Friday November 6, 2009
We called Fernando in Honduras to see if he knew any news. None. The bus driver who was supposed to be driving the bus to Costa Rica said that many people died in El Salvador due to after effects of the hurricane; probably flooding and mud slides.
We continued to wait at the bus station. Ron passed the time by conversing w/our driver, guide, and the waylaid bus driver. I have been surprised that not many people were at the bus station today. Finally, the bus arrived.
-------Start of Trip Log-----------
Friday November 6, 2009
5:00PM Ron and I drove to Birmingham Holiday Inn after work.
Saturday November 7, 2009
4:30AM Airport: kiosk not opened until 5AM. At 5AM, kiosk would not work, aggravation. Plane departed & arrived on schedule. Good because only a 50 min lay-over. Flight to Managua was good. Rain upon arrival. Then over to blue skies.
11:15AM Humid and hot when Jorge (our guide/translator) greeted us. Temperature was more pleasant as we departed the city headed to Granada, our destination.
1:45PM Arrived at Hotel Colonial, an old colonial hotel much like where we stayed in Oaxaca, as Ron had said. Walked around. Didn’t locate seafood restaurant that Jorge had told us about. Instead, shared a sandwich and drink in a restaurant across from central park. Walked around park looking at wares. Saw several items to consider purchasing. Returned to hotel and rested. Walked around town and down to the lake. Lake Managua is the second largest lake in Latin America. It is the only fresh water lake in the world with sharks living in it.
5:00PM We went to dinner at the South Hill (Colina del Sur)Restaurant. There we ordered Guapote, a fish caught from Lake Nicaragua. The whole fish (head and all) is served. Somehow they remove all the bones! It was very good. Our same taxi driver picked us up & returned us to Hotel Colonial. We walked around the central park. It was Saturday night; not overly busy. We stopped at a coffee shop for a piece of pecan pie and purchased a Nicaraguan newspaper.
9:00PM We returned to the hotel & went to sleep; we were tired.
Sunday November 8, 2009
5:30AM We awakened well rested. Couldn’t locate coffee till 7:00AM at the hotel restaurant. We both ordered the typical local breakfast. Afterward, we walked around the town & took some pictures. We returned to the hotel, but then I went out again to shop for a few things for friends and relatives.
9:00AM Jorge & the driver arrived to take us to King Quality Autobus in Nicaragua. We arrived an hour early. Anabel and her sister are to arrive on the bus from Nacaomi. I have entered this log while sitting in the waiting area at the bus station. Notes to date:
Granada is not as prosperous as Oaxaca. The people are friendly.
There were more Caucasians (tourists) than I expected.
Jorge stated that he tries to avoid Managua when possible, but there was not really another way to get to Granada.
Anniversary of Carlos Amador Fonseca, a major Sandanista celebration.
National Theatre, Presidential House, Mulacour area, Ron could not purchase a Sandanestin flag.
Hours later: After waiting on the bus we were told that the bus had been delayed due to weather from Hurricane Ida causing a bridge to collapse and traffic was backed up for miles.
It was past lunch time so we asked where to eat. Therer was a huge mall directly across from the bus station. We mingled with the hoards of people in the food court and feasted on fried chicken.
Back in the bus station; still delayed for more hours. Jorge decided to show us Lake Nicaragua and the Presidential House and National Theatre. Many people were gathering for a political rally. I was glad to be back in the mini-van and headed for the bus station, our “oasis” for the day.
We called Fernando in Honduras to see if he knew any news. None. The bus driver who was supposed to be driving the bus to Costa Rica said that many people died in El Salvador due to after effects of the hurricane; probably flooding and mud slides.
We continued to wait at the bus station. Ron passed the time by conversing w/our driver, guide, and the waylaid bus driver. I have been surprised that not many people were at the bus station today. Finally, the bus arrived. Anabel and Miriam were very glad to see us!
We piled into the mini-van and headed back to Granada and the hotel. We arrived around 9 P.M. After showing Anabel and Miriam around their room and the hotel, we headed for the square and ate dinner. Then, we returned to the hotel for the evening.
6:30AM Breakfast with Anabel and Mirium
9:00AM Carriage ride, city tour. William Walker (1855-1857) called himself el Presidente when Granada was capital .
Old hospital circa 1925, San Juan de Dios, abandoned 20 years ago. Spanish company purchased for $2 million to make a grand hotel.
Now, the government pays hospital, but not a medicine.
New hospital, built by Japanese downtown.
1748, Ft. Fuertela Polvara. Used as a prison by Samoya in 1945-1947. Underground cells. Cane roofs. Tower; great view of city.
New Catholic Church; ornate. Also catholic school for boys.
Several other churches.
Malecon de la Amistad, Pablo Antonio Cuadra
365 islets. Largest island is Ometepe; island fort is Ft. del lesa Del Moryea built between 1744-1748.
San Francisco Monastery 1529:
1200-1523 Indians
1524-1539 Conquistadors
1540-1600 Expansion, colonialsation
Agriculture commerce 1637
Praticos 1665-1811
Civil war 1812-1855 1812, 1823, 1855
Incendio filibuslero (1856), General Walker
Fotraleza San Pablo – in 1784 by the Spanish in Lake Nicaragua, last fort built in city.
Monkey Island - vet brought male and female and they have multiplied. Lucy came on the boat and got a banana. She tried to check out the items in my bag!
We returned to the hotel and gathered our bags. We set off to Volcano Masaya in the mini van. We could travel to the rim, but you had to park your car backwards in case it erupted. It was releasing steam and some sulphuric gas. Ron had never been to the rim of a volcano, so it was an exciting event for me him as well as the rest of our group. Jorge, our guide, said that at night you could see the lava below. We left and headed for Managua again.
At the Holiday Inn Select in Managua. Very nice. Checked in and went to get some dinner. It was a formal dining room, but there was a big-screen tv showing a soap opera which Miriam enjoyed watching! Afterwards, I showed them some pictures on the computer than we had taken during the trip. I went to check on the shuttle to the airport and my flight schedule.
5:30AM We all traveled to the airport and then said good-bye. I was traveling back to the U.S. and Ron, Anabel, and Miriam were taking the bus back to Honduras.
------End of Portion written by Elise Hicks-------
9:30AM At the King Quality Autobus station
11:15AM On bus headed for Honduras. Travel was slow. Anabel slept a good part of the way. The on-board movie was a really second rate movie about some bad actors helping the LA police catch some drug dealers using really fast cars in some really contrived chase scenes. Even Anabel was disinterested in the movie.
4:30PM Crossing the Honduras border
5:00PM First police checkpoint where officers walked through the bus randomly checking identification papers. Anabel and I were sitting on one side of the isle and Miriam was sitting two rows back on the left side. This was the first time it occurred to me how this could look to a suspicious cop; a 60-some year old gringo with a 14 year old Honduran girl whose half-sister/guardian is sitting two rows back. This police didn’t pay any attention but if a guard decided to, he could make a long complicated evening for us. I thought a minute about changing seats with Miriam but decide against that.
6:00PM Second checkpoint. A guard questioned Miriam’s papers and asked her to step off the bus. She told the guard that her ward, Anabel, is traveling with her so the guard asked Anabel to get off also. Since I was traveling with them I decided to step off with them even though I wasn’t asked. At the foot of the steps, one of the guards asked in a dismissive way if I was traveling with them (expecting me to say “no” so he could tell me to get back on the bus). I said I was; the guard was taken aback. I listened intently, mating eye contact with each officer as he questioned. For some reason that I will never understand, the police were very uncomfortable with my involvement. After a few awkward silences during the questions, we were all told to get back on the bus and the bus headed toward Jicaro, our destination. About 10 minutes down the road, the bus attendant (like an airline stewardess) came to me and started to explain that the gringos in the back are going to Teguci. I was still thinking about our recent encounter and asked what that had to do with me. After what seemed like 5 minutes of confusion, the Latino sitting in front of me explained that the attendant wanted me to act as the translator to explain how the other gringos can get to the Copan ruins via bus. This is the first time anyone ever asked me to act as translator! I didn’t do a very good job but everyone finally got the general idea of what must be done.
7:00PM At the Oases Motel in Jicaro. I got off to wait for the bus headed north to Teguci while Anabel and Miriam stayed on the bus as it would continue west toward El Amatillo. Fernando met me at the mote. And we had a few beers as we waited for the northbound bus.
7:30PM Headed north to Teguci.
9:94PM At bus station in Teguci.
10:15PM At the Hotel General, in for the night.
Wednesday November 11, 2009
8:30AM Jorge picked me up and we went to the hospital to see Angelo (El Maistro), his Chief Mechanic who is recovering from a bout with water around his heart. I must say, he is not in good shape but was really glad to see Jorge and really appreciated that I came to see him. Went to Jorge’s business and visited with Jorge and his wife, Leslie.
1:30PM In the Hotel, arranged to have rental car delivered in the morning. Called Fernando to arrange for visit. Took notes.
4:00PM End of day.
Thursday November 12, 2009
9:00AM Rental car arrived. Drove to Nacaomi. Stopped at a checkpoint and the officer started looking for something till he came to no fire extinguisher. It’s a dance one must dance. I would prefer to simply give him $5.00 but one must protest, plead ignorance, ask for a break while the officer insists that the law is the law. At the end of the dance you give him $5.00 and go on your way.
11:30PM Fernando and I went over revised Chart of Accounts and other administrative stuff.
2:00PM We drove to El Amatillo to visit with Waldina, check her 7th grade final report card and discuss support for 8th grade. This is becoming a sad story:
Waldina’s mother is really proud that Waldina is going to a “real” school but doesn’t have a clue how to help. Her two older sisters (by steps of about 1 year) are jealous and would just as soon she failed. Fernando explained that, among the very poor, families have little use for someone who lives in the house and eats the food but provides nothing. The poor do not consider going to school a full time job; the deck is stacked against her. At the same time, due to the political instability, schools were shut down for several weeks. End-of-year tests are standardized tests. Waldina explained that, for many parts of the year, teachers told them to read certain sections with no explanation; her grades are bad; not failing, math, Spanish, science, in the mid 60’s, but doesn’t demonstrate a good foundation to build on. Fernando confirmed that final grades are lower among all high school students this year. Elise and I will start the year supporting her. If she slowly brings the grades up over the year, we will continue our support.
7:30AM Fernando and worked on some year-end loose ends and discussed logistics of delivering all items for lunch starting February as the Honduras gov. won’t be able to help. Tried to meet with Alcalde Valesquez.
1:30PM Met with Anabel and Miriam to finalize dental care for Anabel.
3:00PM In the compound, Fernando and I had a few beers.
5:00PM In the compound. End of day.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
9:30AM After breakfast with Fernando, I drove to Teguci.
12:00PM In the Hotel General.
1:30PM Rental car returned. Took notes, worked on expense account.
5:00PM In the hotel, end of day
Sunday, November 15, 2009
7:00AM Breakfast. Really a lost day. If I had it to do over again, I would have scheduled my flight out today.
12:00PM Watched football all afternoon. In the hotel. End of day
Monday, November 16, 2009
11:00AM Jorge took me to the airport.
12:30PM Fernando arrived with the Monthly Report.
1:30PM Plane left on schedule.
7:30PM Elise met me at the airport
10:30PM At the house.
End of trip