Best Day Ever

There were two instructions my mother gave me prior to leaving on this trip. She still likes to instruct me on things, despite the fact that I am married, have traveled to many countries without her, hold a full-time job, and no longer live with her. The instructions were:

1) Make sure I do not show any unnecessary skin, so as not to solicit disaster, and 2) Never ever travel alone.

Rule 1 is no problem. I don't care to attract attention in my own country, let alone foreign countries. Rule 2 is more difficult. I came here alone, I will leave alone, so somewhere in there I will have to travel alone. Truthfully though, there are plenty of other volunteers to bounce around with and so there has been no need to travel solo. But I can't just sit around and wait for someone else to decide to go with me. So just the other day,  for the true first time, I ventured off on a chicken bus to a destination about 30 minutes from Granada. 

Best day ever.

Ehh....only bad thing is having other people take your pictures for you. 

I went to Caterina because it was easy to get to, and the view of Laguna de Apoyo from the crater rim was supposedly not to be missed.  I decided that was  a good place for me to spend a few hours. I arrived without incident, I found the mirador, I relaxed, and I chatted with whomever I pleased. I met Oscar David and Juan Nicaragua, two locals who have made Los Pueblos Blancos (the province) their home. 

And after a delicious meal, I decided it was time to head out. 

So I did. Because there was nobody else to consult with and I was the boss of me. Good feeling.  


That little adventure was a preview of this weekend, where I will head off to Leon (solo, but will meet up with friends in case you are reading this Mom), a city a bit north of here. I am currently trying to sum up the courage to hurl myself down a volcano wearing an orange jumpsuit, goggles, and riding on some sort of board. I have heard about these activities for a while now.


I should mention I am somewhat terrified.