Ometepe, Nicaragua

The price of traveling around Nicaragua is more adorable. A bus from the boarder to Rivas, a taxi to San George, and an hour boat ride to the island of Ometepe works out to be about 4 bucks. I can dig it. 

The ferry was pretty much just an overloaded, top heavy death trap... but the price was right. I watched two men carry an older gentleman across a plank of old wood onto the deck. The plank had a huge crack in it and the man the fear of the devil in his eyes as the plank moved and bent with the waves smashing the hull.

Ometepe

Ometepe is a pretty bad ass island. Its made up of two volcanoes, in a big lake, in the middle of Nicaragua. Its a very spectacular looking place. Before I knew it I was on the back of a motorcycle on the way to a hostel. The next day I decided to rent a motorcycle and check out the rest of the island. I was cruising along when a very tiny lady flagged me over. She was speaking in Spanish very quickly and all I could understand is that she wanted to go to the hospital. I figured she was a nurse or that she had a terrible illness that needed to  be treated. Either way she hopped on quick as can be and to the hospital we went! about an hour later I was once again flagged down by this tiny woman, this time she was rambling on about a church. So once again she nimbly hopped on the bike side saddle and I found her a church.

My near collisions over the 4 or so hours I spent driving are as follows:

• Dog sleeping on the road
• Large pig darting out of the forest
• Stray horse
• 20+ bulls being herded by 6 year old on a horse
• Marching band  

The day ended with a visit to Ojo de Agua. A dammed up stream that flows from the Medares volcano forms a sort of natural swimming pool. The volcanic water is said to be really good for your skin, and potentially have healing powers. I don´t know if it was the water or the ice cold beer, but it sure made me feel good!

Ojo de Agua

The next day was spent mostly climbing up Concepción volcano. Trees would shelter us from the sun for the lower half of the hike but once we broke tree line there would be only sun... sun and loose volcanic rock. Hot sulfuric steam leaked out of cracks in the rocks as the top drew closer. The summit was spectacular. Rising air coming from the east turned to cloud, and swept down the west face disintegrating just as fast as it had formed. The wind was so strong I could barely stand. Unseen forces swirled cloud, dirt and rocks in circles in such a way I have never experienced before.

   

Concepción summit (stolen from Youtube)

My diet on the island consisted mostly of plantain chips and fried chicken. The woman next to the hostel (dubbed chicken lady) supplied the whole city it seemed with e cheapest and most delicious chicken around.

Another early morning and its time to be off again!