On Thursday, the 4 of us walked around the city, and checked out all of the historical sights (see pictures). Granada has a really pretty avenue (Calle La Calzada) running down the center, with restaurants, shops, and houses on bot
h sides, and it ends on the shore of Lake Nicaragua. Despite how idyllic this one street looks, though, there is a lot of poverty in Granada, and Nicaragua in general. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in all of Central America, behind Haiti. There were a lot of street children and people panhandling, and it made me a little sad to see it. There are problems in Costa Rica, especially in the bigger cities, but Nicaragua was definitely a shock. One really funny little boy came up and tickled me when we were eating dinner one night, and asked if I would buy some of his gum; we did.
On Friday, the America-Israel alliance traveled to the Laguna de Apoyo. It is a really gorgeous crater lake, outside of Granada. Our hostel has a house there, where you can either stay overnight, or just go out for the day. We went out as a day trip, and it was BEAUTIFUL! The sky
was clear, and the house had comfortable hammocks to lounge in, and there were kayaks and a dock to sunbathe on. For lunch, Moshe cooked us some Israeli food. I feel like I learned as much about Israel and that area than I did about Nicaragua and Central America. I can now say at least 5 swear words in Hebrew (who knows why those are always what you pick up first) plus the polite words like “good morning” and “thank you”. In fact, if you are reading this, Moshe and Gal: What up, kalba?
Pictures: Nick kayaking; the view from the house's porch at sunsetOn Satruday, we all went to the Masaya, which is a less touristy, artesanial community. We walked around the market, and I bought some sweet pants. The, we took a bus to the Masaya volcano. We did the night tour that they offer- and it was totally worth it. We saw the volcano, and crater- which was emitting a ton of smoke, some lava tunnels, a ton of bats in the caves. The last part of the tour, we had to put on gas masks,
and they took us right up to the edge of the crater. The smoke and gases were pretty strong, but we could see a little bit of the red glow of the lava. My eyes were burning, and I was coughing something awful- but you only live once, right? To get home, we walked out to the road, and tried to flag down a bus. We managed to find one going to Masaya, and there we walked to another highway to try and catch a ride. Our ride from Masaya
was… interesting… A mini bus stopped, but was already completely full. However, the driver did some arranging, and managed to stuff us in. The bus is probably meant to hold like 30 people, and I would say that there were at least 50-60. Moshe was the last one on, and he had to ride hanging out of the open doors while we went like 60 on the highway. It was an adventure. When we got home, we ate dinner, and talked to the front desk about how to check out in the am, since Nick and I were going to be leaving super early the next morning. I was glad to learn that there would be someone around to give me back my $3 deposit that I paid on our locker. Before going to bed, we shared a group hug and said goodbye to our new friends.
Nick and I woke up at 5 am to get our stuff together and be at the busstation by like 6:15. However, we had a small hang up. I was trying to open up the locker where our stuff was stored, in complete darkness so as to not wake up the other 8 people sleeping in the room. But when I stuck the key in the lock, it totally came apart. Seriously, the main part fell out into my hand, and some little balls also fell onto the floor. Using my IPOD for light, Nick and I tried to fix it, but it was hopeless. I went and got the nighttime guard for the hostel, and we carried the entire locker into another room (with light- thank goodness). The lock was 100% jodido, so Nick and I walked, in our PJs, to Granada’s fire station (which was luckily right around the corner). They leant us some bolt cutters, and after some skillful wielding by Nick, we got the locker open. The guard was laughing, and told me that I was definitely not getting my deposit back… I told him that I had kind of figured that.
Well, we made it to the bus staion, and back to Santa Rosa. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. When we got on the bus, and I finally hada few minutes to distress- I realized that I had woken up with weirdo hives all over my body. I freaking hate how weird my skin gets. They are not “the itchy” that I usually get as an allergic reaction- they are different. I still have them today, but am hoping that if I keep dosing myself with antihistamines, I will stop looking like I have leprosy. Actuyally, I have no idea what leprosy looks like, it is just the disease that I usually compare my skin got. Similarly, whenever I am sick ,I say I have SARS. That’s just how I operate.
really useful suggestions. I am pretty psyched about the fact that we are actualyl having real plans made, which means we can get a serious price estimate, which means I can do some serious fundraising in the last 2 months I have left. An engineer is coming to look at the lot next week, and we are also installign the playground. it should be a busy few days.
but she has a 14 year old). Beforehand, I went to Christmas Eve mass, and it was really pretty. We had a great time eating, drinking, dancing (you know the drill). The only big surprise was that when it turned midnight (so NOW, its officially Christmas) everyone started crying and hugging eachother and wishing everyone a Feliz Navidad. Apparently, they always cry on Christmas: out of happiness and gratitude, but also about the tought stuff from the year before. We then said a prayer. I never cry for Christmas! I try and be happy. However, it was nice to be included in the family's intimate traditions. Another difference: the kids don't wait until the morning to open their presents; EL niño (Jesus)brings the presents and they find them under their beds at midnight. I think my favorite part of the night was when Irina (age 4ish) got a broom and mop and dustpan from el niño, and was trying to help clean up when the party was over at like 1am.
From the river, we went straight to the really neat beach town of Puerto Viejo (on the Carribean Coast). It is very laid back, and this part of Costa Rica has a disntincly different culture from the other parts. We stayed in a pretty hotel outside of town, on a really gorgeous beach (with some really aweful riptides- Caty almost had to save a guy while we were sitting watching the waves). We had soem time to just chill out, lay on the beach, and walk around Puerto Viejo. We rented bicycles, and got to see much more, faster, this way.
We also went ziplining, which is pretty much the coolest way ever to see the rainforest canopy. You go pretty fast, pretty high up, and see weirdo bugs and cool trees. Oh, and there was a sloth at our hotel. No big deal.
town, called Manzanillo. It was absolutely gorgeous! The bike ride was half of the fun. We swang on some branches tarzan style (Brent, if you are reading this- I finally found some swingable branches!), and just had a really neat time. 
ortuna. It was volcanic hot springs, and it was really fun. The hot springs were 
gorgeous, and felt great since it was a kind of rainy day. Plus, it was free, so it doesnt' get a shole lit better than that. I got back to Cartago at like 10 pm, exhausted, but it was way worth it. 
in Costa Rica, as in Mexico, it is a Christmas tradition to make ridiculous numbers of tamales. every family makes a bunch, and then they take them to their neighbors and friends and family as Christmas gifts. I was excited to be involved in the process, and am proud to say that actually making 300+ tamales didn't diminish how much I like to eat them. Here, the tamales are different than what I am used to in the Southwest. they are made from Maza, but also have mashed potatoes mixed in (which make them softer). Then, inside there is pork, carrot, green bean, rice, and a little bit of bell pepper. We wrapped them in plantain leaves, and then boiled them iver huge firepits for like 4 hours. On Christmas day I ate nothing but tamales, as a personal challenge (which wasn't that much of a hardship, really). 
game. C- Saprissa and La Liga were playing in the last game of the national soccer championship, and noone wanted to miss it. So, Carita brought his TV over to my house, we hooked it up, grilled outside and had a barbeque while we watched Saprissa (my team) dominate la Liga 3-0. It was a fun night, and way warmer than we would have been outside. 
Our hostel was cute, and had a good atmosphere. It was a huge colonial house, which now serves as dorms and a restaurant. In the center there is a big patio with plants and hammocks. We ate breakfast there every morning, and I had some ridiculously delicious banana pancakes, and free coffee- how much better can life get, right? Pictured at left: Moshe drinking coffee during our hostel breakfast.
h sides, and it ends on the shore of Lake Nicaragua. Despite how idyllic this one street looks, though, there is a lot of poverty in Granada, and Nicaragua in general. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in all of Central America, behind Haiti. There were a lot of street children and people panhandling, and it made me a little sad to see it. There are problems in Costa Rica, especially in the bigger cities, but Nicaragua was definitely a shock. One really funny little boy came up and tickled me when we were eating dinner one night, and asked if I would buy some of his gum; we did. 
was clear, and the house had comfortable hammocks to lounge in, and there were kayaks and a dock to sunbathe on. For lunch, Moshe cooked us some Israeli food. I feel like I learned as much about Israel and that area than I did about Nicaragua and Central America. I can now say at least 5 swear words in Hebrew (who knows why those are always what you pick up first) plus the polite words like “good morning” and “thank you”. In fact, if you are reading this, Moshe and Gal: What up, kalba? Pictures: Nick kayaking; the view from the house's porch at sunset
and they took us right up to the edge of the crater. The smoke and gases were pretty strong, but we could see a little bit of the red glow of the lava. My eyes were burning, and I was coughing something awful- but you only live once, right? To get home, we walked out to the road, and tried to flag down a bus. We managed to find one going to Masaya, and there we walked to another highway to try and catch a ride. Our ride from Masaya 
was… interesting… A mini bus stopped, but was already completely full. However, the driver did some arranging, and managed to stuff us in. The bus is probably meant to hold like 30 people, and I would say that there were at least 50-60. Moshe was the last one on, and he had to ride hanging out of the open doors while we went like 60 on the highway. It was an adventure. When we got home, we ate dinner, and talked to the front desk about how to check out in the am, since Nick and I were going to be leaving super early the next morning. I was glad to learn that there would be someone around to give me back my $3 deposit that I paid on our locker. Before going to bed, we shared a group hug and said goodbye to our new friends. 
