29 days and counting!!!

In just over a month I will embark on a journey that will probably prove to the world just how adventurous (crazy) I am.

By way of proof, see the attached e-mail I received from a hotel owner living near one of my planned travel routes.

I have recently consulted with friends who live on the upper Rio Coco along BOSAWAS as well as family who live in Waspam. They do not recommend travel to the upper Rio Coco by tourists (aka foreigners) at this time due to several factors: 1) Nicaragua and Honduras have been at odds recently, and, those tensions have not subsided, 2) Due to the high price for gold, there is a lot of artesenal mining taking place along the river with consequent assaults by heavily armed persons looking to take gold and cash from people who might be buyers, and, 4) The area has become a major drug trafficking route with many dangerous people who don´t want strangers poking around!

Needless to say, I have amended my travel plans just a teeny bit.

  Normally when I do travel, I tend to map out my planned route in great detail, checking and amending plans as the date gets closer and closer. This trip is strictly by the seat of my pants. I do know that my flight for Managua leaves Detroit on December 27^th, but after that……??

 I have a hotel booked in Granada for a month, but at $20 per night I won’t lose too much sleep if I end up somewhere else for a few days.

  A trip to the Corn Islands might be a possible option for 3 or 4 days, assuming the flights are not too expensive. Then again, there is the opportunity to see several of the sites that were missed on the last trip- Volcan Masaya at night, a canoe trip to Las Isletas, the small islands which dot the lake adjacent to Granada. [ Actually formed when Volcan Mombacho erupted several thousand years ago, dumping large hunks of lava and rock into the lake]

Another interesting option is the crater lake of Apoyo, near Masaya- A water filled crater formed during an ancient eruption which is now home to some unusual fish species. Luckily the place has not been discovered by many of the Gringo Gang which sticks to the "tried and true" tourist sites of the country. 

  One can still get a room for less than $50 a night with warm and cold running water. 

  I say that with tongue in cheek cause one of the biggest "whines" on tripadvisor.com is " No-one told me the hotel didn't have hot water." Sorry folks, this is Nicaragua- the onlly way you can get into hot water here is trying to pick up married women!!LOL. 

   Seriously, a hot shower in Nica is a pleasure that is often only offered at the more " upscale" hotels- i.e. those costing over $40 a night!

  At least you don't have to worry about your clothing shrinking in hot water. As for body parts! well lets not go there :~(

     Adios Amigos

  

 

The adventure begins soon

Edited November 27th
    The countdown begins for my next big trip- 50 days 30 days and counting.
The location, Central America. The place- Nicaragua. A sedentary 2 weeks in Granada to start things off, followed by a more strenuous tour of the southern parts of the country with maybe a quick trip- 10 days or so into Costa Rica.
I had originally planned a trip into the Bosawas Biosphere in the North East part of the country but was warned off on account of the extreme dangers that exist in the area- largely related to drug smuggling towards the USA
 As I look outside my window while editing this previous post, the reflections from a nearby streetlight show me that snow has turned my black car an eerie shade of white.
  It is clearly time to start making a few lists and checking them twice and believe me, it has nothing to do with Santa. The worst thing you can do at the end of a trip is unpack your bag realizing that you didn't use 30% of the "stuff" you dragged along.