route south and reading other accounts of the trip to the Ecuador border, there are some serious hills on the way. Taking this into account and my lack of fitness at present, it was decided to cull some gear. The parting with these items was necessary and was based on their use last year.
Some items included a SW radio, wok, deet, spare fuel bottle, socks, jeans, shirts, maps among other things. It will all be put to good use as Guy will be taking it back to the states.
Last year the gear weighed 70kg, the hills leading into Medellín reminded me of this every inch of the way.
The weight stats this trip are:
Me: 75kg (an indication of idleness)
Bike: 20kg
Gear: 62kg, some of this may find a new owner too!!
Giving a GVM of 157kg.
My time here has been spent just relaxing, also we have been going into town to get things done and a bit of sightseeing. Hot water is on tap at the house, a luxury after Granada, though it is not really needed there as it is naturally luke warm. A visit to the Botero art gallery was enjoyed, on display was South American modern art.
Beatrice has been serving great meals of traditional fare, things like chicharon con carne de cerdo, (shallow fried pork belly) morcilla,( a sausage made of rice, blood of pork and herbs) guineo ( small moist cooking banana) and the fruit mamey and an unreal Colombian tomato salad among other treats.
Here is the recipe for the tomato salad.
· Tomato cut into small pieces
· Garlic cut into small pieces
· Cilantro finley chopped
· Lemon juice
· Salt and sugar
· Onion cut up into small pieces
· Stir and eat
Plans were made to leave today the 26th, however last night saw us go to a great little bar and consume a few bottles of rum, like Nicaragua’ it’s best purchased by the bottle for your table.
The local Ron Medellín is just the best on ice only. Needless to say it would not have been a good idea to head off this morning, especially with some serious climbing out of the city which is located in a valley.
Arriving in Medellín, with my bag!! It was a pleasure to be in a more idealistic environment temperature wise, that being about 25-29°c.
My internet desk top weather reports for Medellín had shown rain and storms here for weeks. Guy, Olgas husband in the house where I am staying here in Medellín has been here since end of November. He informed me that there has almost been no rain here. Much to my relief.
After 8 months of storage the bike was just as it had been left in the storage bay in the basement of the apartment block. Even the Brooks leather saddle had no mould. This climate here in Medellín is like an eternal spring. Very pleasant.
I have been really fortunate to be able to stay here with Beatrice, Olga and Guy.
Having my bike stored here, left me at ease with regards to its security.
A new rear cassette and chain has been fitted, other than that she’s ready for the journey south, probably moreso than me. It has been a while since I did any serious long distance riding, the last time being from Ben Ohau Station near Twizel in NZ to Mount Cook, whilst at my sisters place, unloaded of course.
Having had five days here and studying the route south and reading other accounts of the trip to the Ecuador border, there are some serious hills on the way. Taking this into account and my lack of fitness at present, it was decided to cull some gear. The parting with these items was necessary and was based on their use last year.
Some items included a SW radio, wok, deet, spare fuel bottle, socks, jeans, shirts, maps among other things. It will all be put to good use as Guy will be taking it back to the states.
Last year the gear weighed 70kg, the hills leading into Medellín reminded me of this every inch of the way.
The weight stats this trip are:
Me: 75kg (an indication of idleness)
Bike: 20kg
Gear: 62kg, some of this may find a new owner too!!
Giving a GVM of 157kg.
My time here has been spent just relaxing, also we have been going into town to get things done and a bit of sightseeing. Hot water is on tap at the house, a luxury after Granada, though it is not really needed there as it is naturally luke warm. A visit to the Botero art gallery was enjoyed, on display was South American modern art.
Beatrice has been serving great meals of traditional fare, things like chicharon con carne de cerdo, (shallow fried pork belly) morcilla,( a sausage made of rice, blood of pork and herbs) guineo ( small moist cooking banana) and the fruit mamey and an unreal Colombian tomato salad among other treats.
Here is the recipe for the tomato salad.
· Tomato cut into small pieces
· Garlic cut into small pieces
· Cilantro finley chopped
· Lemon juice
· Salt and sugar
· Onion cut up into small pieces
· Stir and eat
Plans were made to leave today the 26th, however last night saw us go to a great little bar and consume a few bottles of rum, like Nicaragua’ it’s best purchased by the bottle for your table.
The local Ron Medellín is just the best on ice only. Needless to say it would not have been a good idea to head off this morning, especially with some serious climbing out of the city which is located in a valley.