Deaf & Dumb

Travelling and blogging and travelling and blogging and travelling and did I say blogging?


I find both to be so rewarding...


...Travelling because it enables me to visit such wonderful and amazing places and blogging becuase it is so cathartic and satisfying knowing I have documented my recent travel adventures. Not to mention it has given me a reason to categorize and backup my photos as I go along (trés important). All giving me a little sense of purpose whilst travelling. 


HOWEVER, too much good stuff can sometimes leave you feeling a little worn. Namely travelling can be quite exhausting at times (mammoth bus journeys and lugging a heavy back back has left me broken). I have also *shock horror* started to look at my blogging as a bit of an arduous task which was something I had hoped I would never do. 


Personally I think its to do with the heat and humidity as it makes everything here seem such a mammoth of a task. Not forgetting of course the relaxed Central American vibe which has left me so chillaxed I am almost horizontal.


But this isnt a complaint. No, it is more a venting of feelings and an insight into travelling life. It is on the whole awesome but there are times when I do get homesick and tired of the fact that my persperation levels have increase threefold (I never knew I had the ability to sweat so much) and my feet have increase in size from the heat. Then there is the reality that my hair resembles Monica froms Friends in the episode where she visited Hawaii albeit my resemblance is sans make up as I've all but forgotten what I look like with it on (Not sure if thats a good or bad thing?!) Lets not even get me started on the fact that I've been wearing the same backpack of clothes over six months as I may just crumble...


Anyways enough of the rant, back to the "day job":-


Having had the most exhilerating horse ride on Ometepe Island, it was inevitable that a non-equestrian like me was going to wake up a little saddle sore. What I should have done in hindsight was just relax the next day and not overexert myself but life doesnt always work out that way. No I had a travel itinery to keep to and as such I was heading to the first Colonial city in Nicaragua (and the rest Latin America) - Granada.


So on went the back breaking back pack (try saying that 20 times) and off I sped on a tuk tuk to the ferry port. 

Tuktastic

The bus ride from the mainland to Granada was predictably on a school bus with the usual suspects on board - weird smelly homeless man acting strangly so no one would sit near him, numerous street vendors trying to sell you everything and anything you didnt need, a sprinkling of gringos and two random locals dressed as clowns performing a skit in order to get money. 


Thankfully the journey was only an hour or so and Granada turned out to be worth the chaotic ride there. The town itself was much smaller and less developed than I was expecting and it reminded me of a poorer, less glossy version of Cartagena in Colombia. Apparently it is Nicaraguas most picturesque city and I think having seen other parts of the country Id have to agree.  

The main square in Granada

The Cathedral of Granada

Starving from the journey I ate in an interesting Café called Sonrisas (Smiles in Spanish) which is run by a charity to help deaf Nicaraguans. The staff are all deaf and the menu is therefore mostly images which you point at. Needless to say, tired from my journey I was a little dumb so it took me a while to grasp this despite the walls being covered in sign language. The huge hammocks in the café  (made also by the staff) relieved my embarrassment. 

Sign language tiles - kind of a give away...

GIANT hammocks

There was a power cut during the first night stay, something Ive realised happens quite alot in Central America. It tends to go hand in hand with the immense thunder storms that take place here. Im not kidding when I say Ive witness thunder setting off car alarms and lightening setting an electricity junction box on fire outside my hostel. Thankfully the Nicas (locals) were are used to the power cuts so most restaurants and bars had back up generators. I also had an excuse to use my rather attractive (NOT) head torch. 


My first day in Granada consisted of an important and mission critical task: Finding a decent place to get a massage. 


Gallivanting on a horse and lugging my back pack around has left my back and shoulders knotted beyond belief. Im usually a little wary of massages given that the few times I've had them I have always left with more aches and pains than when I went it. The fact the last one I had was given by a female who resembled a Russian shot putter who pretty much broke me in half also left me slightly wary...


Delightedly I discovered a place called Pure Spa which offered a facial and full body massage for a decent price and with experienced and qualified masseuses. Mine turned out to be a lovely local Nica who had hands that werent like Russian shotputters. I came out relaxed and glistening from all the almond oil my masseuse had used. My face was also looking a little more plump up and youthful - facials are the key to looking young I swear. 


To keep within the theme of health, I decided to have lunch at a place called the Garden Cafe. This eaterie turned out to be my go to food place during my time in Granada. It served the most delicious and affordable sandwiches, breakfasts and dinners. Turns out it is owned by a Californian and a Nicaraguan - good combo if you ask me. 

The courtyard in the Garden Cafe

Having been very healthy that day I decided to treat myself to a visit to the ChocoMuseo in Granada. The museum is actually very small and you can read most of the information sat whilst drinking a cup of hot chocolate. What I liked more were the iron sculptures and local artwork that were placed throughout the courtyards of the Hotel / Spa which the musuem is part of. I think you have to pay to enter and use the facilities of the outdoor pool and ping pong table that the Hotel had but I managed to bypass this somehow : D

ChocoMuseo

Locally made chair and art

Surprisingly comfortable chairs

Real ducks in the swimming pool!

One of the highlights of my time in Granada was visiting the nearby Laguna Apoyo - a lake that formed in the volcanic crater of the long extinct Apoyo Volcano. The water is calm and warm and I spent the entire day swimming to and from a pontoon in the lake, lounging in a rubber ring and even managed to brave taking a kayak for a ride. Im turning into a water baby! 

Kayaks and the laguna

View from my swinging hammock chair : D

Where my hammock chair was located along with the bar

The other highlight was ascending the bell tower of Iglesia (Church) la Merced. Whilst I did struggle descending the tight spiral staircase - slight case of vertigo to blame - the views over the rooftops and towards the lake which sits next to the city made it all worthwhile. 

Iglesia La Merced

Smile for the camera!

Preggers! Only joking, just my top inflating with the wind! ;-p

Sun going down

Best thing about Nicaragua so far though is that its cheaper than Costa Rica. Cha-ching!