THE WRAP UP.- Matagalpa, Friday Feb 11th 1 am.
Travelling solo is an adventure like no other- it allows you to set your own speed and agenda. At times it can be risky and sometimes it can be lonely, but strangely enough, that did not happen often. There was always someone there to talk to, pretty well every single day. Often the communication was with locals and was a struggle as I mangled their Spanish and they butchered my English, but generally the message got through.
One little old lady on a bus was telling the guy behind her that “ this idiot next to me cant speak a word of Spanish” I just smiled and let it go although I was tempted to tell her “ I think my Spanish is not quite as bad as you think.”
In the course of 6 weeks I have seen every spot on the tourist map except for the Corn Islands. I have also seen a lot of places that many tourists don’t even know exist.
For being such a small country, it is absolutely amazing the extent of diversity that Nicaragua has to offer.
Just as impressive is the fact that the people seem to be able to bounce back from every adversity that they have faced. Two major conflicts in 30 years and several natural disasters would have made most people give up, yet they seem to keep plugging away. With a cost of living only barely above Haiti, the main thing required in this country is a government that will focus on reasonable development, while protecting key ecological treasures. A government that will provide improved standards for all working and or retired citizens while refusing to line its own pockets. A government that will respectfully refuse the advances and offers of external financial support i.e. the USA and China, unless it comes without strings. In other words, probably not in my lifetime!!!
Having spent close to 7 weeks travelling the country I have visited over 30 different communities and (counting my last trip) have been to all but 3 of the (17) departamentos (or states), which make up the country. And yet with 3 departamentos to go, there is still 50% of the country yet to see.
Will I ever fulfill that goal?? That is a question that I can’t answer right now. While I would love to do so, with little infrastructure, travel in those areas is very physically demanding and I am not getting any younger. Besides, for me, South America remains untouched, as do many parts of the Far East. In spite of all my years of travelling, I have yet to cross the equator so perhaps that will be my next (but one) project.
Any future travel plans will most likely hinge on the outcome of two upcoming eye surgeries, currently scheduled for March 3rd and 10th. [That will probably be the subject of a future blog]
My hopes are that the next trip on my agenda will be what is often termed “The Pilgrim’s Way. In other words the route across Northern Spain following the road to Santiago de Compostella. With the need to cover about 20km a day, at least, walking through various terrains in all weathers, I will need to downsize my baggage requirements somewhat. That might be my biggest challenge.
As the clock rolls on for 1 in the morning, my sleep is being disturbed by a howling cat somewhere below my hotel window, and a couple of mosquitoes buzzing around in the semi-darkness who are determined to extract some blood from me before the night is through. And as if that is not enough, a choir of barking dogs is trying to ensure that no one else gets to sleep while they are awake. Once they are done a chorus of roosters will take over thus guaranteeing that I don’t waste too much time sleeping my life away.
Buenos Noches y Vaya con Dios
To anyone who has been paying attention to my occasional history lessons and wishes to follow them further, a site recommended by Gringo Mike is BBC.com then type in Nicaragua on their search engine.
Otherwise just google: Augusto Sandino
Carlos Fonseca ( the politician, not the boxer!)
The Samoza Era + Nicaragua
Ben Linder
For links to specific geographic areas, the searches (including video) are absolutely endless. Enjoy
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