barefoot barbecue

So i think it has been a while since ive filled in everyone on where ive been. Hopefully you've been reading sonya's blog too. The last thing I can recall not writing about was going to Las Peñitas outside of Leon on the coast, a very small little surfing beach. I didnt get a chance to surf because everyone said it was too dangerous at the moment, however we got plenty of time in swimming, eating fried foods and hamac swinging. We even got some Cine in, seeing Slumdog Millionaire twice.. After a couple more nights in Leon, waiting for Sonya's spectacles prescrption, we headed for Granada, right at the north shore of Lake Nicaragua. When we first got there, we had some directions to a couch surfers house, mnay I mention, very bad directions. There was no number or street, just vague directions and suggestions like "just ask for the gringo", which didnt help a bit.
Our host was a very Intersesting fellow from LA, who just hated Nicaragua. He hated the people, but didnt really treat them with respect, because he claimed to be robbed many many times. His house was phenommenal and totally 80s ed out. While we were staying in Granada we ewent to this Laguna Apoyo, right between Masaya and Granada, a beautiful piece of water, clean, for great swimming and spectacular views.
After our stay in Granada we headed sttraight for Isla Ometepe where we camped on a part of the island called Charco Verde, a small beach with hotels. We camped, through thunder lightning, and rain for the few nights we were there, and went swimming like times a day. The first day we took a 24 kilometer bike ride into town and backm, and it wouldnt have seeemed so difficulkt if the weather wasnt above 100. Luckily the rain cooled down eveything in the afternoon. The great thing about this island is that everything is so spread out and not overcrowded with commercial or touristic thing, its all based around the nature... hiking swimming, camping, fishing. So another day we went to the thinnest part of the island.. it is an island made up of two volcanoes connected by a small strip of land, so it looks a little bit like a figure eight from above....... we found this cute little beach called Playa Domingo, but it was a pain to hike to, just missing the bus and not getting picked up by anybody. But it was worth it, for we also got to hit up this fresh water spring in the same area, and we just baarely made it back to our tent before dark when an english/german couple who were staying at the same beach, picked us up. If only we could've spent more time on Ometepe, I would be much happier. And Nicxaragua, at that, it was one of the friendliest places, most diverse and beautiful land, and by far the cheapest. We must one day return.
On the day we left Ometepe, we headed straight for Costa Rica. Our transport.. in this order.... was hike, bus, boat, taxi, walk, bus, taxi.... and after that we arrived at a place in Liberia, a good hub for travelers heading to the Nicoya Peninsula. After just one night at the place, we booked it for the coast: Playa Samara, one of the prettiest beaches ever and very relaxed atmosphere, not letting us down based on what we've heard of the reputation Costa Rica has. Everything is super expensive in Costa Rica, a cheap hotel being around 30 dollars, so we have camped every night except for the first one in Liberia. We have been saving money by cooking cheap food.. that means no meat.. . over a campfire or "parija". One night we had roasted garlic with bread, and the next as p[art of our meal, we roasted up some corn over the fire giving it the same flavor that the ladies in the market have on their corn.. mmmmmm mm.
In Samara, we were also playing alot of pool, reading, and I was learning to surf. For as bad as I did the first time i attempted surfing in Washington, I was impressed with my effort on the much more gentle and beginner waves of Samara. I still did not master the big rollers, only getting up on those a couple of times, but my confidence was building and it was becoming addicting fast.
After that we got a car rented to take the short cut to Montezuma, where we are now. It was a very fun, half unpaved road that we definetley need 4x4 for. Sonya did a great job mastering the bumps and my navigating didnt get us lost once. For a hour trip, we only used gallons of gas.. thats the only time we have used petrol for just the two of us on this trip. So were camping and campfiring again here, and have been for the last couple of nights. No time or money left for the expensive side trips you can do from here, but yesterday I had to walk into town to go to the ATM. I ended up walking about 2 miles round trip out of the 8 total miles, getting picked up by tourists, a TRACTOR, and one very crazy semi truck driver/ down dirt roads/ TWICE‼‼
So today is our last day in Montezuma, a weird lillte bohemian town with lots of beach bums. We will stay in San Jose for one night before we make our way to the chocolate farm and will be out of contact for a couple of weeks.
Then we will be back in SF for most of JUNE‼‼‼